About Me

Hey, Dr. Q

Hi, I’m Quyen (also known as Dr. Nguyen, Dr. Q, or even Dr. Quyen), and I’m a Licensed Psychologist. You might also think of me as a Pain/Life Guide and Collaborator. I help people who feel stuck—whether facing barriers or holding themselves back—and who want to move forward and make real changes in their lives.

From my own journey and my work with people like you, I know this: hope is still here. I support, nudge, and guide people toward feeling happier, healthier, or whatever their goal may be. Even though most people come to me because of pain, they can leave our sessions—whether in person or over video—with tools and strategies to help them manage that pain.

In our sessions, we can be creative and spontaneous. We can be curious, reflective, courageous, and honest. We can build from your strengths. We can collaborate on ideas and goals. We can process things together.

I love working with adults of all ages. Always be learning! I grow from our work together, too.

Want to talk or work with me? Let's Connect!

Boring Stuff

Here’s the really boring stuff about me, I mean, My Professional Background:

Licensed Psychologist at PNW Happy Healthy, PLLC, solo private practice, in Washington state
Previous Position as the Pain Psychologist at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
2-year Postdoctoral Fellowship (Civilian) in Clinical Health Psychology at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Psychopharmacology from University of Hawaii, Hilo
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from San Diego State University / University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program
Pre-Doctoral Internship in Health Psychology at the University of Florida, Gainesville
Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Promotion from San Diego State University
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology from Clemson University, South Carolina

Credentials/Qualifications

Licensed in Washington state PY60967801
Licensed in Hawaii PSY-1305
PSYPACT mobility number 11830
Member of the American Psychological Association, Washington State Psychological Association, National Register of Health Service Psychologists, EMDR International Association, International OCD Foundation, International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation

My Story - Maybe Still Boring

How did I end up in private practice? By sheer chance! Let me tell you my journey from the beginning. As a kid and teenager, I had a dream of pursuing a career that would allow me to help people. (I know, it sounds a bit cliché.) I decided to take the long and winding path to become a Psychologist.

During my graduate studies, I focused on behavioral medicine, inspired by my graduate school research mentor who studied the intersection of health and culture. While completing my postdoc at Tripler in Hawaii, I landed my first “real” job as a Pain Psychologist with Kaiser Permanente, just a stone’s throw away from Tripler. (In fact, I could see Tripler from my office at Kaiser.)

And here I am, working in private practice and residing in Washington state. (Interestingly, this all coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic! Yikes!)

Some of my identities besides Psychologist or Therapist:

Cisgender woman. Pronouns: she/her. Vietnamese or Asian American. Child of immigrants. Born and raised in small town, Carolina.

Fun Stuff

What I like to do besides work: climb/boulder, jog/run, do yoga, hike, learn to ski and snowshoe, adventure/travel, visit/socialize with friends and family, dine in or out, read, stream TV shows, listen to music and podcasts, collect and wear aloha wear, browse and collect leather bags, shoes, and bag bling/flair