ABOUT ME
A Personal Note
My name is Taryn Alexandra Kwan Weinkam and I assist people on their healing journey in the form of psychotherapy. I reside in the San Francisco Bay Area, on the unceded land of the Ohlone, Ramaytush, and Muwekma. I honor the native and indigenous stewards of this Earth.
I am a queer, mixed-race woman. I am the daughter of an immigrant. I know firsthand the complexities of growing up in a household of differing cultures as well as not aligning with the heteronormative expectation. My maternal ancestors were from China, where they faced colonial invasion, war, and political unrest. My paternal ancestors emigrated to the midwest by way of Germany in the days of covered wagons.
Healing is my passion as well as a value that I live by, personally as well as professionally. I walk the walk by continuously attending to my physical, emotional, and spiritual health. I have benefited from my own psychotherapy in the past and continue to work with various practitioners to assist me on my healing journey.
My current support team is comprised of a naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist with traditional Chinese medicine, massage therapist, clairvoyant, plant medicine, indigenous healers, and indigenous wisdom traditions. I am in profound gratitude for the teachings, support, and guidance that I have and continue to receive!
Professional Development
The majority of my clinical training and experience has revolved around two areas of significance: traumatic stress and health psychology. My clinical experience began working with early intervention trauma survivors and people who suffered from substance use. I had enriching experiences working with underserved people in community mental health clinics, as well as veterans from OEF/OIF to Korean War service eras. Trauma work is the heartbeat of my career.
My interest in health psychology began in research labs prior to graduate school. I worked at Stanford University and the VA Palo Alto Health Care System for over 7 years conducting and scoring sleep studies, cognitive batteries, and diagnostic assessments. While on internship, I broadened my knowledge of sleep in learning how to treat it clinically. At veteran’s hospitals, I had the pleasure of working on multidisciplinary teams for home-based care, primary care settings, and pain clinics. I also enjoyed working in major hospitals, providing on demand service to those during their primary care visit.
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Primary Care Postdoctoral Fellowship | San Francisco VA Medical Center
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Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology | Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University
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Predoctoral Intern, Worcester Interprofessional Program | VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System
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Registered Polysomnographic Technologist | The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists
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Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Social Behavior | University of California, Irvine
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."