I believe that kindness and compassion are my natural orientation and I position myself accordingly as a therapist. I believe that we are all inherently enough.
I hope to work with you to help find the resources and resiliency to relate to yourself in new ways that feel nourishing, envision possibilities where you could not find them before, hold space for you to process what it has meant to arrive where life has taken you in its many complexities and to collaborate on navigating new territories for a life that feels more authentic and aligned.
While our work will rarely be comfortable, and I may gently challenge you, I promise to do so with grace and compassion.
My Approach:
My clients often struggle with:
Depression
Anxiety
Shame and vulnerability
Stress and burnout
Relational issues
Boundaries
Intimacy and trust
Identity and self-concept
Life transitions
Internalized oppression (i.e., homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, racism, etc.)
Childhood and complex trauma
Racial identity and racial trauma
Intergenerational trauma
Grief
Common Issues I Work With:
Asian-American Mental Health (individuals and couples):
Common themes explored:
Model minority myth: This can contribute to feelings of perfectionism and burnout, and alternatively inadequacy and shame when we don’t conform to society’s expectations as model minorities.
Perpertual foreigner stereotype and internalized oppression: Despite our attempts at assimilation, micro- and macro-aggressions from others can harm our sense of belonging and self-worth. This can also lead to internalized racism toward ourselves and our own people, which can lead to fragmentation within our families and communities.
Invisibility: A lack of Asian-American representation in media, politics, and leadership positions (i.e., bamboo ceiling) can contribute to feeling unseen and excluded in the larger sociocultural landscape
Trauma from immigration and being a refugee: The experience of immigration or fleeing from our homes due to warfare can alter our sense of safety and negatively impact our psychological well-being and those around us.
Intergenerational conflicts: Navigating our own values can be difficult as we straddle being bicultural, which can ultimately lead to conflicts between more American values (i.e., self-reliance, the right to pursue our own happiness) and Asian ideals (i.e., saving face, filial piety, concern for the collective well-being of our family). This can affect our ability to determine what is actually working for us and how we can assert boundaries while still maintaining meaningful relationships and a sense of ourselves.
Populations and Areas I Specialize In:
LGBTQ+ Mental Health (individuals and couples):
Common themes explored:
Internalized oppression and shame: We hear all too often, especially in our childhood, that our LGBTQ+ identities do not belong and deserve to be discriminated against. This creates a tendency for us to internalize that message and minimize parts of ourselves, which can contribute to shame and low self-worth. Alternatively, it can lead us down a path of perfectionism in an attempt to cover up our perceived “flaws.”
Invisibility: A lack of LGBTQ+ representation in the media, politics, and leadership positions can foster a sense of exclusion and not feeling valued within our communities. It feels personal as political legislation is debated upon and passed against our community, and we may feel without a voice.
Trauma: Feeling unwelcome, misunderstood, and sometimes hated for our LGBTQ+ identities within our families and communities can leave us feeling alone, unloved, and unseen. When we don't have safe spaces to feel validated in our identities and our feelings, we are more likely to suppress important emotions and our authentic selves.
Gender identity and stigmatization: Gender identity is often undeservingly pathologized due to misinformation and disinformation in the medical and political fields. I believe in your right to decide for yourself what your identity is and no amount of legislation can take that away from you.
Attachment Theory
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Internal Family Systems
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Mindful Self-Compassion
Intersectionality and Social Justice