Kathleen Yu, Ph.D

I believe one of the most important aspects of therapy is in building a trusting therapeutic relationship with my clients. I prioritize creating an inclusive, compassionate, warm, and nurturing space where clients feel safe, heard, and supported. My approach to treatment is integrative, utilizing a variety of treatment approaches. Examples of treatment approaches I use include Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), play therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and solution-focused approaches. I also enjoy utilizing creativity in sessions so that clients can express themselves through various modalities (speech, drawing, play, writing, etc.). I draw from theories including relational, humanistic, resilience, and psycho-dynamic theory. I also draw from acceptance-based, strength-based, and client-centered approaches. I am dynamic and flexible in my use of clinical theory and methodology in order to attune to my clients’ diverse needs, experiences, concerns, and goals.

My personal and professional experiences have led me to realize how a career as a psychologist enables me to channel my joy in building human connections and passion for helping others. I approach myself and my work in the lens of a life-long learner, so I value the opportunity and privilege to learn and evolve alongside my clients. It has been (and continues to be) incredibly rewarding to build therapeutic relationships with my clients, be trusted with learning their vulnerabilities and challenges, and be a part in their growth and healing.

I value collaboration and transparency with my clients, so together, we will identify stressors/concerns and co-create goals and solutions. I believe that clients are the experts of their own lives. A fundamental aspect of my role is to empower clients in recognizing, expanding, and utilizing their strengths and insights for healing and growth. My hope is for you to come away from therapy feeling more attuned with yourself and equipped with insight and skills that will help you lead a more fulfilled life and have more meaningful relationships. I hope for you to achieve a sense of stability, confidence, and preparedness to overcome future stressors and obstacles. Our work together may include exploring contributions to your pain/stress, finding the language or ways to express and regulate your emotions, developing a deeper understanding of yourself and your identities, trying new ways of thinking of and relating to your inner and outer worlds, exploring cultural influences and family dynamics, and/or building a more compassionate relationship with yourself.

My dive into the field of psychology was fueled by my strong desire to help others. As a Chinese American who has navigated obstacles that can come with growing up in a low-income immigrant family in San Francisco and being a first-generation college student, I have a deep empathy and drive to help others in my local community. From the time I could start working, I gravitated towards work in the helping profession. I had jobs such as a tutor, day-camp teacher, and after school program teacher from high school through college. I found that my studies in psychology complemented and enriched my work with children and families. I obtained my PhD in Education from the School Psychology program at UC Berkeley. During graduate school, I received extensive training on child and family work, including topics such as developmental theory, psychoeducational assessment, therapy approaches, interventions, and developmental disabilities. My program prepared us to worked in various fields, and I continually reflected on my career options– I could focus on assessment, teach, provide psychotherapy, and so on. During my third year in graduate school, we were required to pursue a community-based mental health internship. From the moment I started learning about psychotherapy and mental health work with children and families, it felt like a lightbulb turned on. This was a space I truly connected with, felt excited by, and where I felt I could make a meaningful impact. From then on, I knew a career as a licensed psychologist would enable me to express my interest in psychology, passion for helping others, and joy in building human connections. Through my graduate school internships and post-graduate work, I have cultivated a range of expertise in working with children, teens, young adults, and families in school-based and community-based mental health programs. I have provided mental health services to special education and general education students as well as low-income youth and families in various high schools in the Bay Area and in a community mental health outpatient clinic. In the same settings, I have also provided consultation to teachers, parents, and provided parent counseling. As a Chinese-American child of immigrants, I have a special interest in working with individuals who identify as Asian American/Pacific Islander and individuals from immigrant families. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, spending time with friends and family, exploring new foods and restaurants, appreciating nature, and immersing myself in storytelling through film, television, anime, and Webtoons. I also love expressing my creativity through artistic activities such as watercolor painting, jewelry making, and pursuing new crafts like clay making.