Sara Wadhwa, MS, a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University, approaches her work with a guiding question – how do individuals make meaning of their suffering, and how does that meaning shape experiences of distress and pathways toward care? Across her research and clinical training, she is particularly interested in how culture, identity, and lived experience shape how distress is understood, expressed, and treated.
As a practicum student at Kaiser Permanente, Sara has found her experience to be both intellectually rigorous and deeply supportive. She is developing advanced competencies in psychological assessment, conducting comprehensive evaluations for ADHD and ASD. This work has strengthened her skills in nuanced, developmentally informed assessment and sharpened her ability to translate complex clinical data into clear, meaningful formulations that guide care.
At Kaiser Permanente, Sara receives training that prioritizes both clinical excellence and trainee development. She is especially grateful for the mentorship of her supervisor, Dina Alkhoury, PsyD, whose clinical expertise, warmth, and encouragement have played an important role in shaping her growth as an assessor. Under Dr. Alkhoury’s guidance, Sara has continued to refine a thoughtful, patient-centered approach to evaluation, attending not only to diagnostic clarity, but also to the broader context of each individual’s identity, functioning, and lived experience.
An emphasis on meaning-making is also central to Sara’s research. As a member of Dr. Bruce Bongar’s Clinical Crises and Emergencies Research Lab (CCER) and working closely with Dr. Joyce Chu, she is developing a dissertation that examines suicide through a culturally informed lens. Moving beyond traditional risk factor models, her developing dissertation explores how individuals make meaning of their experiences within cultural and relational contexts and how these interpretations shape suicide risk. Her work aims to advance more culturally responsive approaches to suicide risk assessment, highlighting the importance of understanding not only what individuals are experiencing, but how they make sense of those experiences. Sara’s dissertation was also highlighted by the California Psychological Association Research Committee.
Across settings, Sara emphasizes culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and LGBTQ+-affirming care, with a focus on helping individuals understand their internal worlds and engage in meaningful, values-driven action. Her broader clinical training spans diverse and high-acuity settings. She has provided therapy at the UCSF Alliance Health Project and at Palo Alto University’s Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic, where she also developed an LGBTQ+-affirming ACT skills group. She is currently completing additional training at San Jose Behavioral Health Hospital, providing care in an inpatient psychiatric setting. Across her roles, Sara’s research and clinical work remain closely aligned.
Reflecting on her training at Kaiser Permanente San Jose, Sara notes that the experience has been instrumental in deepening her appreciation for comprehensive, collaborative care. The emphasis on interdisciplinary teamwork, high-quality assessment, and culturally responsive practice has meaningfully shaped her development and reinforced her commitment to integrating research and clinical work with diverse communities. Looking ahead, Sara hopes to continue building a career that bridges clinical practice and research, contributing to more nuanced models of assessment and intervention. Her work reflects a clear aim: to better understand the role of culture and meaning in mental health and to translate that understanding into more thoughtful, effective care.
CPA article – Dissertation Spotlight: Sara Wadhwa, MS
Contributed by: Sara Wadhwa, MS, a Doctoral Candidate
