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       About Dr. Melissa Soo Hoo

​Are you looking for help because..

  • you're tired of feeling anxious (or panic-like), "in a funk", down, or  ashamed/guilty
  • your emotions are easily triggered and you don't like having to pretend everything is ok when it is not
  • you miss how your life used to be and want help 
  • you want to stop having to apologize and making excuses
Life is too short to settle for less; it's too short to waste time struggling and unhappy. 
What if you got help so that those difficult life transitions are manageable? 

What if you could learn to be less stressed and anxious at work and have more confidence in your career and profession? 

What if you could learn non-drug treatment options and strategies to help you feel better? 

As your therapist, I would be honored to help you achieve your goals..

I help worriers, people feeling stressed and anxious, the depressed, and those with health conditions that impact their daily functioning. My goal is to bring about growth, healing, and learning so that you feel better, function better, and have purpose and pleasure again.
          - Like you, I’ve felt anxious when things didn’t go the way I expected and had to work                through it;  
          - Like you, I’ve been disappointed by some of the medical care I’ve received and had to              learn to self-manage my health;  
          - Like you, I’ve felt stuck, hurt, and unmotivated- wishing for someone to listen and                    provide compassion, accountability, and support

You don't have to go through this alone.

  • We will discuss which evidence-based interventions would be most helpful to you
  • You can communicate openly and ask your concerns in a supportive therapy space
  • I provide a structured and practical treatment approach and care about my clients’ healing.
  • I attend to my client's needs and help develop new skills for symptom 
           improvement.
Through our work together, you will feel more present and connected with others, more hopeful about personal goals and dreams, and have more confidence in your everyday life. 
More on My Treatment Approach.. 
I believe that healing relationships need a foundation built upon honesty, respect, and goodness.  Trust and open communication are also important to the therapy relationship and develop with time. I provide episodic care that focuses on treating a specific set of symptoms, such as depression. Once these symptoms improve or are resolved, treatment ends. However, clients may return in the future as new concerns arise (similar to typical patient-doctor relationships). 
This video talks about the origin of
​Sequoia Counseling and Wellness Services
  • I earned my doctorate degree (PsyD) from Azusa Pacific University (APA-accredited program) in 2004. I currently practice in California as a licensed clinical and health psychologist.
  • I completed my pre-doctoral residency at the APA-accredited program at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio Texas and my postdoctoral fellowship at California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles (totaling 3000 hours of supervised clinical work). I have received advanced training in the areas of chronic pain and diabetes management. 
  • I started my private practice, Sequoia Counseling and Wellness Services OC (Orange County) in the Fall of 2019. In 2023, I began an additional role as a gut-brain specialist with a gastroenterology medical group practice. 
  • My past work experiences include community based primary care clinics, Federally Qualified Health Center, Skilled Nursing Facilities/Assisted Living Facilities, and group practice.
  • I’m trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and primary care consultation and often use mindfulness-based and ACT interventions in my work. As a Christian, I also provide care for those who want a faith-based framework in counseling. 
  • I am a member of the Rome Psychogastroenterology Group, American Psychological Association, and Orange County Psychological Association. 
Things I Enjoy in My Spare Time