I was born in Cebu, Philippines, and immigrated to Chino Hills, California when I was 4 years old. While my legal name is Alyssa, my parents and family have always called me “Lia,” a common practice in Filipino culture where your nickname becomes permanent. My heritage and culture are incredibly important to me, and I do my best to honor this significance by taking yearly visits to the Philippines, where much of my family resides.

I found my way into the field of therapy unexpectedly. After completing my Bachelor’s in Sociology with a focus on Social Work at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, I developed an interest in understanding the impact of social changes and structural inequality on human behavior. I knew that my future career would involve human relationships and advocacy, so I pursued my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California to dig deeper into this work.

During my graduate studies, my internships centered on therapy, which deepened my passion for the practice. Following graduation, I was a psychotherapist in the community mental health setting and the juvenile justice system before establishing my private practice.