Dr. Corrine McIntosh, PsyD, LMFT

07/28/2026

Sometimes advocacy looks like sharing information reported out at public yet hard-to-access meetings.

At this month's Sacramento County Behavioral Health Commission general meeting, we received a presentation from the County's Department of Homeless Services and Housing Director. She referenced data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition Out of Reach interactive dashboard (found here: https://nlihc.org/oor), which states:

"In Sacramento, earning minimum wage of $16.50 an hour, you would need to work 83 hours each week to afford a one-bedroom rental unit at market rate."

I've been sharing this statistic alot lately, especially with those who report feeling ashamed for experiencing financial stress related to housing costs.

Because no amount of meditation, breathing exercises, and self-care will fix structural inequality, poverty, or institutional injustice.

Feeling unable to pay rent is not a personal failure. High housing costs come from a broken economic system, low wages, and a severe lack of affordable housing. You did not cause this problem, and you are carrying a burden that belongs to society.

True change requires changing laws, sharing power, and redistributing resources.

07/24/2026

💥 Shout out to the students at CPAGS CPA Graduate Students (CPAGS) that organized Diversity Day (and to the folks at Division VII: Diversity & Social Justice Division of CPA supporting the event)! It was a delight to spend part of my Saturday afternoon talking about Advocacy as Gender-Affirming Health Care.

Systems of oppression are maintained through everyday "micro" exchanges. While systems are large, they are experienced and either upheld or challenged in our daily conversations. This involves moving from being a "bystander" to an "active disruptor".

There is power in every interaction.

Every conversation whether with our patients, our colleagues, our supervisors - is an opportunity to uphold our values of Safety, Inclusion, and Equity.

My hope is that attendees will felt equipped and empowered to use the privilege and power in their unique positionality to engage in advocacy as gender affirming healthcare.

07/20/2026

🗳️For the 2nd year in a row, I’ve been nominated for Sacramento Favorites - Mental Health Services category!

Voting is now open and you can vote once per day until 8/07/2026!

Here’s how to cast your vote:
1️⃣Go to https://www.votesacramento.org
2️⃣Click on HEALTH & BEAUTY
3️⃣Click on MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
4️⃣Scroll down and select Corrine McIntosh Sako, PsyD, LMFT
5️⃣Click Review and Submit Ballot

Then repeat these steps every day until August 7!

07/17/2026

Sometimes advocacy looks like seeking spaces to talk about advocacy ...

This is the 3rd conference/convention presentation proposal I've submitted this year. The previous two were not accepted. I understand the logistical limitations and dynamics of the proposal selection process, and it is still disappointing to not have my work accepted.

I almost let the disappointment stop me from submitting to CAMFT-CA Assoc. of Marriage & Family Therapists' Call for Speaker Proposals...and then I remembered that the bounce back is a big part of the advocacy process itself. It is essential to process the rejection, evaluate options, and strategically plan my next move to carve out spaces to build community awareness, change the narrative, and create the very momentum needed to keep pushing for systemic change.

So that's what I did.

07/07/2026

I am so excited to be a part of this event - I'll be presenting on Advocacy as Gender-Affirming Health Care! Feel free to share & make sure you register using the link below.
---------
FREE EVENT FOR ALL PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENTS!!!!

California Psychological Association of Graduate Students (CPAGS) is excited to announce our upcoming event: Diversity Day 2026: Radical Hope & Our Collective Voice - Intersectional Clinicians Rising in Uncertain Times.

This is a student-led, community-driven event planned by graduate students, for all students. In a time marked by uncertainty and growing challenges to our communities, Diversity Day creates space for connection, reflection, learning, and collective action. Together, we are exploring how clinicians, trainees, and advocates can sustain hope while building a more just future for psychology.

Event details:
• Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
• Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (PT)
• Format: Live, virtual event via Zoom
• Cost: Free and open to ALL students — no CPA membership required
• Presented in partnership by CPA Division VII: Diversity & Social Justice Division of CPA and CPAGS
•Register here: https://www.cpapsych.org/event/Jul18-2026

07/01/2026

🌟 Sometimes advocacy looks like leveraging strategic partnerships for resource sharing ... especially when those resources are directed to prioritize the celebration of others' accomplishments & allow for joy!

A HUGE thank you to the Alliant University Sacramento campus 2026 Student Government Association for bestowing me with its Financial Abundance Award! It remains an honor to support your professional development - both in and out of the classroom.

06/24/2026

Sometimes advocacy looks like building awareness about the hidden risks and challenges of social media and AI on vulnerable populations such as adolescents.

Can you imagine a life without smart phones or social media?
I can, but that’s because I’m was born in 1976.

Many of today’s youth find it difficult to picture their lives without their phones and social media. It’s all they know.

Today, nearly all U.S. teens (96%) say they use the internet every day and 46% report being online “almost constantly.”

Nearly 1 in 3 teens use AI chatbots for social interactions and relationships, including role playing friendships, sexual and romantic partnerships. In fact, the use of AI for sexual or romantic roleplay is three times as common as using AI for homework help.

Black and Hispanic teens report higher AI adoption and seek emotional support from chatbots more often than white teens, but they face biased advice, systemic exclusion in data modeling, and disproportionate exposure to online racism.

This definitely influences how one feels about themselves, others, and the world around them.

Thank you Vantage Point Center for Psychotherapy for inviting me to speak to your team on the effects of social media and AI on youth and their mental health.

06/11/2026

👩‍🏫 Summer session is in full effect! I have the privilege of teaching the Individual and Family Life Cycle course to 1st & 2nd year graduate students in Alliant University Sacramento Campus' Couples & Family Therapy program.

What makes this course really special for me is its mandate on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the lifespan for individuals and families. From the syllabus: "New therapists must consider diversity issues at all levels of training. The California law and AAMFT Code of Ethics mandate non-discrimination (1.1) and “affirmative therapy for people affected by systemic and non-systemic inequality, microaggressions, and racism, including but not limited to people of color and the LGBTQI community.”

06/08/2026

🏛️Sometimes advocacy looks like giving a presentation voluntarily at no charge for the public good....

Last week, I had the opportunity to present on the importance of Trauma-Informed Advocacy to the summer program students at Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA). I am incredibly honored to have this connection with the largest provider of immigration legal services in Northern California and to help inform the vital services they provide. You can learn more about at their website: https://iibayarea.org/

06/01/2026

My consultation with the California Department of Aging for their article spotlighting Older Adults' Mental Health led to an opportunity to collaborate with an ABC-Bay Area station for this feature!

You can view the entire video here:

Many older Californians are living alone and facing social isolation, but state officials and health experts say resources are available to help maintain meaningful connections.