About Me
Dr. Juliet Le Rankin, Ph.D.
Welcome to Thrive Therapy OC, a private practice in Huntington Beach, CA. My name is Dr. Juliet Le Rankin, and I want to thank you for visiting my website!
I began my career in the helping profession over two decades ago, although I did not initially intend on becoming a psychologist. Being raised by hard-working first-generation Asian immigrant parents, I learned the value of having an American education early on, and was expected to become a “doctor” or a “lawyer” someday. My parents never talked about mental health, which in our culture was strongly stigmatized if ever discussed. But as I studied it in school, I became more fascinated with it, even if it was not acceptable in my culture. Imagine my parents’ reaction when I excitedly (and apprehensively) shared that I wanted to become a “doctor of the mind” (translated). After their initial shock and the many lectures thereafter to sway me otherwise, they hesitantly agreed to send me to college with a major in psychology. After earning my Bachelor of Arts degree, I quickly realized my passion for this field, and went on to pursue my Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Clinical Psychology. Throughout my professional journey, my parents have continued to be supportive and have embraced my career choice whole-heartedly–afterall, I did become the “doctor” they wanted!
I specialize in helping individuals who struggle with managing their sadness, anxiety, anger, loneliness, addiction, relationship issues, life transitions, parental stress, trauma, and loss. I am also skilled at integrating an Asian-American cultural perspective into treatment, with an emphasis on cross-cultural identity issues, inter-generational conflicts, and cross-cultural traumas. Treatment is specifically tailored to each client’s individual needs and presenting symptomatology. My approach is client-centered and strengths-based, and I frequently use a variety of treatment modalities customized to address each client’s unique concerns. These may include a combination of evidenced-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Therapy (ITP), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Psychodynamic Therapy. My clinical expertise includes work with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of clinical settings including group homes, foster homes, residential treatment centers, correctional facilities, outpatient clinics, and private practice. I also provide clinical supervision for pre-licensed clinicians to aid in their professional development.
I look forward to creating a strong mutual collaboration with you on our therapeutic journey. It will be a partnership that highlights your strengths to promote the changes you envision for yourself, as we strive toward your emotional balance and wellness. I am dedicated to supporting you through your personal transformation, and to empowering you to thrive!