Jennifer Tarm, PsyD (she/they)

Welcome to UCSB CAPS! My name is Dr. Jennifer Tarm (she/they), but folxs know me as “Tarm.” I am a second-generation Asian American (from the Chinese-Vietnamese diaspora) cisgender woman, a first-generation student/professional, the eldest daughter of immigrant parents, a community organizer, and educator. An aspect of my life experiences that I bring into my clinical work have centered around moments of navigating the “in-between” of contrasting cultures (e.g., being an Asian American, navigating Western and collectivistic values, gender identity) and figuring out how to come home to my authenticity and sense of self. 

I graduated with my PsyD in Counseling Psychology from Springfield College and completed my predoctoral internship at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services. I also have a background in marriage and family therapy. My work within wellness is centered in my values of education, leadership, and community. My healing philosophy is informed through a relational-cultural therapy (RCT) and systemic perspective with guiding principles from liberation psychology, decolonial psychology, and traditional Chinese medicine. I may also incorporate elements of acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and behavioral activation (BA). Therapy is a co-created process where I honor your unique cultural context and we work collaboratively to help you move towards your values, goals, sense of self, and a more holistic wellbeing.

I enjoy surrounding my work around addressing concerns associated with communities of color/people of the global majority mental health (with an emphasis in the pan-Asian community), gender and power-based violence/trauma, socio-political stressors, 1st/2nd-generation experiences, relationships, identity development, grief, student leaders/activists, and eldest daughters.

Outside of work, I energize and (re)center myself through things like drinking tea (matcha and jasmine are my go-to), trying recipes, looking at cute trinkets/stationary, spending time with loved ones, movement, watching K-dramas and anime, eating comfort food, and taking naps. 

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your wellbeing journey. Together, let us create more peace, integration, and rest. I look forward to supporting and being in community with you soon.