“Being able to feel safe with other people is [the] most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives”
- Bessel A. van der Kolk
Individual Therapy
With your input, we are able to prioritize your interests and goals in therapy. In therapy, you will have a space to share openly about your life updates, challenges or stressors, joy and achievement, and more. My hope is that therapy can be a space for you to explore the dualities in life: to sit with and adapt to all sides of life.
People who have worked with me have benefited from a nonjudgemental space to develop new skills to manage symptoms of anxiety, work-related stress, depression and decreased motivation, seasonal affective disorder, pregnancy, and postpartum mood symptoms.
Many clients who see me discuss familial and cultural dynamics. We discuss their childhood, and upbringing, and create a space for them to forge a path that feels right to them while honoring what can or cannot be changed in others.
Other clients I serve have additional goals including improving their relationships, communication problems, setting boundaries, self-esteem and self-compassion, career/job or life changes, and adjustment issues.
Individual Therapy Appointments
Initial assessment (50-60 minutes)
Ongoing sessions (45-50 minutes)
My fees are set to the industry standard based on my experience and geographic location.
I reserve a limited number of appointments for sliding scale fee clients based on financial needs.
Please contact me for current availability!
Speciality Populations
Asian Pacific Islanders Desi Americans (APIDA)
Did you know APDIA communities are the least likely to receive mental health services? Together, we can explore your thoughts and feelings regarding your cultural and traditional background, and nuances that impact your health such as disconnection from your parental figures, microaggressions, discrimination, etc.
The cultural journey inwards can help you navigate your sense of self, find empowerment in romantic and family relationships, and even your professional work.
Pregnancy & Postpartum
Preparing for a new addition to your family can be exciting and nerve-wracking. 1 in 7 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers suffer from postpartum depression.
Life will be changing drastically and anxiety is very common for those in their pregnancy stages. You may be navigating multiple stressors including waiting for medical results, future uncertainties, and various changes in your own body, relationship with families, partner, and individual self.
The more you care for your mental health, the more present you can be with your little one and family.
Young Adults
#Adulting is something folks joke about but in IRL, adulting is isolating and scary...
Young adults may feel crippled by family pressure and expectations, experience anxiety the majority of their day, and constantly compare themselves with their peers who may “have it all together”. Feeling behind and out of place is hard to manage on your own.
We can work together to find your sense of purpose to lead a meaningful life with your set values. Let’s try to enjoy the journey while reaching your destination.
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
Finding a therapist of color who can empathize with your cultural needs but also represents diversity, cultural humility, sensitivity, and responsive treatment may be difficult.
Although I come from an Asian American background, I understand the importance of my role; as a therapist of color who has the privilege to hear your narrative and value your personal background with an anti-oppressive and anti-racist background.
Women’s Health & Mental Wellness
A woman’s life is heavily impacted by societal, cultural, and political influences. How do we focus on controlling what we can and letting go of things we cannot when the systems neglect our needs?
Women carry these heavy societal pressures in addition to self-guilt when they want to put themselves higher on their priority list. From a feminist perspective, I aim to empower my female-identifying clients with skills to practice self-advocacy, assertiveness, effective communication, and to set long-standing boundaries.
Emerging Professionals finding Empowerment
When you are new to the working field, you can feel overwhelmed with the culture in the workspace while feeling inadequate or even “lucky” to get the role. New professionals often have a hard time due to social anxiety, self-doubt, procrastination, managing their tasks, and finding their identity outside of their new transition.
Due to workspace cultures drastically changing in 2020 due to COVID, many individuals experience social anxiety and how to navigate their professional work lives.
Working Professionals finding Balance
You can be established in your career and experience apathy about your work. Perhaps, the motivation or meaning in your work has changed with your life stages. Maybe you’ve hit a lull and do not feel as passionate as prior, doubting your skills in your role, even feeling the loss in your career.
Perhaps, you are burnt out, dreading going to work daily, feeling undervalued, or believe that you’re not making an impact.
Let’s work together to find a work-life balance to achieve your mental and workplace wellness.
First Generation College Graduate Students, & Professionals
First-Generation individuals are trailblazers. The road is lonely and scary, but you’re determined to make it.
Although you may have support from your family or friends, it is difficult to ask for help when your experiences of challenges can be minimized. Imposter syndrome in the educational or corporate system unconsciously dismisses your experience and the challenges you went though to get to where you are. Let’s dismantle these doubts in a validating space.
My fundamental belief is to first meet people where they are.
Call to book a complimentary consult with me to see if we could be a good fit. You can email me on my Psychology Today profile to get started.
Topics of Focus
Depression
Experiencing feelings of sadness, guilt, worthlessness, worry, and emotional apathy.
Decreased motivation and interest in activities you used to enjoy.
Increased emotional outbursts (crying) and feeling easily irritated.
Changes in your behavior are influenced by changes in sleep, energy, appetite, and more.
Anxiety
Ruminative worries and thoughts of worst-case scenarios. Inability to let go of these irrational fears.
Exaggerated emotional responses that may not be congruent to the events presented.
Experiencing restlessness in your mind and body, struggling with procrastination and avoidance.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Mood Symptoms
Feeling empty, alone, shameful, or guilty.
Thoughts that something may go wrong. Experiencing overwhelming emotions (excitement and fear). Thoughts you may be a “bad mom” and that you may never get it right like others.
Grief due to life changes; noticing changes in yourself personally and on a professional level in addition to your relationships.
Difficulty asking for support and seeking help from your family, partner, or community.
Self-Esteem, Confidence, and Compassion
Consistent demeaning internal perceptions of self including negative self-talk.
Having difficulty making your own choices or prioritizing your needs due to self-doubt or dependency on reassurance.
Porous boundaries and challenges saying “no” to others due to not wanting to let people down.
Cultural / Identity Issues
Having difficulty establishing a healthy sense of self in the culture at work, in your community groups, in educational settings, etc.
Experiencing emotional distress and unsettling feelings due to familial and cultural pressures, differences, or disruptions.
Stressors or unresolved feelings relating to generational history, childhood traumatic experiences, or emotionally invalidating living environment.
Feeling unsafe, validated, or even hurt because you find that your surroundings may not understand your background, ethnicity, or belief system.
Life Transitions
Noticing new emotional or behavioral reactions triggered by a recent stressful event or change not limited to occupation or career, new or ending of relationships, moving to a new space, death of a loved one or pet, etc.
Emotional challenges can include anxiety and depressed mood as stated above.
Communication Skills
When you may feel intense emotions, you may communicate things in an unhelpful manner to get your needs met. Challenges with communication can be speaking your mind in a productive manner, expressing your expectations or needs, or finding areas of compromise to live by your values.
Relationship Wellness
Relationships can succeed, be stagnant, or have growing pains due to multiple factors. People in relationships may be faced with decreased intimacy (physical and emotional), lack of understanding or empathy, trust issues, and more.
Love languages between partners can differ influenced by life changes or simply general beliefs. You may want one thing but are feeling stuck that your partner has not been able to provide so.
Work-Life Balance
Dependent on the culture of your work or field, there can be unrealistic expectations combined with a lack of support or resources. You may have developed high stress due to the lack of control at work; trying to fill in the gaps with over-working or even burning out.
Focusing on creating balance in your work and personal life can assist you in rejuvenating and being more productive. It allows you to take a step back and invest in healthy relationships with yourself as a skillful team member and as on a personal level.
Modalities of Therapy Treatment
When finding a therapist, you want to see that your personality “click” and if the vibes are right. It is also equally important to be informed of their style and therapy approach.
My fundamental approach to therapy is eclectic, meaning I practice from various models of therapy depending on my current needs. These are the pillars I derive treatment from.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is the gold standard in medical settings as it is an evidence-based strategy to effectively treat anxiety. CBT has also been highly utilized in the treatment of Depression, Bipolar Dx, and Personality Diagnoses. It focuses on the triad of examining your Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors. Essentially, if we examine your regular (or unhelpful) thoughts or behaviors, we can influence your feelings. It involves tracking your triggers, and emotions, and rerouting your brain map to other new pathways.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a cousin of CBT. DBT is developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. It primarily focuses on individuals regulating their emotions and improving interpersonal relationships and lives through recognition, validation, acceptance, and behavior change. DBT has four essential topics focusing on building balanced lives, improving communication skills, mindfulness skills, and managing intensive emotions. It also has a foundation of holding two truths; acceptance of our current realities and striving to change through new growth.
Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Focused Care
Mindfulness is comprised of two major areas: Being present and Non-Judgemental. Mindfulness helps individuals with their awareness and intention about where their emotions sit, and what they may ruminate on and empowers them to recognize all thoughts, emotions, and situations come and go. You can be mindful of every (little & big) thing in your daily life.
Self-Compassion is the complete opposite of inner self-critic. It is the daily practice of treating yourself like how you would treat a dear friend. In self-compassionate treatment and strategies, we focus on topics such as Self-Kindness, Mindfulness, and Common Humanity. How can effectively change and grow, if we are constantly judging ourselves negatively? You can develop new skills and be kind to yourself throughout the process.
Culturally Competent & Sensitive Care
To truly meet you where you are, I am to be curious about your background and culture which may include your ethnic or racial background. Either it is focused upon your rich culture, your family’s traditions or expectations, your communities including your spiritual/religious background, identified gender or preference, or sexual orientation. I am here to learn to best support you.
At the core of social work training, I aim to each client of mine in a caring and respectful manner. I am mindful of their individual differences, cultural and ethnic diversity, and how society may have directly influenced their current state of mental wellness.