Dr. Alexandra Mari N. Pelonia is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in clinical, forensic, and culturally informed psychological practice. She earned her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in 2019, completing a dissertation on the microaggression experiences of LGBT Filipino immigrants in the United States. She also holds a Master of Arts in Psychology from Alliant International University (2016) and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, majoring in Psychology, from the University of the Philippines (2013).

Dr. Pelonia’s postdoctoral and clinical experience spans diverse settings, including outpatient mental health, hospital-based care, and compensation and pension (C&P) examinations for military service members and veterans. She has served as a Clinical Psychologist at Clay Consulting LLC, Positive Psychology Inc., Kaiser Permanente East Bay Psychiatry, and SHARP Mesa Vista Hospital, providing psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and treatment planning to children, adolescents, adults, and families from multicultural backgrounds.

Her early clinical training included doctoral internships and practicum placements at SUNY Oneonta, the Union of Pan-Asian Communities (UPAC), Sovereign Health Adolescent Program, The Winston School, and SOS Children’s Village, where she gained experience in intake assessments, crisis intervention, neuropsychological testing, and culturally competent therapy in both English and Tagalog. Dr. Pelonia has also supervised associate therapists and trainees, providing guidance, clinical oversight, and professional development.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Pelonia has extensive teaching and outreach experience, serving as a teaching assistant in Family Systems Theory at CSPP, a guest lecturer on topics including lifespan development and mental health, and a presenter on microaggression, self-compassion, and crisis assessment. She has also contributed to program development for culturally responsive mental health interventions for college students, young adults, and the Asian-Pacific Islander and LGBT populations.

Dr. Pelonia is actively involved in professional organizations, including the California Psychological Association, the Asian-American Psychological Association, and the American Psychological Association (APA Division 35 – LGBT Concerns and Psychology of Asian-Pacific American Women), and is proficient in Filipino/Tagalog and Waray-Waray. She has been recognized with awards such as the Dr. Jei Africa Dissertation Scholarship (2018–2019) and multiple academic honors during her undergraduate studies.