Yoko Katahira-Ables

B.A. in Psychology, UC Santa Cruz

B.A. in Education, Democracy, & Justice, UC Santa Cruz

M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Azusa Pacific University

Psy.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology, Azusa Pacific University

 

I am passionate about creating a safe, nonjudgmental, and collaborative therapeutic space where I can walk alongside students as they explore meaningful paths toward growth and healing. I believe in honoring each person in their full complexity, including the intersecting identities, familial and intergenerational histories, and sociocultural contexts they bring into therapy. My approach is primarily grounded in psychoanalytic and trauma-informed principles, with an emphasis on understanding how early experiences shape our current ways of relating, coping, and making sense of ourselves and the world. I also integrate interventions from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to provide care that is individualized, flexible, and responsive to each student’s unique needs and goals. I enjoy working with students from all backgrounds and presentations, and have particular clinical

interests in neurodiversity (e.g., Autism, ADHD, learning differences), underrepresented and

underserved communities (e.g., BIPOC, first-generation college students), complex trauma,

attachment and interpersonal relationships, anxiety, and identity development.

 

I am a doctoral psychology intern and am currently completing my Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

at Azusa Pacific University. My dissertation is a qualitative study exploring the psychosocial

consequences of code-switching among Asian American women in higher education. As a

biracial Japanese American woman and first-generation college student, I am deeply committed

to understanding how culture, identity, and systemic contexts shape people’s lived experiences

and mental health. My clinical training has included both psychotherapy and neuropsychological

assessment across community mental health, university counseling, and private practice settings.

 

Outside of work, I enjoy plant-based cooking, traveling, spending time in nature, and sharing

adventures with my very lovable, high-energy dog, Lulu.