Like many children of immigrant parents, my path was guided toward becoming a medical doctor—a prestigious and respected profession in my culture, especially for women. But one summer changed everything.

At City of Hope Medical Center, I sat beside adolescents my age—young people who had spent their teen years in treatment rather than prom nights or college sendoffs. Laughter still found its way into the room through telenovelas and love stories, but I saw clearly how often the medical team moved in and out, laser-focused on symptoms and protocols. What I wanted was different: to understand the whole person. That summer, I discovered something unshakable—words can be medicine, too.

That realization set me on a new path. I pursued clinical psychology and trained extensively across hospitals, medical centers, and integrated care systems in the U.S. Over 6,000 hours of supervised training, a decade of education, and years of specialization in behavioral medicine and chronic illness shaped me into the psychologist I am today. I built my first practice in California in 2021 and spent years working in public sector health, including leading diabetes-focused behavioral health programs, training healthcare providers in patient-centered care, and co-facilitating community education.

In 2024, as newlyweds we relocated to the Netherlands- drawn by his career, our dream of a different pace of life, and a long-held desire to live abroad. The beginning was filled with joy and exploration: travel, new languages, honeymoon-phase magic. But it quickly shifted. After the sudden loss of our beloved dog, I had to grieve in a new country, far from family, friends, and familiar supports. Then came the logistics- housing, driving, municipality systems, healthcare, Dutch classes.

It hasn not been smooth or easy. It has felt transformational.

Through it all, I have leaned on my training and found new ways of supporting myself. My nervous system found rest for the first time in decades. My health changed—literally. My resting heart rate dropped in half. And I found that with the right tools, even the hardest transitions can hold something powerful.

This experience fuels how I support others. You are not starting over. You are shifting your identity. You bring who you are, and learn how to carry it differently. That is how I help my clients succeed- whether their struggles are around navigating a new culture, managing chronic illness, or rebuilding your sense of self in a time of transition.

Today, I also call the Netherlands home. I spend my days supporting clients across Europe and California through secure telehealth. I spend my free time ice skating, horseback riding, or cycling through the countryside—childhood joys I have rediscovered along the way. My cup is filled by the community we have built, the close connections I have found here, and yes—there is always a stroopwafel & haver milk cappuccino to sweeten the moment.