FOUNDER/CLINIC DIRECTOR

Vanessa Anne Joice T. Haro, MPsy, RPsy, RPm, LPT, CCTP, CGP is the Australia-based Founder and Clinic Director of Espasyo Psychological Services, a fully telehealth-based mental health clinic offering trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and personalised care. She is a Registered Psychologist, Registered Psychometrician, Licensed Professional Teacher, Brainspotting Therapist, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and Certified Grief Professional. Her work integrates trauma-informed, brain–body-based, somatic-informed, relational, and evidence-based approaches, with deep respect for Filipino culture and lived experience. Since 2022, Vanessa has provided pro bono support to mothers experiencing postpartum depression and selected clients with complex needs. She also founded Lunduyan, a Brainspotting Philippines initiative supporting marginalized communities.

Through Espasyo, Vanessa creates a safe, compassionate, and clinically grounded space where clients can heal, reconnect, and move toward meaningful change.

CLINICAL CONSULTANT

Teo is an internationally certified professional in trauma and addiction. With over ten years of experience across public, private, and community-based settings, he has supported individuals and communities impacted by systemic and interpersonal oppression, working with diverse survival responses such as addiction, anxiety, dissociation, depression, and violence. Specialising in deep brain-body relational work with neurodivergent individuals of all ages, Teo integrates person-centred and culturally informed approaches grounded in polyvagal theory, feminist perspectives, and trauma-informed care. His practice creates safe, affirming spaces that honour each person’s lived experience. Passionate about healing and growth, he advocates for those who have felt unseen or unfulfilled and supports individuals seeking deeper expansion in their growth and healing. He continues to advance inclusive, human-rights-driven, and compassionate care across diverse cultural contexts.

CLINIC OPERATIONS LEAD

Dannah Kaye “Dkaye” Mendoza is a Psychology graduate (Batch 2025) from Southern Luzon State University and a dedicated advocate for mental health and well-being. As a Clinic Operations Lead, she supports clients through their journey with warmth, responsiveness, and attention to detail—helping ensure that each step, from inquiry to session, feels smooth, safe, and supported. Guided by her desire to be a steady presence for others, Dkaye brings empathy and care into every interaction. Her training includes Brainspotting Phase 1 certification, and her internship at the National Center for Mental Health further deepened her understanding of compassionate, person-centred care. She believes that the mind and body are deeply connected, and that healing involves nurturing both.

CLIENT SUCCESS ASSOCIATE

Rizza Malana is a Psychology graduate with experience in administrative support, coordination, and communications. She is a detail-oriented, organized, and passionate about creating smooth and meaningful experiences through thoughtful and efficient support.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

R is a psychotherapist whose work is grounded in a collaborative, person-centred, and integrative approach to therapy. Drawing from narrative therapy, family systems, Gestalt, somatic awareness, existential inquiry, and psychoanalytic perspectives, he supports clients in exploring their experiences with curiosity, respect, and care. He has particular interests in substance use, gender and sexuality, suicidality, embodied emotional experience, and spiritual psychology. His therapeutic style is reflective and exploratory, creating space for clients to better understand their stories, patterns, relationships, and sense of self. R aims to offer a thoughtful and respectful therapeutic space where clients can move at their own pace toward greater meaning, connection, and groundedness.

BEHAVIOR INTAKE COUNSELOR

Angelika T. Matibag, MACand., RPm, LPT, CHRA, CMHFR is a licensed practitioner who bridges psychology, education, and advocacy. A Brainspotting Professional and Certified Mental Health First Responder, she also holds certifications in Human Resources and Lean Six Sigma. As a Secondary School Teacher II, she teaches research and social sciences while serving as a Guidance Coordinator. She additionally supports learners with ASD and ADHD at the school’s Center for Children with Special Needs. A dedicated advocate, Angelika provides disaster-related mental health support and facilitates community trainings. She is currently completing her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Ateneo, focusing on Brainspotting therapy.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Lyella is a Registered Psychologist and Registered Psychometrician with six years of university-level teaching experience at NU Laguna. She provides compassionate, culturally responsive, and person-centred psychological care, creating a safe and nonjudgmental space for clients to explore their experiences, strengths, and goals.

Her approach is grounded in compassion, respect, integrity, and cultural sensitivity. She values creating a supportive and nonjudgmental space where individuals feel heard, understand themselves more deeply, recognize their strengths, and explore meaningful ways forward. Lyella has also completed professional development training on trauma assessment, cognitive behavioral therapy in the context of Filipino clients, suicide response protocols, and psychological first aid. She remains committed to continuous learning and to providing ethical, thoughtful, and person-centered psychological support.

PSYCHOTHERAPIST ASSOCIATE

Jay-ar D. Baybay is a trauma-informed psychology educator, Brainspotting professional, and addiction specialist committed to advancing mental health education, recovery, and community empowerment. He serves in community engagement for the PAP Substance Use Prevention and Recovery SIG and actively volunteers with Tagaytay communities and the BJMP. His approach bridges psychology, education, and community engagement, driven by a strong advocacy for psychologically safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, respected, and empowered.

Currently completing his master's in clinical psychology with a focus on dissociation and trauma, Jay-ar is dedicated to making psychological knowledge more compassionate, accessible, and responsive to the realities of Filipino communities.

PSYCHOTHERAPIST ASSOCIATE

Khloe Andrea L. Aquino is a practitioner and psychologist-in-training, pursuing her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Far Eastern University. As an Instructor III at NU Las Pinas, she fosters a learner-centered environment focused on empathy and critical thinking. Her professional interests include trauma-informed care, abuse recovery, and existential distress. She practices Brainspotting and incorporates somatic approaches, valuing the connection between the mind, body, and lived experiences. Khloe is committed to creating safe, nonjudgmental spaces for clients of all ages. Outside of clinical practice, she prioritizes self-care by reconnecting with her province, exploring new places, and enjoying movies to maintain balance.

PSYCHOTHERAPIST ASSOCIATE

Sometimes, what an individual needs most is a safe space to feel, be supported, and slowly find their way forward. Jai is a registered psychometrician and psychologist-in-training, with over a decade of experience across clinical, educational, and community settings. Beginning her career in 2015, she has developed a diverse practice spanning psychotherapy support, guidance services, mental health program development, and child life services for children with chronic illnesses. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Grounded in trauma-informed practice, she creates supportive spaces for growth. Jai also serves as a mental health resource speaker and is completing her Master of Clinical Psychology.