values and beliefs
connection, authenticity, vulnerability is key
Connection, authenticity, and vulnerability create the relationship that will exist between you and I. I strongly believe in “good fit” relationships between clients and therapists. That good vibe is real. It allows you to flow and just “be”, be your authentic self, and create space for you to be vulnerable - to be witnessed by me, and yourself. The ability to be vulnerable is what allows for you to engage in deep work and establish a good relationship.
our relationship is important
Our relationship is crucial to the work we do together. I work hard and am dedicated to creating a space with you where you can feel comfortable in being yourself, and engaging in the therapy process. I think the best kind of therapy is the kind where it flows and feels as if you are grabbing a coffee with a friend. Get to know me by reading a little bit about me.
therapy should be a safe space
Therapy is a space for you to engage in that work in the presence of someone who will journey and accompany you back into connection with yourself, with your relationships, and with the world around you. It can be a vulnerable space and time in your life where your stories and you are held compassionately and respectfully. You deserve a space where you feel comfortable to share your story, to be authentically you, to grow, to heal, and to explore.
no “blank slate therapy”
Blank slate therapy is where the client knows nothing about the therapist, while the therapist knows everything about the client. I don’t practice therapy this way. Instead, I bring myself into the therapy room and relationship. There is energy exchange there, it’s not one sided. If you work with me, you will know me. I bring all of myself into therapy and my personality will be evident. Just as I hold space for you to be authentically you, how I show up authentically to you is how I show up to people outside of the therapy “room.” I’m here for collective healing. You impact me as much as I impact you. As you are learning and growing, I am learning and growing.
you are not broken
You are whole, existing fully in the different contexts (society, cultures, identities, relationships, etc.) that you live in. I focus on growth and strengths, versus seeing you as your problems, or your diagnoses, if you have any.
I don’t see you as just your problems, or the things that are worrying and impacting you. I work from a perspective that prefers to see you in your contexts and systems you live in and how they impact you. It paints a whole picture of who you are, and of your experiences.
You have inner ways of knowing, and I’m there to witness you and co-create space for you to remember it, lean into it, and amplify it.
collaborative and egalitarian
I seek to make it as equal as possible between us in the therapy room. I shift between leading and following depending on who I am with, and what we are working through that day. I move with you as we flow together and find a rhythm for us that works. It could look different from meeting to meeting. I work with what you bring to the session, and sometimes will call back to previous themes or topics.
I don’t place myself as an expert who will “fix” you, or tell you how to live your life. You are the expert of your life - you contain multitudes with inner wisdom within you. My role is to uplift through pointing out and celebrating strengths, bringing curiosity, and gently challenging you to broaden (or narrow in) your perspective.
growth and change are possible
The way I approach change and growth happens in therapy comes from my therapeutic orientation: humanistic experiential and narrative therapies. Change and growth comes from experiencing yourself, and/or your partner differently, rewriting the stories (narratives) you have of your life and about yourself that no longer fit, and developing an increased understanding of your self, your inner world, and your emotions.
This process can look like “going inward”: going inward - examining your experiences, emotions, insight, curiosity, and self understanding. The more you understand yourself, you are empowered to make different decisions that bring needed emotional corrective experiences that propel you forward.
who i work with
Everyone is welcome to inquire to see if we’d be a good fit. I am also committed to working with people who identify as Asian, and, or Pacific Islander. Often times clients’ identities include and intersect being queer, and/or neurodivergent.
I tend to work with people who want want to understand themselves better, be more vulnerable, be empowered to make decisions that align with their values, let go and heal from harmful patterns, and improve their relationships. They are forging their own paths and are eager to explore new ways to navigate life.
areas of practice
my main areas of focus include: relationships, self growth, attachment, and childhood wounds. Here are some of the things that we could work together on in therapy:
Understand, shift, deepen, and strengthen personal relationships (familial, friendships, work, romantic)
Unpack and work through childhood experiences
Foster emotional intimacy and connection with your partner
Engage in self exploration. Explore, develop, strengthen your relationship & connection to yourself
Increase your self understanding
Create and strengthen boundaries to preserve relationships and care for yourself
Increase your emotional availability and vulnerability
Navigate difficult and/or complex relationships
Practice and embrace self compassion, love, and acceptance
Engage in identity work
Work through attachment issues/concerns
Navigate through life transitions
Find ways to to manage stress, and practice self care
This list is not exhaustive. I would love to hear from you, and invite you to contact me for an introductory call to see if we align in your vision for therapy.
approach to couples therapy
My approach to couples therapy is that we are working to change the current dynamic that you have. There may be some teaching (“I” statements, active listening, and validation, for example) involved. My focus is on us reflecting on and understanding your current patterns, and changing them. I emphasize shifting the way you experience your relationship and your partner and help create the space to do so. This could look like creating new emotional experiences together in and out of the session, such as responding to your partner differently or choosing to be more vulnerable by sharing what you want or need. There is trust in the process to be willing to try something new and different. My couples work is rooted in emotionally focused therapy (EFT) and humanistic experiential (similar to individual work.