About Dr. Kekua:
Dr. Rachel Kekua (“keh-koo-ah”) works as a licensed clinical psychologist. She primarily conducts individual therapy with adults of all ages. The majority of Dr. Kekua’s clinical experience is in healthcare settings serving individuals with a wide range of psychiatric and medical concerns. She works with individuals experiencing issues with depression, anxiety, trauma, post-partum adjustment, grief, insomnia and chronic pain. She brings a flexible mindset to therapy, stemming from humanistic, person-centered approaches while emphasizing contextual behavioral therapies, such a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Dr. Kekua’s overall therapy style in founded in curiosity and connection. She seeks to join with individuals to grow a sense of trust, mutual respect, and greater self-awareness and well-being. She also believes somatic, mindfulness and compassion-based practices to be vital piece of the human healing process.
Dr. Kekua has worked in primary care and family medicine clinics; as well as specialty care centers performing biopsychosocial evaluations for those seeking bariatric weight loss surgery and solid organ transplant, patients medically admitted in the hospital, and patients living with HIV/AIDS. She also has experience in forensic evaluations assessing violence risk, sex offender risk, and mental health diversion using a variety of personality and cognitive tests.
Prior to becoming a psychologist, Dr. Kekua built a career in kinesiology earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After five years working as an exercise trainer, she decided to switch careers a pursue health psychology. Her blended education helps her to better understand how psychological, behavioral and sociocultural factors create a complex human experience and impact overall health.
“The actions of confidence come first; the feelings of confidence come later. Genuine confidence is not the absence of fear; it is a transformed relationship with fear. Negative thoughts are normal. Don’t fight them; defuse them. Self-acceptance trumps self-esteem. True success is living by your values. Hold your values lightly, but pursue them vigorously. Don’t obsess about the outcome; get passionate about the process. Don’t fight your fear: allow it, befriend it, and channel it. Failure hurts—but if we’re willing to learn, it’s a wonderful teacher. The key to peak performance is total engagement in the task.”
-Russ Harris, The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt
Education and Experience:
License:
CA License: #PSY35401
Formal Training and Education:
Post-Doctoral Residency
Kaiser Permanente- North Bay Consortium; Santa Rosa, CA
Mental Health & Wellness & Behavioral Medicine Services
Psychological Internship
Nebraska Internship Consortium in Professional Psychology; Omaha, NE
Nebraska Medicine Psychology Department & Primary Care
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) with a Health Emphasis
California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University; San Diego, CA
Master’s in Kinesiology (M.S)
Point Loma Nazarene University; San Diego, CA
Kinesiology, Exercise Science Emphasis
Bachelor’s in Kinesiology (B.S.)
San Diego State University; San Diego, CA
Kinesiology, Fitness Specialist Emphasis