ABOUT DR. JOANNA MAUNG
A warm, collaborative, and culturally informed approach to therapy.
Licensed Psychologist serving adults and couples throughout California.
Growing up as the daughter of Chinese Burmese immigrants, my early life was shaped by a profound sense of duty and the heavy, unspoken weight of intergenerational trauma. Like many children of immigrants whose families are in survival mode, we simply didn’t have the luxury of time or the language for mental health. For a long time, I didn’t understand my own anxiety; I just felt the relentless drive to achieve, pushing myself toward perfection while quietly struggling to hold it all together.
My perspective shifted in college while working at a refugee resettlement agency. Witnessing that community's incredible resilience opened my eyes to our profound human capacity for healing and change. I became a psychologist because I wanted to create the exact space I once needed: a warm, culturally affirming place where you don't have to explain your background, justify your burnout, or carry your family's trauma alone. I am here to help you navigate these complex feelings without guilt, giving yourself permission to honor your roots while building a life that feels genuinely yours.
I wanted to create a space where you don't have to spend half your session explaining your cultural background or the guilt that you carry. I already get it.
My Roots and My Why
Navigating Life’s Deepest Shifts
The narratives and coping strategies that once protected us can start to feel unhelpful or even heavy to carry when we transition into a new chapter of life. Stepping into a new career phase, navigating a changing relationship, or becoming a parent are rarely just milestones. They are profound psychological earthquakes that force us to confront the cultural blueprints we were handed and ask hard questions about what we actually want.
Having navigated my own seasons of change, I recognize how disorienting it can be to reconcile the joy you expected with the overwhelm you might actually be feeling.
If you're feeling lost, burned out, or stuck in this season, please know that you aren't failing, and you don't have to bear this burden on your own.
Working Together
Living and working in the Bay Area, It's easy to get swept up in the hustle, the perfectionism, and the pressure to constantly achieve. But in our sessions, we slow down.
My goal is to cultivate a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your inner experiences with honesty, compassion, and curiosity.
During our sessions, we will:
Better understand the patterns and experiences shaping your life today
Explore the stories, relationships, and beliefs that continue to influence you
Build practical tools to navigate challenges with greater confidence and flexibility
Move toward a life that feels more aligned with your values and needs
A Collaborative Approach to Healing
My style isn't about just sitting back and nodding; I am right there with you. I honor the pain and the heavy stuff you bring into the room, but I also actively guide and challenge you toward healing, growth, and a life that feels genuinely good on the inside. I offer a collaborative approach and draw from a blend of evidence-based practices, adapting them to fit your unique cultural history, lived experience, and specific goals.
The tools we will use to help you heal
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We will work to stop suppressing your thoughts and emotions, empowering you to take action toward a life that actually aligns with your values and not just everyone else’s expectations.
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We will catch and quiet the harsh inner critic, untangling the anxious, spiraling thoughts that keep you exhausted.
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We will explore how your early life and cultural blueprints shape the way you connect, trust, and set boundaries in your adult relationships today.
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We will use practical, research-backed tools to de-escalate conflict, break painful communication cycles, and rebuild a genuine partnership.
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We will utilize grounding techniques to help you step off the treadmill, regulate your nervous system, and find calm amidst the chaos of a busy Bay Area life.
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Our work will always prioritize your emotional and nervous system safety. We will honor how your past experiences shape your present reality, moving at a pace that feels reasonable, empowering, and safe for you.
My Background and Training
While our sessions will always feel human and conversational, my approach is grounded in evidence-based clinical training. My clinical experience spans hospital systems, university counseling centers, group private practice, and corporate wellness.
As a staff psychologist at Meta's onsite Wellness Center, I have a deep, firsthand understanding of the unique pressures, burnout, and anxiety experienced by Bay Area tech professionals.
Education & Licensure
Licensed Psychologist in California (PSY 32111)
Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City
M.A. Counseling, University of Missouri-Kansas City
B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, Magna Cum Laude, University of California, San Diego
Postdoctoral Fellowship: APA-Accredited in Adult Psychology at Kaiser Permanente Redwood City
Predoctoral Internship: APA-Accredited in Health Service Psychology at San Jose State University CAPS
Certifications & Background
Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C)
Trained in Gottman Level II (Couples Therapy)
Current Staff Psychologist: Meta onsite Wellness Center (Crossover Health)
Clinical Supervisor: Past supervisor of psychological associates, pre-doctoral interns, and practicum graduate students.
Researcher & Author: Published peer-reviewed articles and presentations on refugee mental health, resilience, coping, and posttraumatic growth.
Ready to Get Started?
Reaching out for therapy can feel daunting and bring up feelings of uncertainty and overwhelm. I recognize the courage it takes to begin this process and would be honored to support you along the way.