Mia Semelman, Psy.D.

Dr. Semelman (she/her) works with individuals and couples affected by depression, stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, as well as identity-related stressors. She obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute and her B.A. in Philosophy from UC Berkeley. She received specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Multicultural Psychology. In her work with couples, she utilizes Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Nonviolent Communication to help people communicate in authentic and compassionate ways. She has provided clinical care in a variety of settings including hospitals, community mental health clinics, and colleges. Additionally, Dr. Semelman completed her doctoral internship at Kaiser Oakland in Acute Care Psychology and emergency department evaluations.

She is passionate about working with sexual and gender diverse communities including LGBTQ+, kink and non-monogamous folks. Her dissertation was titled, “Experiences of Jealousy in Consensual Non-Monogamous Relationships: Debunking Myths and Harnessing Strengths.” Her other recent research explored mental health stigma in Asian American youth.

Dr. Semelman’s approach to culturally-attuned therapy involves recognizing intersectionality and fluidity within identities. As a biracial and bisexual clinician, she attempts to make space for others to express their identities in nuanced, context-dependent ways. Thus, she hopes none of her clients feel reduced to “checked boxes” and tries to support them in articulating who they feel they are.