THERESA DAGONDON BRINKMAN

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As a Vietnamese-Filipino American woman from a low-income immigrant household, I understand the cultural stigma and systemic barriers surrounding mental health. These lived experiences inform my commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive, and culturally responsive space where all clients feel seen, heard, and supported.

I’m a proud first-generation college graduate and an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, passionate about working with adolescents, young adults, and families. My person-centered, relational approach is grounded in evidence-based practices. I also bring a unique perspective from my previous career in Human Resources, which enhances my understanding of interpersonal dynamics, identity development, and communication.

I'm especially dedicated to helping youth build emotional awareness, confidence, and connection. My goal is to support young people and families in cultivating resilience and thriving in their mental health journeys. I’m also a mother to adolescent twins, a boy and a girl, with a strong background in partnering with parents and their children to communicate with impact, empathy, and compassion.

About Me

I tailor therapy to meet each client’s unique needs, drawing from a range of evidence-based, client-centered approaches. My work is rooted in compassion, cultural humility, and a deep belief in each person’s capacity for growth and healing.

• Person-Centered & Strengths-Based Therapy: Creating space for growth through empathy, authenticity, and a focus on inner strengths.
  
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT): Helping restructure thoughts and behaviors to support healing and resilience.
  
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Building emotional regulation, mindfulness, and effective interpersonal skills.
  
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Encouraging alignment with personal values and increasing psychological flexibility.
  
• Behavioral Activation: Rediscovering joy and motivation through engaging in meaningful activities
  
• Attachment-Based & Psychodynamic Therapy: Exploring early experiences and relational patterns to foster deeper understanding and healing.
  
• Child-Centered Play Therapy: Supporting emotional expression and healing through developmentally appropriate play.
  
• Trauma-Informed Care: Prioritizing safety, empowerment, and sensitivity to each client's trauma history.

• Internal Family Systems (IFS) Informed: Years of experience applying core IFS principles in both therapeutic and classroom settings to help clients explore inner parts and restore balance.
  

I bring a diverse background in mental health, education, and corporate leadership to my work as a therapist:

• MFT Trainee at West Valley College: Provided individual and group therapy to college students, conducted assessments, created treatment plans, and participated in campus-wide wellness outreach.
  
• SEL Facilitator & Girls on the Run Coach (Indigo Program): Led K–8 social-emotional learning and life skills programs, promoting youth empowerment, confidence, and mental health.
  
• HR Professional (Cisco Systems & Planet Orange): Specialized in employee relations, talent development, and leadership coaching—emphasizing empathy, communication, and organizational well-being.
  
• Community Involvement: Served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster youth and held leadership roles in parent and community-based groups.
  

My clinical and professional journey is rooted in a lifelong passion for supporting individuals and families to heal, grow, and thrive—mentally, emotionally, and relationally.

Education: 

• M.A. Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University
• B.A. Psychology, Minor in Communications, Saint Mary’s College of California

Languages: English, Vietnamese

Certifications:

MBTI (Myers Briggs) Certified Facilitator

I'm here to walk alongside you as you explore what's keeping you stuck and connect with your strengths to create a meaningful life. I see therapy as a unique relationship where you can understand yourself more deeply, uncover the resources that already exist within you, and live more fully as the person you want to be.

My Areas of Focus

Life Transitions & Purpose Development I especially enjoy working with teens and adults navigating significant life changes. These phases are full of potential for growth but can also bring anxiety, loss, loneliness, and disconnection from self. Drawing on my experience in purpose development, I support clients in connecting with what matters most and clearing obstacles to a values-driven life. We can customize an approach that might include deep self-discovery, practical coping strategies, or developing your capacity for meaningful relationships.

Relationship Dynamics I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating relationship conflict. As we build a trusting therapeutic relationship, we’ll identify unhelpful communication patterns and provide corrective emotional experiences to overcome difficulties stemming from early attachment relationships. Through this process, you'll develop more effective and authentic ways of connecting with the important people in your life.

Parenting Support As a parent myself and with over 15 years of experience as a developmental psychologist, I offer parent coaching and family therapy to help build stronger, more connected relationships. I support parents navigating contemporary parenting challenges and can integrate individual and family therapy to promote your child's emotional health and development.

My Therapeutic Approach

My approach is warm, relational, and deeply respectful of your personal journey. I provide a safe space where you can explore how past experiences and patterns may be showing up in your present life. Drawing from humanistic and psychodynamic approaches, I integrate evidence-based tools from modalities like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support growth in psychological flexibility, self-compassion, and values-based living.

Whether you're drawn to deep self-exploration or practical strategies, we'll work together to create a therapeutic process that fits your goals and helps you move toward the life you want to live.

I am supervised by Kent Campbell, LMFT. 

Teens & Families:
Anxiety · Perfectionism · Optimal Performance · Academic Stress · Self Esteem / Self Confidence Identity & Self-Image · Acculturation · Social Skills ·  Shame · Depression · Grief · Trauma · Emotional Wellness · Social Emotional Learning · Relationships · Interpersonal Communication ·   BIPOC Families · Parenting Support · Positive Discipline