Eddy M. Gana Jr.

Hi there! My name is Eddy M. Gana Jr. (they/them) and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (#103797). I am a second-generation Filipinx-American from Union City and based in Los Angeles, California. I graduated from UC Irvine with Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Criminology, UCLAx with a Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling, and USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work with a Master of Social Work and an emphasis on Child and Adolescent Mental Health. With experience in the home, school, and medical settings, I have provided 1:1 therapy, family counseling, support groups, Mental Health First Aid training, and coalition-building, as well as direct supervision for clinicians and interns as the Clinical Program Manager of Mental Health at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA). With the understanding that wellness is holistic and the arts are healing, I am a poet of Steady and co-director/host of Sunday Jump, the longest running Filipino-founded open mic series in Historic Filipinotown. Inspired by people’s stories, I believe in the therapeutic elements of self-expression for personal growth and greater social change. I provide psychotherapy for youth ages 12 and older, individual adults, and families. My specialization is children and adolescent mental health. Other specializations include depression, anxiety, trauma, mindfulness, peer relationships, family dynamics, behavioral issues, neurodiversity (Autism Spectrum, ADHD), creative arts, and Filipino-American cultural values. Raised in a first-generation Filipino household, my fluency in Filipino (Tagalog) is conversational, and I have extensive experience working with first and second generation Filipino families with histories of child abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, and neglect). My therapeutic style is based on a holistic sense of healing by utilizing elements of clinical interventions, recognizing ancestral practices, and addressing systems of oppression. I am trained in Problem-Solving Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I strongly believe in a client’s right towards self-determination and that every person navigates and processes differently. With a person-centered and pro-people approach, I value strengths and explore areas of growth in ways that are understanding of the individual, community, and the systems we live in.