Hellohihey! I’m Ryan!
Whether it’s your first time in therapy or have been looking for a new therapist, welcome! I thank you and applaud you for taking steps to help yourself in your mental health journey. Seeking help and talking about some of our deepest, darkest, and most difficult moments can be really challenging, and I hope to be able to support you in navigating through it. As founder of Well-Being Heritage Therapeutic Services, I aim to create a space and community that can help you build another sense of “home” - a space of validation and acceptance, of diversity and inclusivity, a place to come as you are. A space to laugh together, cry together, and succeed together.
Who AM I?
Growing up in Southern California, I was seen as a stereotypical “Asian” or “Filipino” - I practiced karate, did well at math, loved to karaoke, and grew up in a quiet suburban Catholic household - but I am more than just any stereotype. My name is Ryan Dalusag, a proud second-generation cis Filipino-American Queer man of color and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CA #86311). I have more than 10 years of experience working in the mental health field coming from residential facilities, inpatient hospitals, outpatient programs, community mental health, and academic school systems. I have been privileged to have been able to meet and work with many individuals and families who have opened up their hearts and shared their stories with me over the years. I enjoy nerdy stuff like anime or video games, trying new foods while traveling, dancing by myself or learning some new choreography, and spending time with friends enjoying a cup of matcha.
As a Queer Filipino-American, I proudly work to advocate and support those in the Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) and the greater BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) community as well as LGBTQ+ communities to help break the stigma on mental health and build an understanding of our loved ones, our culture, and of ourselves. I have seen within my communities the shame and fear that can come for those who may struggle with mental health challenges and I want to support Filipino mental health and other community efforts to bring awareness to those struggling alone. Some of my specialties include helping high-achieving adults who struggle with identity, sexuality, and/or perfectionism challenges, as well as breaking intergenerational trauma that leads to behaviors like codependency, avoidance, and burnout.
My Approach
I take a more client-centered and strengths-based approach; wherever you are in your journey, I’m here to help support and walk alongside you. I try not to assume anything when it comes to your story; you are the writer of your narrative and I’m here to help with what you feel is important or necessary. I primarily use techniques including CBT, DBT, and Brainspotting in my treatment interventions, as well as activities like art, movement, or games to help facilitate treatment.
As a clinician, my goal is to create a space to see you, hear you, and walk alongside you in your journey through therapy. I aim to create a safe and non-judgmental space, that is also adaptive and supportive through uncomfortable emotions and experiences when needed. I try to incorporate humor and activities to make the process dynamic, but most importantly, I want to provide what you need to feel supported and understood during our time together.
Specialties
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I get it, there’s a lot to be worried about nowadays. But there are ways to better navigate and cope with the endless thoughts in your head. Let’s work together to quiet the noise and get to a sense of peace.
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Brainspotting (BSP) is a brain, body, and relational approach that locates points in the individual’s visual field to help access and deepen the processing of emotions and thoughts in the subcortical brain. As a BSP therapist, we believe in and tap into the innate ability of the individual’s body to awareness and self-healing to lead towards positive change. BSP can be used solely or in conjunction with other modalities like talk therapy.
For more information, click here
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Whether it was difficult experiences you grew up with or a recent event that left an impact - trauma can hold us back from living the life we want. We can learn unhelpful behaviors from these traumatic experiences that keep us stuck or that can be hurtful and self-destructive. Together, we can better understand these cycles of behavior, learn to break them, and create new patterns towards the life you want.
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Fear and perfectionism can hold us back, and lead us to avoid experiences and people that could otherwise be beneficial. Change can be hard, painful even. But it doesn’t always have to be this way - we can make meaningful steps towards the change you want in your life. Let’s take that first step together.
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It’s hard to speak up or express ourselves when we don’t really know what we want or feel. Whether you’re struggling to understand yourself, needing some direction, or confused about your place in this big ol’ world - I am here to help.
I particularly focus on the identity challenges of gay/bisexual/queer males and Asian-American/Pacific Islander first and second-generation immigrant issues.
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With any kind of change, comes some level of grief. Whether it’s from the loss of a loved one, or because we left school, changed careers, broke up with a friend.. we can experience grief in a lot of ways. Change and grief can be painful, we can work through it at your pace together.
