Alexa Padilla is a Psychological Associate under the supervision of Dr. Tejal Jakatdar, PhD. Alexa is a Bay Area native, born and raised in San Jose, and has remained dedicated to serving her local community throughout her education and professional training. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University (PAU), with an emphasis in Pediatric Behavioral Healthcare (PBHC). PAU is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and offers a rigorous, science-based curriculum grounded in the practitioner–scientist model. The PBHC emphasis provided Alexa with specialized coursework and clinical experience focused on evidence-based treatment for youth and families, integrating developmental psychology, pediatric behavioral health, and collaborative care models.

Alexa has provided therapy and assessment services to children, adolescents, and families in hospital, school, and community mental health settings. Her clinical training has focused on the treatment of anxiety, depression, and neurodevelopmental disorders. At Willow Anxiety and OCD, Alexa utilizes gold-standard, evidence-based treatments to help clients increase psychological flexibility and live in alignment with their values. These treatments include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

Alexa is passionate about making therapy accessible early in life, believing it can empower youth to build meaningful and fulfilling lives sooner rather than later. She approaches her work with sincerity and develops strong therapeutic relationships rooted in collaboration and trust. Alexa incorporates creativity and humor into sessions—using playful activities, visual tools, and personalized interventions to make therapy more engaging and effective.

Outside the therapy room, Alexa enjoys exploring nature and spending quality time with her beloved pets: Maxine the cat, Molly Mae the poodle, and Susana the turtle. Alexa is also a fan of board games, arts and crafts, and true crime documentaries; she has recently taken up the very serious hobby of coloring.