Meet the team

Catherine Kaila Manantan, AMFT

Yuki Shida, LMFT

Angela Nguyen, AMFT, APCC

About Yuki

I am passionate about working with Asian American children of immigrants with anxiety and childhood trauma. I’ve lived in the Bay Area California, Los Angeles, Orange County, California, and Tokyo, Japan. I am 2nd generation Japanese American and Japanese was my first language. I was raised by a single mother and am an eldest daughter.

Through therapy, I help my clients to understand that their perceived shame and struggle are actually badges of honor and courage. No matter your past or your current circumstances, you deserve to experience life richly and fully. You are in the driver’s seat of your mental health and your life.

I love therapy because I firmly believe that there is nothing too far gone, too far broken, than you cannot heal from. I have been practicing as a therapist for 8 years and I love my job. Along the way, I have picked up specialized training in trauma work, couples work, and clinical supervision of other pre-licensed therapists.

I am a mom of two and have been married for 12 years. My faith is important to me and I love to express it through music! I also love doing 1000 piece puzzles, baking, and traveling to Japan to see my relatives.

はじめまして。カリフォルニアでメンタルヘルスカウンセリングを行なっています。もし心配性やトラウマに苦しんでいるなら是非ご相談ください。心暖かく話を聞いて安心感を与えたいと思います。

Certifications

  • EMDR Certified EMDRIA

  • Gottman Method Level 2

  • 40hr Domestic Violence Counselor

  • California Clinical Supervisor

Education

  • University of California, Los Angeles Bachelor of Arts - Ethnomusicology 2012

  • Hope International University
    Master of Arts - Marriage and Family therapy 2017

Language Spoken

  • Japanese

About Kaila

Hi there! My name is Catherine Kaila, but you can just refer to me as Kaila. I'm a Filipino-American Associate Marriage & Family Therapist born and raised in California who is deeply committed to help Asian American children of immigrants navigate and heal intergenerational trauma, build healthier relationships, and cultivate emotional resilience.

I am driven by a strong passion for working with Asian American children of immigrants who:

  • want to explore their cultural identity

  • build stronger relationships and boundaries

  • strengthen their self-esteem

  • find healthy ways to cope with their emotions.

As a daughter of immigrants myself, I deeply understand the complexities of navigating multiple cultural identities and the unique challenges that come with it. This personal experience fuels my commitment to providing culturally sensitive therapy, creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can openly discuss their struggles and triumphs. I aim to empower individuals to embrace their heritage while confidently forging their own paths, fostering resilience and well-being in their personal and communal lives.

Outside of working as a therapist, I spend my time reading, cooking, and finding new shows and movies to watch.

Certifications

  • Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

  • Trauma-Focused CBT (TFCBT)

  • Problem Solving Therapy (PST)

Education

  • University of California, Riverside Bachelor of Arts - Psychology 2019

  • Mt. Saint Mary’s University
    Master of Science - Counseling Psychology; Marriage and Family Therapy 2023

Language Spoken

  • Tagalog

About Angela

I'm a trauma-informed therapist trained in EMDR, and I’m passionate about helping second-generation Asian American adults navigate life’s complexities — from relational and generational trauma to anxiety, depression, life transitions, bicultural identity struggles, and grief.

Growing up as an only child in a multigenerational household, raised by a single Vietnamese immigrant mother, I intimately understand the push and pull of holding space for your family’s stories and traumas while trying to create room for your own life. If you’ve ever felt the weight of needing to suppress your own needs to honor your family’s expectations or uphold filial piety, you’re not alone.

My goal is to help you understand what it means to become a cycle breaker — to unlearn survival skills like people-pleasing and emotional suppression that may have protected you in childhood but no longer serve you as an adult. Together, we’ll explore what thriving looks like for you, build self-compassion, and develop the emotional tools you need to create a more authentic, fulfilling life.

I know firsthand how hard it can be to seek help, especially when vulnerability wasn’t modeled or encouraged growing up. (Yes, your therapist has her own therapist!) It’s not easy to sit with difficult emotions when you were taught that only happiness and gratitude are acceptable. But the truth is, all emotions deserve to be seen and felt. Healing isn’t linear, but you don’t have to do it alone.

If you’re ready to feel more grounded and connected to yourself, I’m here to support you in a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can finally feel seen and heard. Let's take that first step together.

Outside of therapy sessions, you can find me going on walks with Pikmin on my Pikmin Bloom phone app, drinking signature lattes at local coffee shops, and pspspsping at stray and feral cats in neighborhoods.

Certifications

  • EMDR Trained

Education

  • California State University Fullerton Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
    Minor: Asian American Studies 2018

  • California State University Fullerton
    Master of Science - Counseling; Marriage and Family Therapy 2022

Language Spoken

  • Vietnamese

Therapy for Asian Americans in Irvine, California