Feel Better, Live Better with Sequoia Counseling OC
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Mindfulness Therapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Lifestyle Medicine
  • SERVICES
    • Anxiety Treatment
    • Health Anxiety Treatment
    • Depression Treatment
    • Primary Care/Health Psychology Consultation
    • Persons with Pre-Diabetes or Diabetes
    • Psychology and Pain Management
  • BLOG
  • PRICING & INSURANCE
  • CONTACT
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Call now for a complimentary 15 minute consultation. I would be

​honored to support​ you in your journey towards healing.​
​
I Want Help

email      DrSooHoo@sequoiacounselingoc.com                                                     
phone     
949.337.1034                 
mailing address   
340 E. 1st St. #291, Tustin, CA 92781         
Sequoia Counseling & Wellness Services OC offers virtual teletherapy services for California Residents  

​About Sequoia Counseling and Wellness Services

Sequoia Counseling and Wellness Services is a private practice that provides short-term, proven treatment techniques to clients that need support in managing and living with medical conditions or are suffering from the effects of depression and anxiety. 

My mission is to provide care based in:
  • Evidence-based practices: All interventions are shared and recommended to clients according to what current research shows is most effective. From session to session, I select techniques with client input and careful thought and planning.
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  • Individualized care: Each client receives an initial evaluation and feedback on noted themes, strengths, and challenges. I co-collaborate with my clients as we discuss symptoms and circumstances and the client learns new skills for change, healing, and growth.
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  • Holistic treatment: I seek to understand the reported symptoms and concerns  by considering current physical health and health behaviors, relationships,  coping behaviors, and other unique lifestyle factors. 
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Sequoia Counseling and Wellness Services is characterized by the following core values: 

Compassionate and supportive care:  I view all clients with acceptance and support and treat them with friendliness, courtesy, and respect. Services are delivered with the intention to be helpful, healing, and personal yet providing insight and strategies to reach goals. “True empathy is always free of any evaluative or diagnostic quality. This comes across to the recipient with some surprise. If I am not being judged, perhaps I am not so evil or abnormal as I have thought.” (Carl Rogers)

Sincerity and integrity: Clients are treated with integrity and honesty in everything from simple therapist-client communications to ethical delivery of services.

Belief in healing and growth for everyone: I believe that all individuals are capable of restoration, renewal, and change. Clients are encouraged to prepare before each session and are supported to practice new behaviors that they learn in therapy in their everyday lives.

​Passion for whole person health and well-being: Depending on the treatment focus, services are delivered favoring lifestyle medicine and active self-management of medical conditions. In other words, medical conditions can be prevented, improved, and managed through the pursuit of healthy diet, exercise, adequate sleep, balanced relationships, and stress management. This can involve coordination between therapist, client, and medical team provider(s).
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                                 About Dr. Melissa Soo Hoo
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As I attended my undergraduate program at UC Irvine, I enjoyed learning about human development and behavior. I knew that I wanted to work in a field where I could be supportive, helping, and healing for others. I attended the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at Azusa Pacific University. In graduate school, my clinical training and work-related experience involved community settings with a focus on children.

One of my mentors encouraged me to seek out experience in a medical setting. I completed my psychology residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. It was fascinating to see the interplay between physical and mental health, and to watch psychologists, physicians, and other specialists work together to restore patient health. 


After I completed my residency, I returned to Southern California and planned to continue learning and working in the specialty field of Adult Health Psychology- a field that addresses the influence of psychological and behavioral processes upon individual health and wellness.

 I completed my postdoctoral fellowship at California Hospital Medical Center and then worked in other settings such as assisted living facilities, community health centers, and primary care settings.

I continue to learn and develop my skills by continuing education and certification programs such as the Harvard Medical School Lifestyle Medicine conference, Stanford University Empowered Relief for Pain Instructor training, and American Diabetes Association’s Mental Health Provider Training for care of patients with diabetes. I completed additional in person post-graduate training at the Cognitive Therapy and Training Center with Dr. Reasbeck to learn more about treatments for depression, anxiety, and interpersonal relationship challenges. I am constantly learning and developing new skills and treatment techniques to better serve my clients.
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American Psychological Association
Accreditation and Why It Matters

The American Psychological Association (APA) provides rigorous review of doctorate- level graduate psychology programs and internships. Programs that bear this prestigious distinction meet criteria to indicate that they promote best practices in education and training and that they are preparing students/trainees to provide outstanding, evidence-based clinical service to ensure the well-being of the public. My graduate education at Azusa Pacific University and Psychology Residency at Brooke Army Medical Center are accredited by the American Psychological Association. 

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Delivering "Empowered Relief" Pain Presentation
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Sharing my "Maturing Well" Community Presentation, for Daughters of the American Revolution (Whittier)
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Leading the pre-race performance enhancement training for Electric Dragons Dragon Boat Paddling Team (Long Beach, CA)
                           
     
Associations
  • American               
         Psychological 
         Association
  • Division 38 -
         Society for Health 
         Psychology
  • American Diabetes 
        Association
  • Orange County 
        Psychological 
        Association
  • American College of 
​        Lifestyle Medicine
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reach out now to learn how sequoia counseling and wellness services can partner with you to live a happier, healthier life! 


                      Hours

           Mon-Fri: 8am - 7pm 
         Sat: call for availability

  Telephone

  949.337.1034   

    Email

     drsoohoo@sequoiacounselingoc.com
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Mindfulness Therapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Lifestyle Medicine
  • SERVICES
    • Anxiety Treatment
    • Health Anxiety Treatment
    • Depression Treatment
    • Primary Care/Health Psychology Consultation
    • Persons with Pre-Diabetes or Diabetes
    • Psychology and Pain Management
  • BLOG
  • PRICING & INSURANCE
  • CONTACT