About Me
Dr. Juliet Le Rankin, Ph.D.
Welcome to Rankin Psychological, Inc., 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 journey in the helping profession over two decades ago, although becoming a clinical psychologist was not the original plan. Being raised by hardworking, first-generation Vietnamese immigrant parents, it was instilled in me early on to deeply value the sacrifices they made to afford me with opportunities they were never given…including having an American education in the pursuit of the American dream. Even as a young child, I felt my duty to fulfill their dream of becoming the first doctor (or lawyer) in our family. I felt the need to validate their difficult decision to leave their beloved homeland in search of a better life, and ultimately, to honor our ancestors.
My parents never talked about mental illness, it was heavily stigmatized and considered taboo in our culture. However, as I began learning about psychology in high school, I became increasingly fascinated by it and felt compelled to follow my interest. When I first told my parents I wanted to become a “doctor of the mind” (as I translated it back then), their reaction was a mixture of shock and disappointment–this was not their dream for me! After many conversations attempting to steer me in a different direction, they eventually and reluctantly agreed to support my decision to major in psychology. After proudly earning my Bachelor of Arts, I realized how deeply passionate I was about this field and went on to complete my Master of Arts and PhD in Clinical Psychology. Today, my parents have become my biggest supporters and fully embrace my career choice—after all, I did become the the first doctor in our family!
My passion is to help individuals heal–those who are struggling with managing their stress, anxiety, 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 symptoms. 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), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Psychodynamic Therapy. My clinical expertise is derived from years of experience working 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 building a strong collaboration and partnership with you on this therapeutic journey. Together, we’ll focus on your strengths to foster the positive changes you envision, working toward greater emotional balance and overall wellness. I am committed to supporting you through your personal transformation and empowering you to thrive!