I’ve been a licensed psychologist in California since 2013. My goal is to collaborate with clients and identify why and how negative emotions and thoughts are affecting them and their relationships with self/others. As an immigrant, I especially attend to marginalized identities and internalized stigma/shame we developed while growing up and how these deep-rooted schemas are impacting us. It takes courage to make change and I would be honored to be part of your recovery and personal growth journey.
The first session will focus on why you are seeking therapy and identify goals you may want to achieve through therapy.
I strive to understand your experiences and challenges from a compassionate and non-judgmental perspective. Additionally, I was trained with a scientist-practitioner approach and would incorporate relevant empirical research into our work.
I am best positioned to work with clients who are motivated to process their emotional and personal experiences, examine the way they perceive themselves, others, and the world, and are open to implementing changes in their lives.
I work collaboratively with clients, applying CBT concepts and techniques to help them gain insight into thinking patterns that may be contributing to emotional challenges or a sense of being 'stuck.' Together, we identify blind spots and explore how they might be influencing current feelings and behaviors. We then examine alternative perspectives to see how these new viewpoints resonate with their experiences. This process often uncovers actionable steps that lead to positive changes, helping clients feel more empowered and aligned with their goals.
I believe that as human beings, we are deeply shaped by our cultural backgrounds, and it’s essential to understand our experiences through a cultural lens. I also view clients as the experts in their own lives, and I strive to connect with them and understand their experiences through a shared language. While I recognize that language is imperfect, and we may need to explore different ways to communicate and double check frequently, my goal is to ensure that my clients feel heard and understood.
Similar to my approach in Cultural Sensitivity Therapy, I aim to understand both our differences and similarities from a humanistic perspective. We work together to navigate challenges and tasks that arise at various stages of life. I focus not only on areas of growth ('problems') but also on how each person’s unique strengths, values, and meaning-seeking journey can provide insight and potential solutions.