(he/him)
New to Grow
Greetings! Thank you for stopping by to read my profile! I have 15 years of working in the mental health profession as a clinical social worker. I graduated from Rutgers University's School of Social Work in 2012 and have worked in various settings, including the hospital, nursing home, private practice, and non-profit sectors. I am obviously passionate about mental health recovery which is why I am in the profession, and excited to start working with you on reaching your personal goals. I am a 2nd generational Korean-American who has lived in the US for over 40 years.
The initial session is typically focused on the intake assessment which is basically taking a comprehensive evaluation of your past & current mental health history. I will ask a series of standard questions which is common to the intake process, but it will also be personalized so that you will not feel like its a job interview! I have a very laid back approach to speaking with clients and will do everything possible to make any necessary accommodations during the first meeting in order to create a positive experience for you!
As mentioned before, I have a very practical & laid-back approach to my therapy sessions. I have a saying that is usually mentioned to my first-time clients, "This is your session, and I am here to simply provide support in reaching your personal goals." Many of my past clients have commented that they feel very relaxed and comfortable speaking with me during the sessions. I encourage clients to openly share their grievances as the sessions are confidential (except in the case that they express any thoughts of harm to self or others). I have laughed, cried (modestly of course), and grieved with clients as they shared their most intimate parts of their life in my office.
I specialize in working with adults aged 18+ who suffer from a combination of severe clinical depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, mid-life crisis, identity crisis, family issues, faith issues, and daily coping struggles just to name a few. I encourage you to reach out to me if you have any questions about my specialties and/or schedule a first session to see if we are a good match!
Trauma Informed Care
I have 15 years of working with clients who have suffered from deep trauma in various settings, including the hospital and outpatient offices. The first step to addressing trauma is through acknowledging that the pain is present as well as those who have caused the hurt. Although this is the most painful stage, it is the most crucial one as well. I will work with you to address how we can begin the process of restoring your mental health through various skills that you will learn during the sessions.
Christian Counseling
I am available to meeting with clients who prefer to work with a therapist who has a solid Christian background. We will explore the different challenges & setbacks that life has thrown at you and explore ways to tackle them through a Biblical lens during our weekly sessions.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a very popular therapeutic intervention that is widely used by many therapist today. In a nutshell, the CBT method challenges 'false beliefs' that hinders the necessary emotional & psychological growth that ultimately promotes a healthy mental health perspective of oneself. I will work with you to identify the 'false beliefs' that has taken control of your life so that you can continue living your life that was meant to be!
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
As a Korean-American therapist, I can identify with the challenges that are met from family members who do not properly understand the concept of mental health treatment. Many mental illnesses cannot simply be 'prayed away' or simply ignored as some in certain ethnic communities have believed. We will explore some of these challenges during our session together as well as addressing specific mental health issues that has prevented you from meeting your full potential!
Psychoanalytic
Psychoanalytic therapy is another very popular method used by many therapist to explore how past negative experiences i.e. trauma, especially during childhood years, are impacting your current way of life. With this method, we will travel back to your past in order to correctly identify the root issues that have prevented you from experiencing a fully restored life!