I work with adults (18+) experiencing trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, life stress, and the lasting effects of difficult experiences. As a second-generation Chinese American, I'm also familiar with the cultural dynamics that can come up around identity, relationships, and mental health. My background includes several years of experience in community mental health and substance use treatment, and I am a certified EMDR Therapist through the EMDR International Association.
Generally, I take a warm, relational approach, and tailor therapy to each person's goals, preferences, and strengths. I practice mainly from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) lens, drawing from EMDR, DBT, and IFS when those approaches best support the work. My social work background shapes how I sit with every client: I'm not just working with the person in front of me, but everything they bring with them — family of origin, culture, upbringing, environment. All of it shapes who we are, whether we're aware of it or not. Together, we make sense of what you're struggling with now by understanding what's influenced it.
Our first session is really just a conversation — a chance to get to know each other. We'll talk about what brought you to therapy, what you're hoping to work on, and what's felt helpful or not in past therapy. There's no pressure to dive into difficult details right away. You'll have completed an intake assessment beforehand, so this isn't about retreading what you've already written down — it's a chance to go deeper on what matters most to you, get a feel for how I work, and see whether it feels like a good fit.
