Heejin Yun
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Values vs. Goals Differentiation: Reframing rigid, outcome-oriented goals (e.g., the obsession with getting into Seoul National University) into process-oriented, core personal values. Cognitive Defusion: Helping clients step back from intrusive thoughts, worries, and rigid internal narratives (e.g., "I must be perfect to be safe") rather than trying to debate or eliminate the thoughts. Radical Acceptance & Intolerance of Uncertainty: Guiding clients to sit with the discomfort of unpredictable situations (in relationships or life trajectory) instead of reacting with frantic over-control or shutdown.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Meta-Cognitive Differentiation: Helping clients distinguish between different cognitive-emotional states (e.g., clarifying "Worry" as a predictable thought process vs. "Anxiety" as a threat response to the unknown). Behavioral Experiments & Micro-Exposures: Designing structured, low-risk exposures (e.g., "Wabi-Sabi" imperfect art for OCD symmetry/perfectionism) to break avoidance loops. Deconstructing Maladaptive Beliefs: Identifying core schemas related to conditional self-worth ("I am only valuable if I achieve X") and performance-based esteem.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Synthesis (Wise Mind): Balancing emotional validation with logical reality to move clients out of black-and-white thinking (e.g., holding both "My pain is valid" and "I must change my behavior" simultaneously). Radical Acceptance: Guiding clients to completely accept unchangeable realities in the present moment (e.g., accepting past academic failures or a partner's limitations) to stop pain from turning into suffering. Interpersonal Effectiveness & Distress Tolerance: Teaching concrete behavioral scripts (e.g., DEAR MAN) and somatic grounding skills to help clients set firm boundaries and tolerate emotional crises without reacting impulsively.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Deconstructing Culturally Mediated Schemas: Unpacking systemic, familial, and societal pressures (e.g., hyper-competitive academic prestige or rigid filial obligations) to relieve internalized shame and performance-based self-worth. Contextualizing Interpersonal Boundaries: Navigating the tension between collectivist expectations (e.g., family cohesion, emotional interdependence) and individual autonomy without forcing Eurocentric definitions of separation. Culturally Adapted Therapeutic Mediums: Utilizing non-direct, culturally/developmentally sensitive communication channels (e.g., parallel play, digital art, non-verbal engagement) to establish safety for guarded clients.
Location
Virtual sessions