Division on Filipinx Americans

Julianna Bianes, Psy.D. (she/her)
Chair – Elect

I’m a biracial Filipinx Chinese American psychologist based in the Bay Area, where I provide psychotherapy and psychological assessment for children, adolescents, families, and adults at Good Days Psychological Services and Trauma Healing Therapy. My clinical work focuses on supporting individuals navigating neurodivergence, anxiety, attention and executive functioning challenges, social and relational difficulties, identity development, and trauma, with a specialization in trauma healing that integrates EMDR and other trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches to help clients process distressing experiences, strengthen emotional regulation, and build a greater sense of safety and self-understanding. My journey into psychology was sparked by attending a DoFA conference before entering the field, and I have served on the DoFA Executive Board since 2020, finding it an important space for connection, leadership, and continued reflection on fostering equity, visibility, and support within psychology. Outside of clinical work, I stay grounded through movement, music, and creative practices—shaped by 15 years as a competitive hip hop dancer—and enjoy weightlifting, playing board games, and spending time with my dog, Honey, all of which keep me connected to balance, play, and community.

Claire Reclosado-Baclay, Psy.D., CMPC (she/her/siya)
Chair

Long before becoming a psychologist, I was a 4th grader who spent 10 months in the Philippines before moving to the Bay Area, never quite fitting in either place—a search for belonging that shaped my journey through a high school English teaching career, a stint as a sportswriter, and eventually finding my Filipino community through Kappa Psi Epsilon in college, all of which prepared me to recognize the fit when I stumbled into DOFA in graduate school and committed to helping build that sense of belonging for others. Today, I’m a licensed Clinical Sport Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant who sees clients through private practice and serves as Director of Clinical Strategy at Therify, where I lead the development of mental health tech and AI programs that give students and professionals practical tools to grow in their craft, with DoFA woven through all of it as the place where I learned to lead, where my clinical voice deepened, and where I continue to invest my time and energy. When I’m off the clock, I’m a firewife and a mom who runs on travel, sports, music, and my son’s baseball games.

Gregory Desierto, Psy.D. (he/him)
Outgoing Chair

I’m a cisgender gay Filipino psychologist based in the Sacramento area and past co-chair of DoFA, working as a correctional psychologist in a California state prison providing crisis intervention and mental health support for incarcerated men while also running a virtual private practice serving Filipino and Asian American men healing from sexual abuse, boundary violations, and challenges related to masculinity, intimacy, and identity. My path into psychology has been shaped by lived experience—including immigration to the U.S., navigating faith and sexuality, surviving childhood sexual abuse, growing up as the bunso among five brothers, and finding my way through racial identity in predominantly white spaces—with DoFA serving as a source of healing, belonging, and perseverance throughout graduate school, my dissertation, and the early stages of my career, including co-leading the successful 2025 DoFA Conference in Davis, California. Outside of work, I love traveling and returning to the Philippines whenever I can, relearning Tagalog, decorating my home to feel like the modern Philippines, and staying ready for kape barako, pandesal, and chismis.

Courteney Koo MFA, MA (she/her)
Mentorship Coordinator

Hello! I’m a student in The New School’s Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. My research and clinical work are focused on the experiences, mental health, and health behaviors of minoritized patients and their families within the context of chronic or life-limiting illness. Growing up as an only-English-speaking, second-generation Filipina American in predominantly White spaces, I often felt unsure of where I fit within my Filipino community. Since then, I’ve sought opportunities to meet other FilAms, connect with Filipino culture, and further explore this important part of my identity. I am especially excited to serve as Mentorship Coordinator and help foster connections within DoFA. Outside of my clinical and academic work, I enjoy traveling, running half marathons, and spending time with my husband and our two pups, Zeus and Reese.

Jennifer Alcalde, MA, MS (she/her/siya)
Student Representative

Hi everyone! I am a third-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, also working towards my MA in Theological Studies, currently serving as a practicum student at Heritage Clinic providing psychotherapy for older adults while pursuing research on the integration of spirituality/religion, theology, and psychological well-being among Filipinx Americans, and working as a statistics consultant at Fuller providing guidance on students’ dissertations and faculty research projects. DoFA has been my professional home since 2018—when I first joined as a fresh college graduate, it gave me a sense of direction and hope, knowing there were mental health professionals that looked like me, and it continues to be my landing spot as I navigate the rollercoaster of graduate school, with my hope being that DoFA will be an empowering space for others as it was for me. When I am not in the classroom or a therapy session, I love trying new coffee/boba spots, watching live shows, spending time with my family and friends, and gallivanting around Disneyland!

Kyle Valentino, HBSc (he/him)
Membership Coordinator

Hello! I’m currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics at the University of Oxford, where I focus on mental health. Through my research experiences abroad, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy travelling, meeting new people, and exploring different cultures. I’m truly honored to be part of this fantastic DoFA community, learning from fellow professionals and contributing to the support and advancement of Filipinx mental health!

Samantha Joy Frias, BA (she/her)

Communications Coordinator

Mabuhay! I am a first-year Clinical Psychology Psy.D. student at The Wright Institute currently conducting my practicum training at Through the Looking Glass, a community mental health agency based in Alameda County. I also serve as the Clinic Coordinator for del Prado Counseling & Consulting. Largely influenced by my own upbringing, working within family systems is near and dear to my heart, and I hope to expand this lens to forensic settings and integrate social justice and liberation psychology into my clinical practice. Growing up, I loved my Filipina culture but always felt disconnected from community beyond my family. At Cal, I finally found belonging in the Filipinx community through genuine friendships and organizations that connected and empowered Filipinx students. Now, DoFA offers me the opportunity to delve into the mental health landscape of our people, collaborate with like-minded students and psychologists, and address the needs of Filipinx mental health that too often fall through the cracks. Outside of school and work, you can find me getting active by weightlifting, running, and doing yoga, or in the kitchen cooking and baking new recipes!

Chasey Santos, MS (she/they/siya)
Social Media Chair

Hi all, I am a second-year Psy.D. student in Clinical Psychology with a Diverse Populations emphasis at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a focus on Health and Human Performance, a Master of Science in Leadership and Management with a focus on Nonprofit Management, and a Master of Science in Psychology. I currently train as a practicum extern at a Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health children’s clinic, providing care to high-risk infants, young children, and adolescents. Being Filipina and the firstborn daughter to the firstborn daughter of the firstborn daughter, and now a new mommy to my firstborn daughter deeply shapes my passion in childhood development, perinatal mental health, and Filipinx mental health. DoFA is a space where my identities, experiences, and values come together. It brings me back to why I chose this path—to help create the kind of representation, support, and culturally grounded care I didn’t have growing up. It holds my commitment to Filipinx mental health, to motherhood, and to breaking cycles of silence around emotional well-being. Outside of my clinical training, I love spending time with my partner and our baby girl, especially exploring new food experiences. I am also a former collegiate athlete, having played for five years while in my undergraduate and graduate programs and have been coaching the next generation of athletes for almost 12 years!