My story begins in Los Angeles…

Hello! My name is Clarissa.  I was born and raised in Los Angeles and have found myself coming full circle to living the life of my dreams. Just recently, I’ve transitioned to San Francisco and consider both places home.

I was raised by parents who were refugees from Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime. I felt my family’s desperation to survive in an unfamiliar country, with only external markers of success to guide us. So, I made excellent grades but also struggled with body image issues as a teenager.  I attended a prestigious university, UC Berkeley, but felt lost with my chosen pre-med path.  All along, I felt a natural attraction towards psychology, a calling that would make itself very clear. I studied the relationship between anxiety, perfectionism, and disordered eating, writing my honors’ thesis on effectively interrupting this unhealthy cycle with self-compassion. I found hope and a better understanding of myself in the process. 

I often contemplate how science relates to the mind, body, and spirit.  I earned a clinical doctorate at USC in occupational therapy, a profession that blends both physical and mental health.  I’ve been practicing occupational therapy for the past 6 years and have always been fascinated by the brain so specialized in neurorehabilitation, increasing my patients’ independence with meaningful activities.  I found a lot of joy in connecting with each patient, expanding their possibilities for a more fulfilling life.  

Although I was successful in all external measures, with a stable income in a respected profession, I continued to seek more “success.” It wasn’t until I worked with a hypnotherapist that I understood how intensely the need for external validation still existed in my subconscious mind. I knew consciously that I’m doing enough but I had this subconscious drive to keep proving myself -- I felt trapped in this compulsion that was burning me out more quickly than I was willing to admit.

I was amazed by how effective hypnotherapy was in freeing me from these lifelong issues.  I’ve reconciled the internal conflict between my two different cultures, healed from my family’s scarcity mindset, and finally feel that my life is more than enough as it is. The results were profound, changing me in ways I didn’t even know possible. 

After experiencing the power of hypnotherapy, I wanted to share this secret with everyone around me!  I am an honors graduate of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, the first federally accredited college of hypnotherapy. I am also certified in smoking cessation, pain management, and weight loss. I have earned specialty certifications such as the Therapeutic Imagery Master certification as well as Neuro Linguistic Programming. It has been such a fulfilling journey and I’m excited to guide you on yours!