Rooted in Experience & Understanding
Background, approach, & specialties.
Meet Whillma Quenicka, PhD.
My Background
I was born and raised in Indonesia and moved to the United States in my late teens and early adulthood due to political turmoil and monetary crisis in my home country. I speak Indonesian, Sundanese, and English, and I am currently learning Spanish. As someone with a multicultural background and intercultural family experience, I understand that our cultural lenses shape how we see the world and influence how we function. Through my own struggles during difficult times, I learned that while we cannot change the past, we do have choices in how we respond to our circumstances.
I was born and raised in Indonesia and moved to the United States in my late teens and early adulthood due to political turmoil and monetary crisis in my home country. I speak Indonesian, Sundanese, and English, and I am currently learning Spanish. As someone with a multicultural background and intercultural family experience, I understand that our cultural lenses shape how we see the world and influence how we function. Through my own struggles during difficult times, I learned that while we cannot change the past, we do have choices in how we respond to our circumstances.
My Mission
I am a Clinical Psychologist and Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor. I work with top performers and overachievers who may be managing life with unhealthy habits that can lead to painful consequences. I created a coaching program focused on helping top performers create a more balanced lifestyle and access a more regulated nervous system. My coaching work is centered on prevention and helping people regulate their nervous system before patterns become more serious. My therapy work focuses on substance use, anxiety, stress, and trauma.
I am a Clinical Psychologist and Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor. I work with top performers and overachievers who may be managing life with unhealthy habits that can lead to painful consequences. I created a coaching program focused on helping top performers create a more balanced lifestyle and access a more regulated nervous system. My coaching work is centered on prevention and helping people regulate their nervous system before patterns become more serious. My therapy work focuses on substance use, anxiety, stress, and trauma.
Approach
I believe a strong alliance is essential in creating a transformative process. I aim to provide a safe, warm, and non-judgmental space for growth and change.
Education & Experience
My academic background includes training in clinical psychology, business administration, economics, and liberal studies.
Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara, CA
- PhD Clinical Psychology 2016
- M.A. Clinical Psychology 2013
California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA
- M.S. Clinical Psychology 2010
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Los Angeles, CA
- B.A. Psychology with College Honors 2004
Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CA
- A.A. Business Administration with Honors 2000
- A.A. Economics with Honors 2000
- A.A. Liberal Studies Pre-Transfer with Honors 2001
- A.A. Liberal Studies General with Honors 2000
Honors & Scholarships
- President Honor Rolls, 1999–2001
- Dean’s List, 1999–2001
- Adopt-A Student Scholarship, 2001
- International Student Scholarship, 2001
- Jack-Halloran Memorial Scholarship, 2001
- Industrial Business Society Scholarship, 2001
Abstract Publications / Professional Presentations
- Quenicka, W., McGoldrick, K., Bennett, T. L., & Soper, H. V. (2012). [Abstract published in Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 27(6), 682]. Level of functioning trajectories of executive functioning performance over the lifespan. Based upon poster presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, Nashville, TN.
- Quenicka, W., McGoldrick, K., Bennett, T. L., & Soper, H. V. (2012). [Abstract published in Applied Neuropsychology, 19.] Age trajectory of neuropsychological performance: Verbal and visual episodic memory. Based upon poster presented at the 4th Annual American College of Professional Neuropsychology Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
- Bennett, T. L., Quenicka, W., McGoldrick, K., & Soper, H. V. (2012). [Abstract published in Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 27(6), 688]. Level of functioning trajectory of neuropsychological performance over the lifespan: Impairment Rating and Verbal Skills. Based upon poster presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, Nashville, TN.
- Bennett, T. L., Quenicka, W., McGoldrick, K., & Soper, H. V. (2012). [Abstract published in Applied Neuropsychology, 19.] Age trajectory of neuropsychological performance: Sensory/Motor functioning. Based upon poster presented at the 4th Annual American College of Professional Neuropsychology Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
- McGoldrick, K., Bennett, T. L., Quenicka, W., Daneshi, K., & Soper, H. V. (2012). [Abstract published in Applied Neuropsychology, 19.] Age trajectory of neuropsychological performance: Executive functions and attention. Based upon poster presented at the 4th Annual American College of Professional Neuropsychology Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
- Bennett, T. L., McGoldrick, K., Quenicka, W., & Soper, H. V. (2012). [Abstract published in Applied Neuropsychology, 19.] Age trajectory of neuropsychological performance: Impairment rating and verbal skills. Based upon poster presented at the 4th Annual American College of Professional Neuropsychology Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Favorite Quotes
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals"
“If you want something you never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done.
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
“Chance favors the prepared mind"
A LITTLE ABOUT ME