Jacky Kim
Greetings, my name is Jacky Jaeok Kim and my Korean name translates to “pearl of wisdom” in my native tongue. I’m also a 1st generation Korean immigrant to the US, a proud dog mom, an insatiable polymath, a technology advocate, and a person of many facets with a lifetime’s worth of stories under my belt. As a former DACA recipient and survivor of SA, I carry a deep understanding of resilience and hope with me in everything I do. I have 11 years of experience in the mental health/medical field and community-based work. My journey began advocating for the civil rights and safety of individuals in the criminal justice system with Orleans Public Defenders. From there, I expanded my work to serve diverse populations in juvenile justice, education, hospital systems and more.
This eventually led me to the Yukon-Kuskokwim region of Western Alaska upon receiving my MSW, where I worked as an itinerant social worker among the Yup’ik population.
A formative experience in my career was a summer spent fly-fishing and working alongside grizzlies in Katmai National Park, where I was in complete reverence to Mother Nature and the remoteness of the Alaskan wilderness. This eventually led me to the Yukon-Kuskokwim region of Western Alaska upon receiving my MSW, where I worked as an itinerant social worker among the Yup’ik population. This experience deepened my respect for the indigenous way of life and reinforced my life’s commitment to providing meaningful, excellent patient care and therapy in rural settings.
First session
In our first session, we’ll take the time to get to know each other and understand your unique experiences, and goals for therapy. I’ll ask about what brings you to therapy, your current challenges, and what’s most important to you in your life right now. Together, we’ll explore your strengths, coping strategies, and areas where you’d like support. I’ll also explain how I work and we’ll begin to identify which tools might be most helpful for you. My goal is to create a safe, collaborative, and culturally responsive space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to take meaningful steps forward. I charge $75 for official therapeutic letters.
Strengths
Over the years, my work with individuals and communities across six states—and my lived experience navigating the U.S. immigration system as a formerly undocumented individual —have shaped my ability to connect with others on a deeply empathetic level during these unprecedented times. These experiences have given me a firsthand understanding of the impact of systems on people’s lives, and have strengthened my commitment to meeting clients with curiosity, respect, and cultural humility. I approach life’s challenges through a multidimensional lens, honoring the complexity of each person’s story and the resilience it takes to move toward healing and growth.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in a practical, collaborative way to help clients understand how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected. Together, we identify patterns that may be contributing to distress and work on developing skills that support emotional balance, self-compassion, and meaningful change. CBT is integrated within a psychodynamic and trauma-informed framework, allowing space to explore deeper experiences, relationships, and cultural influences that shape each person’s story. My approach is flexible, culturally responsive, and tailored to each client’s unique goals and lived experience.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients strengthen skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and building healthier relationships. When appropriate, DBT is paired with somatic practices to support nervous system regulation, deepen body awareness, and foster a sense of safety and agency. This integrated approach empowers clients to move beyond survival mode, build confidence in their inner resources, and create more balance and choice in their lives.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
My work with hospice and palliative clients and their caregivers, allow me to suppor them through serious illness, end-of-life transitions, and anticipatory grief. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I help create space for difficult emotions while reconnecting with what matters most—love, dignity, meaning, and connection. Rather than trying to “fix” suffering, I guide clients and caregivers in building psychological flexibility, resilience, and self-trust, honoring each person’s cultural identity, life story, and definition of a meaningful life.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
I often use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to help clients identify their strengths, set clear goals, and take practical steps toward change. This approach is especially effective for shorter-term therapy, helping clients build confidence, resilience, and strategies they can use right away.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Licensed in
- OregonLicense L17503
- WashingtonLicense SWI.LW.70016961