Aquila Richardson, Ph.D.

Dr. Richardson (she/her) is a Bay Area native and clinical psychologist dedicated to providing warm, culturally responsive, collaborative, and compassionate care. She earned her B.A. in psychology from U.C. Berkeley and her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP).

Her clinical experience spans diverse settings, including multiple specialty clinics at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente, where she developed a rich skill set in treating ADHD, addiction, anxiety, eating disorders, identity-related stress, insomnia, stress management, mood disorders, PTSD, relational challenges, self-esteem concerns, and trauma.

Dr. Richardson takes a holistic approach to therapy, integrating a biopsychosocial perspective with evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and internal family systems (IFS). She utilizes trauma-informed approaches and exposure-based interventions when appropriate, ensuring that care is compassionate and attuned to each client’s needs. She draws flexibly from these modalities to tailor interventions that best meet each client’s unique needs and empower them to make value-driven choices. She also incorporates neuroscience-informed principles to support meaningful change. 

Dr. Richardson values multicultural sensitivity and skillfully integrates diverse cultural perspectives into treatment, fostering inclusivity and a deeper understanding of her clients. Her commitment to lifelong learning and staying current with empirical research enhances her ability to provide effective, evidence-based care. As a certified mindfulness meditation teacher, she incorporates mindfulness principles into therapy, offering clients additional tools for resilience and well-being.

At her core, Dr. Richardson believes in compassion-based therapy and the importance of multicultural psychology. Dr. Richardson is a BIPOC clinician who prioritizes cultural humility and recognizes healing as a holistic process influenced by physical, psychological, social, and systemic factors. She empowers her clients to cultivate self-awareness, resilience, and joy as essential components of well-being.