Evoto

Kanchi Wijesekera, Ph.D.

Founder & Clinical Director

Dr. Kanchi—a compassionate clinical psychologist and a mother of two girls—is deeply committed to nurturing resilience and promoting mental well-being in individuals and communities. With a wealth of experience and expertise, she founded the Milika Center for Therapy & Resilience as a beacon of hope and healing.

Throughout her career, Dr. Kanchi has demonstrated unwavering dedication to her patients and the community. Dr. Kanchi served as the Outpatient Director of Clinical Psychology at the UCLA Pediatric Heart Transplant Center, while also contributing to pediatric clinics such as kidney transplant, dialysis, and obesity. Moreover, she offered crucial support to medical students, residents, and fellows at the UCLA Behavioral Wellness Center (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA), assisting them in coping with a wide range of problematic symptoms while fostering resilience. She is a highly sought-after for her expertise in delivering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to address a wide range of issues. Specializing in maternal mental health, physician wellness, medical trauma, anxiety, depression, and resilience training, among several others, Dr. Kanchi empowers youth and adults to rise above challenges and thrive. Dr. Kanchi's compassionate approach and dedication to her clients make her a trusted ally in their journey toward mental wellness and resilience.

Driven by her vision of creating a compassionate and supportive community, Dr. Kanchi is excited to build a team of top tier clinicians at MILIKA. Together, they are poised to deliver high-caliber care, providing holistic mental health services aimed at empowering individuals to overcome adversity and flourish.  She envisions MILIKA becoming a recognized name across California, symbolizing excellence in mental health care.

Additionally, through projects and collaborations, Dr. Kanchi continues to spread kindness and support, locally and globally, making a profound difference in the lives of others. Dr. Kanchi’s tireless dedication embodies the spirit of MILIKA, where healing and hope converge to transform lives.

More About Dr. Kanchi

Education

  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology: Loma Linda University
  • Psychology Internship: CHOC Children’s Hospital
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship: UCLA Children’s Heart Center & Semel Institute for Neuroscience/Nathanson Family Resilience Center.
  • Clinical Trainings: Stanford Lucille Packard Children's Hospital- Eating Disorders Clinic, UCLA Center for Assessment and Prevention of Prodromal States (CAPPS); Loma Linda Children's Hospital;
  • M.A. in Clinical Psychology: Loma Linda University
  • B.A. in Psychology: UC Berkeley

Works With

Modalities

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed
  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy
  • Virtual Reality Therapy
  • Focus Families Overcoming Under Stress (FOCUS)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Attachment Focused
  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Fun Facts

Dr. Kanchi was born in Sri Lanka, the beautiful island known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.”  

She did competitive Bollywood dancing at UC Berkeley, and led her troupe to 3rd place during her senior year!

Ready to get started?

Ready to get started? Start your journey towards resilience and mental well-being today by contacting us to schedule a consultation.