About
Minds Matter Therapy
Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here!
In-person sessions in Los Altos | Online Therapy throughout California
Our Mission
At Minds Matter, we take a non-pathologizing approach to therapy. This means that we believe there doesn’t need to be anything wrong with you in order for you to be feeling pain, frustration, or anxiety. The suffering that our clients experience is usually a natural human response to the world we live in.
The beauty of this work, though, is that we don’t have to be at the mercy of our circumstances. By developing insights into the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to your suffering, you can change your experience. Helping our clients develop this sense of empowerment is the most rewarding part of our mission.
Commitment to Evidence-Based Treatment
Our practice is dedicated to implementing the latest evidence-based practices.
Our backgrounds in research help us to better understand the mechanisms of these conditions and identify the treatments that are most likely to offer relief.
Treatment Modalities
We take a multimodal, person-centered approach to therapy, meaning that we do not employ only one type of therapy but, rather, combine treatment modalities in ways that can be tailored to each individual and their specific needs. We are trained in the following therapeutic modalities:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Acceptance and Commitment Therapy | Emotionally-Focused Therapy | Internal Family Systems Therapy | Psychodynamic Therapy | Dialectical Behavior-Informed Therapy
Our Therapists
Dr. Christina Chick, PhD || Dr. Chick is a licensed clinical psychologist and is the Founder and Clinical Director of Minds Matter. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of working with individuals across a wide range of backgrounds, including Veterans, individuals with ADHD, highly sensitive individuals, and adolescents and their families. Dr. Chick specializes in couples therapy, individual therapy, and executive productivity support, all of which involve relationship management and differentiation between the needs of the self and the other.
Dr. Chick earned her PhD in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University, where she studied the role of cognitive and emotional functioning in decision making. She subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine. She currently holds an appointment as an Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford . At Stanford, her research focuses on the role of cognitive functioning and sleep patterns in psychiatric disorders. She maintains an active presence in the academic community and engages in continuous ongoing training in order to deliver the most effective therapeutic interventions, as informed by state-of-the-field research.
Outside of the therapy office, she enjoys cooking, writing, and traveling.
Dr. Maira Karan, PhD || Maira (my-ra) is a Psychological Associate at Minds Matter. Dr. Karan has an affinity for working with children, adolescents and young adults. She believes self-improvement is possible through mindfully changing thoughts, habits, and behavioral patterns that no longer serve us.
Dr. Karan received her PhD in developmental psychology from UCLA, where she gained expertise in adolescent behavioral and brain development. During graduate school, her research focused on sleep and empathy, which laid the foundation for her passion for fostering behavioral changes for real-life impact. She currently holds an appointment as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.
As a child of immigrant parents from India, with a rich heritage blending multiple ethno-religious traditions, Dr. Karan also intimately grasps the complexities of immigration, acculturation, and multicultural family dynamics. Driven by a desire to empower individuals to navigate life's challenges, she offers a compassionate and informed approach to mental well-being. She continues to conduct research at Stanford University School of Medicine, which allows her to bring a unique blend of academic rigor and cultural empathy to the therapeutic process.
Dr. Rutuja Chinchinkar, PsyD || Dr. Chinchankar is a Psychological Associate at Minds Matter. Dr. Chinchinkar has extensive experience working with adolescents and adults who experience anxiety, body image issues, overthinking, perfectionism, and unstable mood. She is trained as a designated crisis responder. Dr. Chinchinkar received her PsyD from Western Kentucky State University. Prior to her education in the United States, she worked as a therapist in Mumbai, India for seven years.
Drawing from her collective training experiences, Dr. Chinchankar has developed a multicultural perspective to develop a therapeutic approach that transcends all cultural boundaries. She primarily uses techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindful Self-Compassion therapy (MSC).
Dr. Chinchinkar believes that therapy is a platform for normalizing the human experience and pursuing a more meaningful life. She is very passionate about helping her clients to develop a non-pathologizing perspective on their mental health and wellness. Her personality, and her attitude toward therapy, are fun-loving and approachable. Outside of work, her hobbies include singing, dancing, exercising, and painting.
