Psychology Interns & Post-Doctoral Fellows

BIO

Hi! My name is Alejandra (she/her), and I am excited to serve as a Doctoral Psychology Intern at the UCI Counseling Center this year. I strive to build a warm, nonjudgmental, and brave space where you can show up exactly as you are My approach to therapy is collaborative and integrative, combining person-centered care and CBT while holding multiculturalism, social justice, and intersectional feminist theory as core lenses to my work and identity. As a bilingual, Spanish-speaking, first-generation immigrant, I am deeply committed to honoring your unique background and lived experiences. In my free time, I love traveling, reading, dancing, crafting, and laughing at stand-up comedy.

M.S. Clinical Psychology, Loyola University Maryland.

Co-Liaison: 

BIO

I believe that our lives are made up of stories, yet sometimes we can become caught in a single story about who we are, what we have experienced, or what is possible for our future. This prevents us from seeing more other possibilities. As a therapist, I draw from Narrative Therapy to help clients explore the stories they carry and discover alternative stories that may have been overlooked. Together, we can make space for new possibilities and ways of moving through life.

I am especially passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ students as they navigate identity, relationships, transitions, and the many experiences that shape their sense of self. I also enjoy working with clients around adjustment, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, body image and eating concerns, trauma and PTSD, identity development, and relationship concerns. My approach is collaborative and grounded in curiosity, with the belief that you are the expert on your own life.

I am currently a Doctoral Psychology Intern at the UCI Counseling Center and a doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at the University of Iowa. I earned my M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2022 and my B. A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2019. I also speak Mandarin.
My clinical work is supervised by Dr. Ivan Dalton and Dr. Aja Trotter. I am affiliated with the Cross Cultural Center.

Pronouns: she/they

M.A. Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Co-Liaison: Cross Cultural Center

BIO

Hi Anteaters! I am Sahiba Khera (she/her), a Doctoral Psychology Intern at the UCI Counseling Center. I am currently completing my Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant University, Los Angeles.

I enjoy working with college students as they navigate anxiety, identity development, relationship concerns, life transitions, academic stress, and family or cultural challenges. I take an integrative approach to therapy that is relational, person-centered, and strengths-based. I tailor my approach to each student’s needs while considering the cultural, family, and systemic factors that shape their experiences. My goal is to create a collaborative and supportive space where students feel safe and can work toward meaningful change.

As an Indian American clinician, my research focuses on the mental health of South Asian college students, with an emphasis on family dynamics, parental expectations, and acculturation. Outside of work, I enjoy trying new restaurants, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

M.A. in Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant University, Los Angeles

Co-Liaison: Transfer Student Center

BIO

Hi all! I’m Colten (he/him/his), and I’m excited to be a Doctoral Psychology Intern at the UCI Counseling Center this year. I am currently completing my Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology through the PAU–Stanford PsyD Consortium.

My approach to therapy is collaborative and values based. I strive to create a supportive and nonjudgmental space where students can better understand themselves, explore what matters most to them, and develop ways of navigating challenges that allow them to move toward the lives they want to lead. I am particularly interested in working with students navigating anxiety, stress, relationships, identity development, major life transitions, and the unique pressures associated with collegiate life.

Athletics has been an important part of my life and has shaped my interest in working with student athletes. Prior to pursuing psychology, I competed at both the national and international levels, including representing Team USA and becoming an NCAA All-American at Princeton University. These experiences contributed to my interest in the intersection of mental health, identity, performance, and well-being.

Outside of the Counseling Center, I enjoy going to the movies, board games, reading thrillers, staying active, and spending time with friends and family. I’m excited to be part of the UCI community and look forward to meeting and working with you this year!

Pronouns: he/him/his

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, PAU–Stanford PsyD Consortium

Co-Liaison: Athletics

BIO

Mental health can be difficult to speak about. It is not always visible, measurable, or easily understood, even by the person experiencing it. And when the struggle is invisible, reaching out for help can feel even harder, and stigma, shame, guilt, or other factors could come in the way. If you find yourself in that place, please reach out. You do not need to have the right words or know exactly what you need. We can begin where you’re at, and figure it out together with compassion and at your pace.

My approach is influenced by my experiences working a variety of concerns including depression, OCD, suicidality, trauma and psychosis with populations in India and the US. I use integrative, insight-oriented approaches in my work and provide therapy in Gujarati, Hindi, and English.

Pronouns:

Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Pre-doctoral clinical internship from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
M.A. in Counseling Psychology from SNDT University, Mumbai, India.
UGC-NET for Assistant Professorship in Psychology, India.

Co-Liaison: Suicide Prevention and Outreach

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