Psychology Interns & Post-Doctoral Fellows

BIO

Hi! I’m Tania. I’m excited to be a Doctoral Psychology Intern at the UCI Counseling Center this year. I am a bilingual clinician and speak Mandarin. My work is grounded in curiosity, cultural humility, humor, and collaboration. I draw from a relational and insight-oriented approach, incorporating mindfulness, DBT, and CBT to meet the unique needs of each client. I hope that both my personal and clinical experiences can offer insight and compassion in navigating the complex world we live in.
Outside of work, I enjoy rock climbing, scuba diving, woodworking, and watching sports like the WNBA, women’s soccer, and Formula 1. I look forward to meeting and working with you!

M.A. In Clinical Psychology, The Wright Institute 

Co-Liaison: Athletics, The COACH Program

BIO

Hello and welcome to the Counseling Center! I’m Angie (she/her), and I’m excited to be a Doctoral Psychology Intern at UCI, where I will be offering individual and group therapy as well as outreach services. My passion and goals for psychology were shaped by my personal experiences as a second-generation immigrant. As a Chinese-Taiwanese American, I am passionate about creating a safe and non-judgmental space to explore ethnic minority mental health and the layers of an individual’s identity, along with the challenges that can come with them. I have experience addressing varieties of concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationships, and exploring ethnic minority and LGBTQIA+ identities.

In my therapeutic approach, I utilize person-centered and humanistic perspectives to help students uncover their values and accomplish their goals. I may also bring in mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral approaches to address concerns around stress and negative thinking patterns.

When I am not at the Counseling Center, I enjoy reading, painting, playing computer games, and spending time with my cat. I look forward to working with you this year!

Pronouns: she/her/hers

M.A., Clinical Psychology, Alliant International University – Los Angeles

Co-Liaison: eSports

BIO

Hello, and welcome to the UCI Counseling Center! As a post-doctoral fellow with a focus on outreach and suicide prevention, I am passionate about community-focused, culturally- sensitive interventions that reduce stigma around mental health concerns, and increase the protective factors that empower all students to flourish during their academic career.

I have experience working with college students around a variety of issues, including depression, anxiety, OCD, major life transitions, and identity concerns. As a clinician, I utilize a trauma-informed, neuro-affirmative approach to treatment within a variety of therapeutic models and am passionate about providing culturally relevant care for students belonging to diverse communities, including but not limited to first generation students and those on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. I work collaboratively with my clients: together we will work to reduce any barriers to you goals by harnessing your strengths and building tools to help you feel empowered to work through your emotions, connect with others, and advocate for yourself within your environment. Go Anteaters!

Pronouns: they/them

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Fuller School of Psychology and Marriage & Family Therapy

Co-Liaison: Outreach and Suicide Prevention Track

BIO

Welcome, Anteaters! I’m excited to be here at the UCI Counseling Center, completing my Post-Doctoral Fellowship. My clinical journey has been shaped by working with diverse populations in settings such as public schools, community mental health, and university counseling. I have a deep passion for supporting college students during this pivotal stage of self-discovery, growth, and transition, as you navigate both relational and career milestones.

My approach to therapy is relational, aiming to create a space where you feel heard, seen, valued, and empowered. I offer a strengths-based and empathetic approach to fostering self-exploration and growth. I draw from a multicultural, psychodynamic, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) approach to help address your goals, uncover strengths, tackle obstacles, and move toward a fulfilling, authentic life. I want you to become more of you.

As a biracial Taiwanese American, I bring a multicultural perspective to my work, understanding the unique ways cultural identity shapes our experiences. My clinical interests are rooted in social justice, spiritual integration, intersectionality, multicultural identity, and trauma-informed care, especially in the context of relational and sexual trauma. As a previous social worker, I am also passionate about working with former foster youth through empowerment.

When I’m not in the office, I love spending time at the beach and connecting with family and friends. I’m looking forward to partnering with you this year and supporting your journey toward personal growth and well-being.

Pronouns: she/her

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, M.S.W., M.A., Rosemead School of Psychology

BIO

Hi Anteaters! I’m so thrilled to be joining the Counseling Center this year for my postdoctoral training, with a focus on outreach programming. Working with college students has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Students at university are in a time of such great transition, developing further in their individual, interpersonal, academic, and professional identities in ways that can be profoundly impacted by even a short time in therapy. I work from an integrative approach, drawing from both third-wave cognitive-behavioral and relational approaches, to help you face the challenges in your life with more skill and ease. I strive to collaboratively set goals and engage in work that not only brings you closer to your core values, but also fits within the context of your life. Essential to that is acknowledging the ways in which your intersecting multicultural identities shape your experience and working alongside those experiences to support your sense of well-being.

In my life outside of work, I am a person who loves to create. I like to cook, tend to plants, and do a whole range of arts and crafts. In that same spirit, therapy, too, is a place of creation. I look forward to working with you to create a life that feels more attuned to who you are and where you want to go. Zot zot zot!

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium

BIO

Hi there! I am honored to be here with you this year as one of the psychology doctoral interns at the UCI Counseling Center. My training has spanned across clinics, hospitals, college campuses, and even the woods! I have returned to this unique setting for the amazing identity development and growth that academic life can foster. I use an integrated Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and systems approach to understand the various environmental, cultural, and personal variables impacting what is important to you. While I have focused much of my education and work with the queer and trans population, I have also often worked with students on the spectrum, those who have experienced trauma, and those navigating anxiety, depression, and inattention. Across all of these populations, I care deeply about applying an intersectional, social-justice oriented lens to fully contextualize your mental healthcare services and wellbeing on campus. I personally live in a White, cisgender, gay, neurodiverse, able body. I hope that through a safe and affirming relationship, we can bring you closer to your values. You can find me on campus offering individual, group, and relationship therapy as well as at various outreach events throughout the year!
Thanks for being here, and Zot Zot!

Pronouns: : She/Her/Hers

M.A. in Clinical Psychology, University of Hartford, Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology

Co-Liaison: CARE Office

BIO

Hi Anteaters! I’m Nicollette Balassanian (she/her), a Doctoral Psychology Intern at the UCI Counseling Center. I’m excited to be here this year offering individual therapy, group therapy, outreach, and consultation services. My goal is to create a safe, collaborative, and encouraging space where students feel supported in navigating challenges, building resilience, and working toward their goals.

I take an integrative approach to therapy, drawing from psychodynamic, relational, and cognitive-behavioral perspectives, while considering the cultural and systemic factors that shape each student’s experience. I have worked with children, teens, and adults from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds in community mental health, private practice, and college counseling settings. I am especially passionate about working with students who are adjusting to major life transitions, exploring their identities, or navigating academic stress, anxiety, or relationship concerns.

A little about me: I’m a second-generation Armenian-American (bilingual in Armenian and English) and a So Cal native. Outside of counseling, I enjoy game nights, listening to podcasts, and spending time with friends, family, and my cat Կայծակ.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

M.A. in Clinical Psychology, CSPP, Alliant International University
M.A. in Psychology, Pepperdine University

Co-Liaison: Undergraduate/Graduate Housing