Meet Jaya
she/hers
If you ask me what I would be doing if I didn’t have to work, I’d tell you exactly what I’m doing now with a few minor edits. While working within the frames of capitalism has its challenges, supporting others in healing is a calling. Believe it or not, my kindergarten teacher would agree, as evident by the note she wrote my parents telling them how much I loved to help my classmates.
Not only am I passionate about what I do, I’m also very curious and hungry to learn more.
My academic background includes experience in studying, teaching, and researching about cognition, physiology, and the affective sciences. My graduate clinical training focused on Liberation Psychology and Critical Social Work as a way to weave in addressing the impacts of systemic oppression on mental health.
Beyond the baseline requirements for graduate degrees and licensure, I have engaged in many notable trainings. Some include: two years of studying Interpersonal Neurobiology from a culturally sensitive and socially critical framework, 40 hours of Domestic Violence training (in two states), Certified Nutrition Coaching, Nutritional Psychotherapy training, and several Somatic Psychotherapy courses.
Outside of the academic and clinical training, I also heavily study lineages of socially conscious Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism philosophy and other Indigenous healing practices. Part of my Decolonial therapy approach is interweaving non-desecrated holistic methods from global traditions. Rather that treating one part of you, I look to how can we support healing your whole being.
I hold various social identities with layers of being targeted and privileged. While each social identity in and of itself doesn’t reflect the entirety of my being, it can be helpful to know that as a therapist I walk with experience as a child of immigrants, a queer, cis, disabled woman of color, and as a person with chronic pain.
Because healing is a calling, I find this thread of exploring and connecting with life continues outside of my work. Whether I’m in deep meditative or contemplative practice with my Sangha, finding laughter with my beloved family, deepening my connection to my body, the earth, or organizing in social action with my community, I move with intention living a life with compassion and connection.
Honoring My Decolonial Learning Lineages
My Elders and Ancestors
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My parents who continue teaching me wisdom and embodied practices
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My elders who were radical activists, feminist, and Freedom Fighters, pushing against caste and British colonial control
Ongoing Mentorship through descendants of Bonnie Badenoch PhD, LMFT
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Sharing Interpersonal Neurobiology through culturally responsive, Black, neurodiverse, and queer perspectives
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Focus on navigating white supremacy and healing through relationship
Linda Thai
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Globally grounded somatic practices, challenging modernity and colonization
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Healing trauma
Gloria Lucas
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Community based education on Indigenous cosmologies and healing eating disorders
East Bay Meditation Center and Buddhist Peace Fellowship
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Socially conscious Dharma practices
Other notable knowledge providers:
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Dr. Michael Yellow Bird
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Dr. Rupa Marya