Ramana Gasch, Pre-doctoral intern
Assistant Clinical Director, Psychological Associate 

​Ramana Gasch, Assistant Clinical Director in Santa Cruz, is a pre-doctoral intern finishing their PhD in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute, and a Psychological Associate. They have been with Lotus since July 2017. Her prior academic experience includes work in multicultural counseling at CSU Sacramento, and undergraduate work in psychology, history and classics at UC Davis and the University of Exeter in England. They speak Spanish and German. Ramana has extensive experience leading and training other clinicians, and working with multicultural, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent clients. Ramana's approach to psychology is rooted in their values around social and racial justice, critical autism studies, and queer theory. It is also person-centered and attachment based; they strive to deeply understand their clients and meet them where they are. She believes in the existential principle that suffering is a part of being human, and that finding meaning in suffering can transform our experience and allow us to find new ways to be in the world. In addition to existential psychotherapy, they draw on social and racial justice values and intersectional feminist psychology in a liberatory approach to meaning and empowerment, supporting clients who wish to understand and dismantle suffering related to oppression. In her work, she uses concepts and techniques from psychodynamic theories, particularly object relations theory and intersubjectivity; developmental perspectives; IFS (internal family systems) and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy).

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