Dr. Julia Sáenz is a German-born sun-enthusiast whose unquenchable thirst for vitamin C and deep-rooted desire to guide others toward introspection and self-love brought her to sunny Southern California. Just recently, she relocated to Long Beach, not only to be close to the ocean, but also to be a part of a community in which love, eclectic individualism, and cultural diversity is celebrated. So far, she hasn’t been disappointed. In both her personal and professional life, Julia’s ethos is to embrace life as a journey, never a destination. While she certainly takes pleasure in owning beautiful things and accomplishing ambitious goals, she recognizes there’s always more to strive for. Life, however, happens in the now, and to her, that’s what matters most. Most recently, Julia was the Program Director for an eating disorder treatment facility where she fearlessly lead a team of therapists in their endeavor to help individuals restore their relationship with food and with themselves. Before following her heart and finding her place with eating disorders, Julia spent several years providing psychological services to individuals incarcerated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. There, she initiated the implementation of support groups for male-to-female transgender inmates to provide a safe space in which they could share fears, dreams, tears, and hearty laughter. To this day, Julia has a soft spot for underserved populations whose need for connection is neglected and hopes to continue her work as an advocate and ally. Julia’s educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology from Heidelberg University in Germany, as well as an M.A. and a Doctor in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology in Orange, California.