Сайн байна уу? I'm Susan.
A therapist, first-generation immigrant, and mother.
My name is Purevsuren "Susan" Basanjav, LMFT #161812. I am a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, founder of Kind Mind Therapy, first-generation immigrant, and mother.
For more than five years, I have worked alongside children and families, supporting parents as they navigate the joys, challenges, and uncertainties of raising young children. My work is grounded in attachment, child development, emotional connection, and culturally responsive care.
As an immigrant raising a child far from home, I understand what it can feel like to parent between two cultures. We love our children deeply, yet parenting can still feel overwhelming and, at times, lonely, especially when we are trying to balance different cultural expectations, values, and ways of raising children.
I created Kind Mind Therapy to make that journey feel a little less lonely — a supportive community where parents can learn, connect, share experiences, and feel supported by one another.
Kind Mind Therapy provides trustworthy, compassionate parenting education and guidance, with a special commitment to serving Mongolian families in a way that honors their language, culture, and individual family values. Educational programs and clinical services are available in both Mongolian and English.
Susan Basanjav, LMFT
Founder & Licensed Therapist
Children do not need perfect parents.
They need caregivers who are willing to learn, repair, reconnect, and grow alongside them.
When we understand what children are communicating through their behavior, parenting shifts from trying to control them to guiding them through connection.
Connect first, then guide.
My approach & specialization
Six pillars guide the work
I specialize in early childhood mental health (birth to age six) and dyadic therapy, working with young children and their caregivers together to build secure attachments, support emotional development, and strengthen parent-child relationships.
Attachment-based
Prioritizing emotional safety and secure connection.
Developmentally informed
Aligning expectations with what young children can realistically manage and understand.
Trauma-informed
Understanding how stress and past trauma impact behavior and family dynamics.
Culturally responsive
Honoring each family's unique traditions, values, and lived experiences.
Strengths-based
Building on what your family is already doing well.
Practical & compassionate
Offering simple, actionable tools for everyday home life.
Professional background
Child and Family Therapist in an Early Childhood Mental Health Program.
My professional experience includes providing psychotherapy to young children and families, with a focus on early childhood mental health, dyadic and parent-child therapy, emotional and behavioral concerns, school-based counseling, school attendance difficulties, and school transitions. I also support parents with general guidance in understanding and navigating the IEP process.
I have experience supporting children in foster care and families involved with child welfare services, including Child Protective Services (CPS). My work includes collaborating with foster caregivers, biological parents, schools, social workers, and other professionals to support children's emotional well-being, strengthen caregiver-child relationships, and support families throughout the reunification process when appropriate.
Education
2021
M.S. in Counseling
Marriage & Family Therapy
California State University, East Bay
2011
B.A. in Psychology
Foundational studies in human development and behavior
California State University, East Bay
Every class and consultation is grounded in a graduate-level clinical education in child and family development.
Specialized Training
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
2026 cohort
Irving B. Harris Early Childhood Mental Health Training Program
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland · 2023–2024
Attachment Vitamins Parent Group Facilitator
UCSF · 2025
Additional certifications
Dyadic Therapy, Complex Childhood Trauma, CANS/PSC-35 Assessments, Multicultural Counseling
Educational disclaimer
Educational programs, classes, workshops, and downloadable resources provided through Kind Mind Therapy are for general educational purposes only. They do not constitute psychotherapy, clinical assessment, diagnosis, or crisis intervention, nor do they establish a therapist-client relationship.
Therapy availability
Psychotherapy and clinical consultation services are strictly limited to clients who are physically located in the state of California at the time of service.
Emergency care
If you or your child are experiencing a mental health emergency or immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services or crisis line immediately.