About
My Linh Vo, PsyD
What's in a name?
My parents gave me the name, Vo Ngoc My Linh. My last name, Vo, means martial arts and my middle name, Ngoc, means pearl. Ngoc is also a part of Ngoc Huong, my mother's first name. According to my mother, My Linh means “dep lung linh” or in English, "glistening beauty." My mother named me after the First Lady of the Republic of China, Ton My Linh, who is also known as Soong Mei-Ling. When I came to the United States at eight years old, a mix-up with the Social Security Administration resulted in my middle name being changed to Thi. My father, afraid that the process of changing Thi back to Ngoc would delay my citizenship, did not try to change it back. I am now My Linh Thi Vo.
Embedded within my name is the history of my ancestry, the political relations between countries, my family's immigration to the U.S., my parents' socioeconomic status before and after the Vietnam War, and my identity as a Vietnamese American woman. Because I am made in Vietnam and assembled in California, I live in the borderland of two cultures and juggle between preserving my ethnic roots and acculturating to the American way of life.
I'm a psychologist
based in Sacramento, CA, with a personalized approach to consulting and psychological services. I understand that every person has their own needs, personality, and communication style. That's why I tailor my services to meet these specific requirements.
Because I'm licensed in California (PSY29712), Washington (PY6126166), Oregon, and Nebraska, I can provide services to individuals residing in these States. My mission is to help my clients heal from past pain and reduce their current emotional distress, leading to a better appreciation of themselves and their imperfections. I use a range of evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and the Gottman Method, to help my clients understand and reframe their unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Education
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Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) at John F. Kennedy University, APA-Accredited doctoral program
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B.A. in Psychology at University of California, Davis
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B.S. in Biological Sciences at University of California, Davis
Work history
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Behavioral Medicine Specialist in Primary Care Clinic at Kaiser- South Sacramento from 2017- 2023
Clinical trainings
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Kaiser Permanente for postdoctoral training (Elk Grove/Sacramento, CA)
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Pacific Clinics for APA-accredited predoctoral internship (Pasadena, CA)
Awards
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Bronze Psi Award, California Psychological Association (2017)
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Outstanding Student Award, John F. Kennedy University (2016)
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Certificate of Recognition, Assembly member Jim Frazier (2014)
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White House Champions of Change (2012)
2012 Champions of Change award
