(she/her)
New to Grow
As a bilingual Asian therapist (English/Mandarin) trained at Johns Hopkins, I specialize in working with individuals navigating people-pleasing, social anxiety, and interpersonal burnout, whether that shows up as persistent self-doubt, intrusive thoughts that feel impossible to shake, or an overwhelming need to keep others happy at your own expense. I draw on a range of evidence-based approaches, including CBT, ERP, MI, and EMDR, grounded in who you are, where you have been, and where you want to go. Licenses & Credentials California Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) #21478 Maryland Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) #LC14018 Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists Approved Supervisor
Our first session is a space for mutual discovery. I will ask questions to understand your current concerns and the experiences that have shaped them, so we can begin to map out what you hope to achieve through our work together. At the same time, I want you to have the chance to get a sense of who I am, how I work, and whether this feels like the right fit for you. There is no pressure to have everything figured out before we begin. Showing up is enough.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to listen deeply and identify the underlying patterns beneath your behaviors and thoughts. I also have a keen eye for recognizing your strengths, and I enjoy working with you to explore how those strengths can serve your current goals. When you are ready, I will gently encourage you to stretch beyond your comfort zone at a pace that feels right for you, because that is where growth happens, and I am here for that journey with you.
"Do they like me?" "Am I good enough?" "If I say no, will I disappoint them?" If these questions feel familiar, you are in the right place. I have a particular place in my heart for people-pleasers and those living with social anxiety, because I have been there. I know firsthand how exhausting it is to constantly manage others' perceptions while losing sight of your own needs, and that lived experience deeply informs the empathy and understanding I bring to our work. This is often especially true for individuals who grew up in high-pressure, achievement-oriented environments where external expectations quietly became the measure of their worth, reinforcing the very self-doubt and social anxiety they are now working to unlearn. But here is what I want you to know: your kindness and genuine care for others are not weaknesses to be fixed. They are some of your greatest strengths. Our work together is about cultivating a stable identity that is no longer dependent on others' approval, so you can continue to be YOU while protecting your kindness and empathy.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Through CBT, we bring awareness to the beliefs that have shaped your behavior, and begin the work of rewriting the patterns that no longer serve you.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
Through ERP, we move beyond insight into action, gradually facing the thoughts and situations you've been avoiding until they lose their power over you.
EMDR
Through EMDR, we gently desensitize the painful experiences that have shaped how you see yourself, while simultaneously strengthening the positive beliefs you deserve to carry forward.
Motivational Interviewing
Through MI, we explore your own reasons and readiness for change at your own pace, honoring the barriers that have made change feel hard.
Compassion Focused
Underlying all of the therapeutic interventions is a compassion-focused approach. I believe that feeling truly seen and understood is the foundation of meaningful change, and I bring that same warmth and care to every step of our work together