Hello, I am glad that you stopped by! I am Alice (XiaoRan), Zhao. As an Asian woman and immigrant, I bring a unique perspective to my clients. I have personally dealt with challenges and barriers to adjusting to different cultures, identities, and societal expectations. I provide a safe and healing space for you to work on frightening and stressful experiences that happened to you, whether that can be traumatic events or discriminations that you encountered in your life. It is common to experience side effects of trauma where it feels like you have a lot of negative thoughts, difficult emotions, and physical responses. Trauma can be hard to articulate with words and difficult to describe the memories related to them. In therapy, we can use Brainspotting to process these stressful experiences and symptoms without talking too much about them. If you are an international student, first-generation immigrant, or international worker. I understand that there are many challenges that we face here in the United States. Such as dealing with the USCIS with different types of visas, getting assimilated with a different culture, and learning a different language. As a counselor, I am not only dedicated to empowering individuals but also to bringing hope to their journey to recovery.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In therapy, we are building a unique therapeutic connection with each other to help you develop trust and opening. I provide a safe space for you and my own personality comes into play as well (fun, humous and honest). In the first few session, we are exploring goals on what you want to work on, and how I can help. We work collaboratively on your journey to heal and flourish.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
I primarily use CBT in therapy with clients and Brainspotting with folks who need to go deeper for their trauma, anxiety, and depression.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am a trauma-informed therapist and a certified Brainspotter. It is common to experience a trauma response that includes fight, flight, and freeze, where it feels like shutting down, being flooded, or being overwhelmed. You may notice that you have thoughts such as blaming yourself for the stressful experience, having strong physical reactions like heart pounding or trouble breathing when reminded of the experience, and being super alert or watchful or on guard when you are triggered. You may also carry negative emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, or embarrassment from your trauma that can impact your life in many ways.