Cheryl Tien, Psy.D., MA

About Me

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist and certified psychedelic-assisted therapy provider with over 12 years of experience across clinical, academic, and integrated healthcare settings. Like many providers, I reached a point of burnout during the pandemic, questioning whether traditional approaches were truly helping my clients create meaningful change. Around that same time, I witnessed my (now) husband—who had lived with treatment-resistant depression for over a decade—experience profound healing through ketamine-assisted therapy. Seeing his transformation firsthand didn’t just shift my clinical perspective—it reaffirmed my belief that, with the right support, these modalities can be deeply life-changing.

My work is grounded in a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens and shaped by both professional training and lived experience. As the daughter of Chinese-Vietnamese refugees and a Bay Area native, I understand how identity, culture, and systemic forces shape mental health. I approach therapy with the belief that suffering is not a personal failure, but often a reflection of the environments and systems we’ve had to navigate. Together, we explore the patterns, beliefs, and experiences that no longer serve you, while building tools to support healing, resilience, and growth.

I specialize in working with trauma (including generational, relational, and systemic), life transitions such as grief, identity shifts, and medical diagnoses, relationship dynamics, and psychedelic preparation and integration. I also support clients navigating multicultural identities, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and nontraditional relationship structures, with care that is affirming and nuanced.

Clients often describe my style as warm, direct, and collaborative, with a balance of compassion and honesty. I integrate research, clinical expertise, and your lived experience to create a therapeutic process that feels both grounded and transformative. It’s a privilege to hold your story, and my goal is not only to help reduce suffering, but to support you in building a life that feels more aligned, expansive, and joyful.

In addition to psychotherapy, I offer psychedelic preparation and integration, community workshops, and consultation for mental health professionals and training programs. My background in research—including social media and mental health, the role of art in healing, and mental health advocacy—continues to inform my approach and commitment to accessible, evolving care.