Hi! I’m Dr. Margaret Wiggins. Congratulations on taking the first step on your mental health journey by seeking out additional information. I’m so glad you’re here.

I was born and raised in Tennessee (but now see myself as a Californian from here on out). I attended Rhodes College for undergraduate training, and during my senior year I enrolled in a seminar focused on age-related cognitive decline. It was this course that ignited my passion for studying the brain. My academic interests, coupled with my family history of dementia and witnessing the toll on both patients and caregivers, led me to pursue a career in neuropsychology.

I am now a licensed clinical psychologist in California. I obtained my PhD from the University of Florida with a specialty area in clinical neuropsychology. While at UF I received extensive training in both assessment and therapeutic intervention. I completed an internship focused on both neuropsychology and behavioral health/intervention at the University of California San Diego. I then completed a 2-year specialized neuropsychology post-doctoral fellowship at UCSD.

My background as a neuropsychologist with a special interest in mental health provides me a unique and in-depth understanding of how the biological and functional aspects of the brain impact how we view and interact with the world.

I offer an empathetic, non-judgmental space for you to discuss and explore challenges you may be facing. I believe that fostering good mental health involves practice. I will teach you skills that are appropriate for your individual situation, will appropriately challenge you to re-frame thoughts, and will encourage you to practice what is taught in session in your daily life.

As a client, you should expect the first session to include a discussion of your individual goals for treatment, and to identify a treatment approach that would be beneficial to you. As sessions progress, a treatment outline will be discussed and modified as necessary. I genuinely believe that the majority of progress is made outside of session, so I will assign “homework” and encourage you to practice the skills taught in session throughout your week. Then, we will use our time together to trouble-shoot, problem-solve, and refine those skills so that you feel confident in your own mental health toolbox moving forward.