Q&A

What is your favorite movie: Midnight in Paris, confession- I’m a Francophile. I love anything and everything that has to do with anything French and history, which is the perfect combination for this movie in which the main character (Owen Wilson) time travels to the 1920’s, the Golden Age in Paris and mingles with all the cultural greats including the Salvador Dali, Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, etc. I also love the book The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and there are rumors that there will be a movie adaptation, so adding that to the future favorites list as well.

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Favorite superhero: Mulan! Growing up, she was the first “superhero” that I could relate to who looked like me as a young teenager and it was so empowering. Add to that, the fact that she was training with the boys and constantly enduring obstacles and odds that were against her as a female warrior in a male dominated world? Amazing!

If you could have a superpower, what superpower would you pick: Definitely teleport to any point in history. I would love to live a day in different time periods anywhere in the world. Be a shopkeeper in ancient Rome, Parisian florist in the 1940s, an activist in the American 70’s.

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Favorite bands/singer:   Some of my favorites include Lady Gaga (best performance I have ever seen live), Daft Punk, Glass Animals, Masego, Jungle, Tems, Post Malone, Kehlani, Beyonce, J.Cole, and I enjoy frequenting international playlists on spotify and seeing what is popular elsewhere.

If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for:  

1. A radical transformation in the hearts and minds of humanity, where everyone can live in peace and solidarity without division and hate.

2. Eradication of politics, and creation of a magical system that supports the best interest of every human being.

3. Free airline travel for everyone to anywhere.​​

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Tell us a fun fact about yourself: I am a huge sports fan! I love mainly basketball, baseball, football, and the Olympics, and you can catch me tearing up throughout the entire opening and closing ceremonies. Go Suns, Cards, Dbacks!

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Tell us about your pets: I have one dog her name is Salem, she’s a Maltese-Poodle mix who is an introvert  and lives comfortably with her anxiety. She will only drink water if you pretend to dump out the old and put new water in her bowl, likes her alone time, but is the sweetest, most well-behaved little fur-child.

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What are other things you feel could be beneficial to improve mental health other than
medications?: I mentioned some in my previous answer, but there are so many aspects to improving our mental health other than medications, and I absolutely love diving into these conversations. I am a reformed workout junkie, believe in the idea of exercise in strengthening our mental health whether it starts with taking brief walks throughout the day or strength training.

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​If a patient is nervous about an evaluation, especially when talking about tough things like trauma or sexual abuse, what would you want them to know? I may repeat this when we meet in real life, but I want you to know that I am here for you. This is your time, your story, you are in control, and I will provide you with a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space. It’s difficult enough to have to repeat these difficult topics, but I am here to actively support you though your journey.​

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You've menetioned being passionate about working with people with religious/cultural trauma - can you tell us about that? 

Many people who endure any form of trauma due to either religion or culture most often do not have a choice in which group or setting they were born, unfortunately we don’t get to choose what kind of life we will live. I distinctly remember growing up wondering why I was born with certain contexts in place. Religions and cultures have many characteristics, teachings, definitions, and beliefs that can provide positive guidance and wonderful benefits in life, but unfortunately much stigma, a life of surveillance, prejudice, lack of acceptance, and discrimination can also arise. Working with those who have shared these experiences is important to me because these forms of trauma can deeply shape a person’s identity, relationships, and worldview, creating long-lasting effects on mental health. I am here for you to rediscover your own agency and feel validated in your experience.

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What is your philosophy on using medication to treat mental health? Are medications lifelong? Does a patient who sees you HAVE to be on medication?  Whether or not someone wants to be on medications is completely up to them. There are many different factors that may play a role in the decision, but ultimately medications are only a piece of the larger puzzle, and sometimes to complete the puzzle, they may need to be utilized depending on the situation. I do believe in holistic and functional psychiatry as well, involving various components such as nutritional interventions, gut brain health, hormones, lifestyle factors to name a few, but sometimes we need help with the neurotransmitters in our brain that may be imbalanced and need some encouragement to get back on track. It is also impossible to say if medications need to be lifelong, because just like that, life is long and it truly depends on the multiple mile markers along your journey.​

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Do you have any personal experiences regarding mental health you are open to sharing? When I came out to my Korean parents at age 15, they called a Catholic priest and psychiatrist (both Korean) over to our house. I’m sure you can tell what kind of ride I’ve had in my own mental health experience. Part of the reason why I immediately wanted to study psychology in college was so I could help another young girl with so much angst understand why they were feeling this way, and that it was going to get better. Guess what, it did get better, and now I have the pleasure of pursuing my lifelong goal!

How do you feel about marijuana? I completely support the powerful and positive benefits of marijuana, but with anything in life, in moderation and depending on your specific situation.​

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What are your thoughts about treating adult ADHD? I was never treated for ADHD as a child because my parents did not believe in mental health care, but I remember struggling so much throughout my younger life with all the symptoms but thought it was normal. I didn’t realize until I was older that I was working much harder than others to accomplish the same tasks. Since then, I have been treated for ADHD as an adult, and firmly believe that proper assessment and treatment can be a gamechanger for many who continue to struggle in their adult years.

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