approach
healing and therapy relationships
The relationships that we have can shape us, influence how we see and relate to ourselves, and others. I believe we can be wounded in relationships and that relationships can also be places of healing. The therapeutic relationship itself can be an important part of that process. 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. In regards to vulnerability, we’ll move at a pace that feels right for you. Over time, our work can help you feel more comfortable exploring parts of yourself that may be difficult to share or understand.
Our relationship is crucial to the work we do together. I believe therapy works best when there's a genuine human connection. I bring my own warmth, personality, curiosity, and humor into our work, while remaining attentive to your needs and experiences. 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. My hope is that we build a relationship grounded in trust, honesty, and collaboration. Engaging in our shared humanity, I want our work together to feel genuine and human and that there's room for you and all of your emotions. I want you to feel like you can be yourself and feel comfortable enough to explore the things that matter to you. There can be moments of laughter and ease, as well as moments when we sit with difficult emotions or have conversations that feel uncomfortable but meaningful.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.
what sessions look like with me
Working together might look like exploring why certain patterns keep showing up in your relationships, making sense of emotions that are difficult to put into words, or looking at how past experiences shape the way you see yourself today. I’ll help you notice patterns, understand your emotional responses, explore new ways of relating, and practice responding differently in your relationships. I'll also bring curiosity, reflection, and gentle challenges to help you discover new ways of understanding yourself and relating to others.
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 will make sure you and your stories 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.
I’m not a “blank slate” therapist where you know nothing about me. I bring myself into the therapy room and relationship. 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 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 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 perspectives.
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 solely 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.
your story doesn’t exist in a vacuum
The way we see ourselves, express our emotions, and show up in relationships is shaped by our experiences, our upbringing, and the world around us. Our family, culture, and community all play a role in how we navigate life and understand ourselves.
Sometimes, the ways we’ve learned to show up for others can make it harder to understand our own needs, set boundaries, or make choices that feel true to who we are.
In therapy, I want to make space for all of these parts of you. Rather than looking at you separately from your relationships, culture, or lived experiences, I want to understand how they’ve shaped you and how you move through the world. Together, we can explore what feels meaningful to hold onto, what might no longer be serving you, and what you’d like to do differently.
growth and change are possible
I believe growth and change happen through self-understanding and new experiences: 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 yourself, your inner world, and your emotions.
As you begin to understand your emotions, recognize patterns, and make sense of how your experiences have shaped you, you can start to relate to ourselves and others differently. Over time, this can help you make choices that feel more aligned with who you are and the relationships you want to build.
This process can look like “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.
My beliefs are informed by my therapeutic orientations: humanistic experiential, person-centered, and narrative therapies.
who i work with
I work with people who want to understand themselves more deeply, build meaningful relationships, and move beyond patterns that no longer serve them.
You might be navigating family or relationship challenges, figuring out who you are outside of other people's expectations, or learning how to honor your own needs while staying connected to the people you care about. Maybe you're ready for something to change, but you're still figuring out what that change looks like.
I'm especially committed to working with Asian and Pacific Islander clients. Our cultural backgrounds, family experiences, identities, and communities can shape how we see ourselves and relate to others. I want to make space for those experiences in our work together, without assuming that any two people share the same story.
I also welcome the many ways identities intersect, including being queer and/or neurodivergent. You don't need to leave parts of yourself at the door to make sense of your experiences here.
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 manage stress, and practice self care
You may be wanting help with:
Navigating closeness, obligation, boundaries, or conflict within family relationships
Understanding how culture, identity, and belonging have shaped your sense of self
Feeling responsible for other people while struggling to identify your own needs
Wanting deeper relationships but finding vulnerability or emotional expression difficult
Trying to understand yourself beyond the roles and expectations you’ve carried for years
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.)