Bernalyn Ruiz, Ph.D.

Dr. Bernalyn Ruiz-Yu currently serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the clinic, passionately working towards advancing mental health treatment and care for adolescents. Her educational background boasts an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and Research Methods and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Dr. Ruiz-Yu’s professional accomplishments have been recognized through the NIH Loan Repayment Award and the Early Career Award from the Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS). In her role at the clinic, she brings a unique approach to patient care. Her experiences as an elementary school teacher, and her involvement in various social issues, contribute to her holistic and intersectional perspective when working with patients and their families. On a personal note, Dr. Ruiz-Yu has a keen interest in long-distance running. Starting as a teenager, she has persevered in this hobby, even completing a remarkable 50-mile ultra marathon through the Marin Headlands and Muir Woods in the Bay Area. A day she cites as the best of her life.