In-Person in San Jose & Online Throughout California
Women’s Mental Health in San Jose
Every week, I help women who've mastered the art of "making it work,"while carrying the weight of unspoken struggles.
The Bloom & Build Framework
Deepening your healing journey
In this foundational phase, we explore beneath the surface of symptoms to identify and address the root causes of distress. Through therapeutic conversations and targeted assessments, we create a secure base from which deeper healing can emerge. This work forms the cornerstone of sustainable mental wellness.
Creating meaningful connections
Building on your personal foundation, we expand focus to your relational world. This phase emphasizes developing skills that foster emotional safety, authentic expression, and deeper bonds. We'll work on creating boundaries that protect your energy and communication patterns that foster understanding and connection with others.
Embodying holistic wellbeing
As your journey progresses, we incorporate practical lifestyle elements that reinforce your psychological growth. Drawing from the six pillars of lifestyle medicine—nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, relationships, and substance avoidance—we craft personalized strategies for lasting transformation and vibrant wellbeing in all areas of your life.
Reproductive & Hormonal Health
Your cultural identity isn't just a backdrop - it's a vital part of your healing journey. As someone who's walked the path from first-generation college student to Harvard-trained psychiatrist, I understand firsthand how success in spaces not designed for us can come with hidden costs. Together, we'll:
Honor your cultural strengths while healing from cultural wounds
Transform code-switching fatigue into authentic presence
Build strategies for thriving in predominantly white spaces while preserving your essence
Create pathways for success that don't require leaving your true self behind
Personal Growth & Mental Wellness
Your cultural identity isn't just a backdrop - it's a vital part of your healing journey. As someone who's walked the path from first-generation college student to Harvard-trained psychiatrist, I understand firsthand how success in spaces not designed for us can come with hidden costs. Together, we'll:
Honor your cultural strengths while healing from cultural wounds
Transform code-switching fatigue into authentic presence
Build strategies for thriving in predominantly white spaces while preserving your essence
Create pathways for success that don't require leaving your true self behind
Relationship Growth & Connection
Your cultural identity isn't just a backdrop - it's a vital part of your healing journey. As someone who's walked the path from first-generation college student to Harvard-trained psychiatrist, I understand firsthand how success in spaces not designed for us can come with hidden costs. Together, we'll:
Honor your cultural strengths while healing from cultural wounds
Transform code-switching fatigue into authentic presence
Build strategies for thriving in predominantly white spaces while preserving your essence
Create pathways for success that don't require leaving your true self behind
At Bloom & Build, we recognize that mental wellness doesn't fit neatly into standard medical boxes. Our integrative approach combines evidence-based psychiatric care with cultural attuned and whole-person care.
Our Signature Services
Our Integrative Approach
At Bloom and Build, lifestyle psychiatry is woven throughout all our services. We believe in treating the whole person—addressing mental health through the lens of sleep, nutrition, movement, stress management, and meaningful connection.
Commonly Treated Mental Health Conditions
At Bloom & Build, we provide specialized mental health care for a range of conditions, with particular expertise in supporting women through life's transitions. Our approach ensures that your treatment plan considers your whole story—not just your symptoms.
DEPRESSION
- Bipolar Depression
- Major depressive disorder
- Persistent depressive disorder
- Treatment-resistant depression
ANXIETY
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Work-related anxiety
- Cultural adjustment anxiety
POSTPARTUM MENTAL HEALTH
- Postpartum depression
- Postpartum anxiety
- Pregnancy related mood changes
- Birth trauma processing
- Return-to-work transitions
HORMONE-RELATED MOOD CHANGES
- Premenstrual mood disorders (PMS/PMDD)
- Perimenopause-related mood changes
ADHD IN WOMEN
- Late-diagnosed ADHD
- Executive function challenges
- Work performance impact
- Emotional regulation
- ADHD and perfectionism
- Medication management when needed
PERFORMANCE & CAREER
- Professional burnout
- Perfectionism
- Imposter syndrome
- Work-life integration
- Career transition stress
IDENTITY & RELATIONSHIPS
- Cultural identity exploration
- Racial trauma and stress
- Relationship challenges
- Family dynamics
- Life transitions
- Grief and loss
Insurance & Payment Information
Out-of-network provider for maximum care flexibility
Detailed superbills for insurance reimbursement
HSA/FSA payments accepted
Payment required at time of service
Group program pricing structured for accessibility
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our evidence-based, culturally attuned approach to mental healthcare and what to expect when working with Bloom and Build Integrative Psychiatry.
A psychiatric diagnostic evaluation is a comprehensive 90-minute initial assessment that goes far beyond basic symptom checklists. It is a foundational session that creates the roadmap for your personalized mental health journey.
During this in-depth evaluation, we explore:
- Your complete mental health and medical history
- Current symptoms and their impact on your daily functioning
- Family patterns and relationships
- Cultural and identity factors that shape your experience
- Hormonal influences on your mental health (particularly important for women with ADHD, anxiety, or mood disorders)
- Lifestyle factors including sleep, nutrition, stress, and physical activity
- Previous treatments and their effectiveness
Research Perspective
Unlike standardized approaches that might miss cultural nuances, our evaluations are culturally attuned, recognizing how symptoms may present differently across diverse backgrounds. This is particularly important for minoritized groups of women, who are often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed for conditions like ADHD and depression.
Following your evaluation, you'll receive a thorough assessment with diagnostic impressions and a collaborative treatment plan that aligns with your goals and values.
Many private practice clinicians don't accept insurance for several important reasons that directly impact the quality of care we can provide.
Insurance typically reimburses mental healthcare at significantly lower rates than private pay, while simultaneously requiring extensive documentation and administrative work. This creates an unsustainable business model for many providers, especially those offering culturally responsive care that requires additional expertise.
For practices like Bloom and Build Integrative Psychiatry that specialize in serving Black women and other underrepresented communities in the Bay Area:
- Insurance-dictated session times (often 15-20 minutes) are simply inadequate for meaningful therapeutic work, especially when addressing complex cultural factors and trauma.
- Insurance companies frequently limit the number of sessions and types of treatments covered, restricting our ability to provide truly personalized care.
- Diagnostic labels required for insurance reimbursement can sometimes be stigmatizing and may not capture the full complexity of your experience, particularly when cultural factors play a significant role.
Clinical Considerations
By operating outside the insurance system, we can offer longer sessions, more personalized treatment approaches, and greater privacy. While we understand this creates financial considerations, we believe the investment in comprehensive, culturally attuned care yields better outcomes. We do provide superbills that may allow for partial reimbursement through out-of-network benefits.
The timeline for improvement with therapy and/or psychiatric medications varies based on several factors, including the specific condition, severity of symptoms, individual physiology, and the treatment approach. After diagnostic evaluation you should be provided with clearer expectations.
Medication Timeline
For many women with mood disorders, some medication benefits may begin within 2-4 weeks, though full therapeutic effects often take 6-8 weeks. ADHD medications typically work more quickly, sometimes providing same-day symptom relief.
Therapeutic Progress
Therapy benefits often follow a different timeline. Some experience emotional relief after just 1-2 sessions of feeling truly heard and understood—particularly important for women who may have had previous experiences of being dismissed in healthcare settings. Measurable symptom improvement typically begins within 4-6 weeks of consistent therapy, with more substantial changes developing over 3-6 months.
During your treatment, we'll regularly assess your progress and adjust your personalized care plan as needed, ensuring you're on the optimal path to wellness.