Meet Daisy

My name is Ruqian Ma (Daisy), Ph.D., MSW, M.A., LMHCA and I am a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Eastside Psychological Associates. I am working towards obtaining my psychologist license under the supervision of Bethany Balkus, Psy.D., L.P.. My specialization involves working with children, adolescents, and their families with neurodiversed backgrounds on their journey toward hope, healing, and success. I provide an integrative approach coupled with a systems approach to partner with individuals, parents, and families, as well as diagnostic evaluations for a variety of mental health and developmental disorders. In addition, as a bilingual/bi-cultural (Mandarin-Chinese) clinical service provider, I understand the challenges and barriers that many immigrant individuals and families face. Thus, I strive for providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services through a nonjudgmental and empathetic lens.

Education

  • University of Washington, Seattle, Ph.D. in School Psychology, APA-accredited program, 2024

  • Boston College, Master of Social Work - Clinical Concentration, 2015

  • Boston College, M.A. in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology, 2012

  • WA Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA). License Number: MC.61549024

Experience

  • Postdoctoral psychology fellow at Eastside Psychological Associates, 2024-present

  • APA-accredited Pre-doctoral internship in the Department of Behavioral Psychology at Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2020-2021

My Therapeutic Approach

My therapeutic approach is integrative, meaning I tailor the treatment to meet the unique needs of each individual and family. I incorporate various theories and techniques, drawing from ecological systems, cognitive-behavioral, family systems, behavioral, and interpersonal frameworks. This allows me to create a flexible and holistic approach to therapy that is adaptable to each client's situation.

In assessment, I focus on identifying and leveraging strengths, and I am committed to a neurodiversity-affirming approach that respects and values different ways of thinking and experiencing the world. I approach each case with a trauma-informed lens, ensuring that past experiences are understood and respected, and I am mindful of cultural sensitivities, striving to provide care that is respectful of each client's cultural background and identity.

Collaboration with families is a cornerstone of my practice, as I work closely with them to develop individualized treatment plans that reflect each person’s uniqueness. For younger children, I often incorporate parent coaching into the process, helping parents to support their child’s growth and development. My practice is informed by a variety of therapeutic models, including:

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

  • Play Therapy

  • Motivational Interviewing (MI)

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

  • Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)

My Specialties

  • I provide comprehensive evaluations and therapy for toddlerhood through young adulthood. In addition, I work closely with parents/caregivers to help children navigate life’s challenges with warmth and support.

  • I also have expertise in conducting assessments and interventions tailored for children with mealtime challenges.  

  • I have specialized training in working with autistic children and teens. My approach emphasizes neurodiversity, collaborating closely to ensure that treatment aligns with individual and family’s unique goals and values. I am trained in a variety of evidence-based treatments for autism with various levels of behavioral challenges and mental health concerns, including ACT ,CBT, and RUBI.

  • Challenging behaviors in childhood can arise from various factors, such as difficulties with communication, emotion regulation, impulsivity and inhibition, concentration, or navigating peer/social interactions. I offer parent-focused behavior management training for parents of young children. I have specialized training in several evidence-based manualized training programs (e.g., PCIT and RUBI Autism Network’s Parent Training for Disruptive Behavior).

  • I provide comprehensive diagnostic assessments, including assessments for Autism, ADHD, mental health issues, and academic difficulties. These assessments are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of each individual's strengths, challenges, and specific needs, guiding the development of tailored interventions and support strategies.

  • Depression and anxiety are some of the most common mood instabilities that we experience at many points in our lives. Building connections is crucial in navigating and coping with challenging emotions. I specialize in exploring the underlying causes of these emotions, collaborating with you to chart a course towards healing. My training encompasses several evidence-based therapies for mood disorders, including CBT, DBT, ACT, and MI. These approaches are tailored to address your unique needs and support you in achieving emotional well-being and resilience. I am also particularly keen on adapting therapy modalities for neurodivergent populations.

  • Life events can have a huge impact on the family system and will in turn affect children on a deeper and long-lasting level. Children may experience difficulties processing these changes as life events happen. It is important to help each family member to process their feelings and emotions through family transition, family loss and bereavement, as well as family discord. My therapeutic goal is to foster stronger family bonds by helping each family member accept and heal, while also helping parents in understanding how to best support their children.

  • Working through traumatic experiences and stress can be extremely arduous and nerveracking. It requires tremendous courage and immense patience even to start the process of unwrapping it. My training in TF-CBT equips me to facilitate healing from trauma and offer support as you take important steps towards recovery. I am currently training on the Internal Family Systems (IFS) to work with trauma and intimate relationship healing.

When my professional

hat is off, I am…

a mother of one toddler and three furry babies

a photographer

a yogi