ABOUT

My story (aka how I became the “wrong” kind of doctor)

Growing up, I desired connection and understanding, but this often felt like an uphill battle. I found that my parents, who immigrated from Taiwan, had many ways of thinking that were so different from mine. Being a minority in suburban Illinois didn't make things any easier—I often felt like the odd one out. My interest in psychology formed out of a desire to understand where this disconnect was coming from.

During high school, I relocated to the Bay Area and attended a competitive, academically rigorous high school in San Jose. Although it provided a sense of comfort to be surrounded by peers who shared the experience of being children of immigrants and understood the AAPI experience, the relentless pressure to strive for academic excellence was overwhelming and anxiety-inducing.

This prevailing culture persisted throughout my undergraduate years at UC Berkeley. I started out college pre-med, understanding my family’s dream was that I would become a medical doctor. While I felt a strong desire to make them proud and set them at ease, I also knew that pursuing this path would feel as though I was going through the motions rather than following my unique strengths and interests. Despite outwardly “achieving” what was expected of me, on the inside I felt anxious, unfulfilled, and lost. I struggled to reconcile the Western messages of “know thyself” and “follow your dreams” with familial and cultural messages of seeking stability and a specific definition of success. 

Giving myself permission to eventually follow my passion for psychology has been such a gift. It allowed me to blend my interests in identity, culture, relationships, and mental health. This pursuit gave me the language to better understand how my past history and experience was impacting me. Anxiety, depression, stigma, Model Minority Myth were concepts I had thought about before, but lacked the knowledge to really understand. I also learned that I did not have to be either/or in my thinking, but rather that I can have different parts of myself be equally valid and important.

I know personally how painful it is to feel you are fighting against yourself rather than listening to that still, quiet voice within. My mission as a therapist is to help people amplify this voice and quiet the noise of external messages (by society, media, peers, and family). I help people explore an authentic life aligned with their personal values, passions, preferences, and priorities across various contexts of their lives including their relationships, work, hobbies, and other life experiences. I aim to help people knock down barriers that may be getting in the way of living a values and meaning driven life. This could include anxiety, depression, stress, past trauma, or lack of self-acceptance or understanding.

I’m very much on the same journey to build my own authentic life. Being a psychologist is an important part of me, but not the whole me. Outside of this role, I am also wife/partner, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a singer/songwriter/creative, a “foodie”, a traveler, and more to be discovered.

Approach

I understand that going to therapy can be intimidating and strive to create an affirming and warm space through utilizing an empathetic, authentic, and humorous approach. I believe the therapy relationship is critical to the success of therapy itself. My approach is active and solution-oriented.

My hope is for clients to gain a more balanced and flexible perspective, and feel confident in being able to handle anything life may hand them. I strive to help clients gain a better understanding of their triggers and patterns, and be able to make a choice of how they respond.

I utilize a variety of evidence based practices including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), exposure therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and integrative behavioral couples therapy (IBCT). Current research finds these treatments to be effective for treating many concerns including depression, anxiety, panic, and relationship satisfaction. I frequently discuss mindfulness and self-compassion techniques. I customize treatment to fit each client’s unique needs, preferences, and strengths. We will collaborate to develop a toolkit of strategies that works for you.

I am honored by clients opening up and connecting with me. I am frequently moved by their experiences, and inspired by their resilience. I love being able to work with people to help them make positive changes they may have once doubted they could make.

Education & Training

I received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from University of Colorado Boulder.

I have 10+ years of clinical experience working in a variety of settings including college counseling centers, hospitals, group practices, and non-profit organizations. I completed my postdoctoral residency at Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek, and predoctoral internship at the University of California, Los Angeles Counseling and Psychological Services.

I’ve had the privilege of working with a richly diverse clientele, including the BIPOC community, international students, first-generation college students, and the LGBTQIA+ community. I’ve also enjoyed working with clients navigating a diverse range of concerns and difficulties including anxiety, stress, depression, relationship and dating issues, family conflict, career concerns, grief/loss, identity development, and life transitions, many of which may occur simultaneously or evolve over time.

Research Experience and Publications

During graduate school I researched romantic relationship quality and its associations with mental and physical health. These experiences fuel my interest in helping individuals and couples navigate their relationships, understanding that relationship quality is intricately connected with physical and mental health and well-being.

Whisman, M. A. & Li, A. (2015). Assessment of positive and negative relationship adjustment in marriage. Personal Relationships, 22, 679-691. doi: 10.1111/pere.12103

Li A., Robustelli B. L., & Whisman M. A. (2015). Marital adjustment and psychological distress in Japan. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 33, 855-866. doi:10.1177/0265407515599678

Robustelli, B. L., Trytko, A. C., Li, A., & Whisman, M. A. (2015). Marital discord and suicide outcomes in a national sample of married individuals. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 45, 623-632. doi:10.1111/sltb.12157

Whisman, M. A., Li, A., Sbarra, D. A., & Raison, C. L. (2014). Marital quality and diabetes: Results from the Health and Retirement Study. Health Psychology, 33, 832-840. doi:10.1037/hea0000064

Whisman, M. A., Johnson, D. P., Li, A., & Robustelli, B. L. (2014). Intimate relationship involvement, intimate relationship quality, and psychiatric disorders in adolescents. Journal of Family Psychology, 28, 908-914. doi:10.1037/fam0000026 

Whisman, M. A., Johnson, D. P., BE, D., & Li, A. (2012). Couple-based interventions for depression. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 1, 185-198. doi:10.1037/a0029960