Healthy Relationships
with Emily Hsu, PhD and Danna Torres, LMFT
with Emily Hsu, PhD and Danna Torres, LMFT
Episode 7, Season 5 | November 20, 2024
We live every day in relationship with others. Sometimes those relationships are healthy and have a positive impact on our well-being, and sometimes they do not. In this new episode, we talk with CHC experts, Emily Hsu, PhD, and Danna Torres, LMFT, about the importance of open, honest communication and why feeling valued and heard matters so much. We’ll also explore signs of an unhealthy relationship—how to recognize when your needs aren’t being met, when boundaries aren’t respected, and when communication breaks down. Join us as we unpack the essentials of building connections rooted in respect, empathy, and mutual support, helping you spot the difference between a positive, nurturing relationship and one that may not be serving you well.
Dr. Hsu is a bilingual (Spanish) licensed psychologist who has experience working with individuals throughout the lifespan utilizing individual, group, and psychological testing. In pursuit of her desire to provide culturally competent and sensitive bilingual services to ethnic minority populations, she enrolled in the Diversity and Community Mental Health Proficiency Track at the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology at Palo Alto University. Dr. Hsu specializes in suicide prevention and intervention, anxiety and mood disorders, trauma recovery, and interpersonal relationships. Dr. Hsu’s research and clinical interests include decreasing mental health disparities, suicidology, and understanding how the complexities of human diversity influence emotional health and coping styles. Her therapeutic approach is integrative and strongly influenced by Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and aspects of rapport building from the humanistic tradition. Previously, Dr. Hsu completed her APA accredited internship at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in Culver City, California and her APA accredited postdoctoral residency at Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City, California. At present, Dr. Hsu also conducts quality management at Center for Social Dynamics.
Danna is a bilingual licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her work has primarily focused on supporting children, teens and parents through individual therapy, family therapy and parent education. Danna has experience providing therapy to those needing additional support or skills in the areas of executive functioning, behavior management, emotion regulation and learning coping strategies. Having worked in various school settings, Danna is familiar with school supports such as IEPs and 504s. She also works to foster collaborative relationships with schools and outside providers to better inform care for the client. Danna’s therapy style is geared toward improving interpersonal and family dynamics by addressing challenges with communication, conflict resolution, emotion regulation related to trauma, depression, anxiety and neurodevelopmental diagnoses.
Learn more about CHC’s Clinical Services
Learn more about Evaluations
Characteristics of Healthy & Unhealthy Relationships
Talking to Your Child About Sex and Relationships
Talk With Your Teen About Healthy Relationships
How Parents Can Help Kids Overcome Five Common Friendship Hurdles
Healthy Friendships in Adolescence
How to Teach Teens About Love, Consent and Emotional Intelligence
5 Simple Tips to Help You Have a Real Conversation with Your Teen
How to Cultivate a Sense of Unconditional Self-Worth
Navigating Teen Relationships & Understanding Teen Relationships in the Digital World
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