Dr. Christine Pao

You've spent years being the responsible one. The high achiever, the one who holds everything together. You've followed the blueprint, met the expectations, and checked every box. But lately, success feels less like an accomplishment and more like a weight you can't put down. On the outside, everything looks fine. On the inside, you're depleted.

If you're a high-achieving Asian American navigating burnout, perfectionism, anxiety, or people-pleasing, this is a space where your experience doesn't need to be explained or justified. As a second-generation Asian American therapist, I understand the nuances of the immigrant household where silence is often a language and emotions are seen as weakness. You were taught, implicitly or explicitly, not to take up too much space. To not make waves. To make yourself smaller so others could be comfortable.

I specialize in working with high-achieving Asian American men and women who are balancing a lot, often while quietly experiencing burnout and overwhelm. In demanding fields like tech, law, consulting, and medicine, burnout isn't always a crash; it's a slow leak. For many of us, excellence was a survival strategy, a way to justify our presence or ensure security. I also specialize in couples therapy for Asian American and multicultural couples navigating communication, cultural differences, and major life transitions. And if you're a new parent who grew up feeling like love had to be earned, we’ll help you find your own voice as a parent so you can develop a different relationship with your kids rooted in connection and emotional safety rather than shame.

My style is warm and collaborative. Rather than jumping ahead to solutions, I meet you where you're at. I know you've already run through the options in your head. Instead, I help you move deeper and figure out where your problems come from, identify the patterns that keep you stuck, and make changes when you're ready. We'll honor the bigger picture, validating your experiences within the cultural, social, and systemic contexts that have shaped them.

I help you with the emotional education you didn't get as a child, giving you the tools to name, process, and regulate your internal world without feeling like you're betraying your culture or your family. We'll work to distinguish your self-worth from your productivity and challenge the scarcity mindset that makes it hard to actually enjoy the life you've worked so hard to build.

I draw from evidence-based frameworks including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), interpersonal process therapy, and humanistic therapy.

The first session is a chance for us to get to know each other. I'll ask about what's bringing you in, what's been weighing on you, and what you're hoping therapy might offer. We’ll learn how to name what’s happening inside and move towards what matters to you, without feeling like you’re betraying your family or your culture.

For couples, we'll spend the first session together as a pair, getting a sense of the dynamic and what's been most challenging. I'll then meet with each partner individually before we come back together to share observations and collaborate on goals.

You don't have to earn your place here. If any of this resonates, reach out today to schedule a free consultation.