Dr. Evangeline Castronuevo-Ruga

Dr. Evangeline Castronuevo-Ruga is an internationally-trained psychologist with over 20 years of experience in academic and non-government organization (NGO) settings and specialized knowledge in mental health, counselling/psychotherapy, assessment, learning facilitation, research, and design and delivery of services for diverse settings.
Dr. Castronuevo-Ruga completed her M.A. in Psychology at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of the Philippines. She was a faculty member and chair of the Psychology Department at De La Salle University-Dasmarinas in Cavite. She was also a counsellor and later director of the university’s Student Wellness Center. Prior to working in the academe, Dr. Castronuevo-Ruga provided counselling for women experiencing domestic violence at the NGO Kababaihan Laban sa Karahasan (Women Against Violence) Foundation, Inc. She also worked at another NGO, the Women and Children Internal Refugees Assistance Center, supporting women and children who were displaced by armed conflict.
Approach to Therapy
Dr. Castronuevo-Ruga’s approach to therapy draws on Person-Centered Therapy (PCT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), solution-focused/brief therapies, mindfulness, and 2SLGBTQIA+ affirmative approaches. She believes in the inherent goodness and uniqueness of individuals and our capacity for growth and development given appropriate help and support, within an accepting and non-judgmental environment. Knowing that clients are the experts and the best “agents of change” in their own lives, she prefers to support individuals from a non-directive, strengths-based, and anti-oppressive stance. She strives to see individuals within their specific social, historical, cultural, economic situations as well as their interpersonal and familial contexts. This allows individuals a safe space in which to fully experience themselves–to feel, make sense of, and re-weave, if needed, their own personal stories.