Rated 5.0 stars out of 5, 34 ratings

Julie Kim

LCSW, 23 years of experience

Frequently rebooked

Empowering
Warm
Authentic

About me

I am a licensed therapist in California, holding a master’s degree from Columbia University, with over twenty years of experience. I lived in the Bay Area for nearly 20 years and now proudly call San Diego County home. I strive to create a warm space where curiosity and compassion guide us in exploring and understanding our lives. I deeply value self-agency and believe in the power of personal journeys that invite choice and meaningful reflection. It is truly a privilege to support my clients, and I hold our work together with genuine care and respect.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

The first session will open with a conversation about yourself and what, at the moment, you hope therapy will address. I am open to questions about the process. I love deep listening and asking reflective questions for you to have as much space as you would like to share your experience. This helps me have a clearer picture of your expectations and I hope gives you a sense of my strengths in the work.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

I continue to develop a keen ability to authentically hold a positive regard and remain grounded through complex, unsettling times. I have deep respect for our human experience and can manage difficult discussions with humility, levity, and empathy.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My clients often come seeking a dedicated space and time to explore challenges that their busy and demanding lives don’t always allow them to address. Many have faced significant struggles and, despite their resilience, continue to experience a sense of unfulfillment. They are looking for ways to navigate persistent unwanted feelings or thoughts that arise, whether in moments of fatigue or even during times of joy. They seek ways to hold life with vitality and a genuine sense of belonging.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

Autism

I identify as

Asian / Asian American

Serves ages

My treatment methods

Psychodynamic

My practice is grounded in gently exploring both past and present experiences to uncover deeper meaning in our challenges and strengths. Through this process, we learn to hold our stories with greater compassion, allowing for more peace, balance, and clarity in our lives.

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

I bring training and experience in cultivating the attitudes and foundations of mindfulness to support the development of lasting skills that help us hold both pain and joy with greater ease. Together, we will explore practices that foster new perspectives, inviting healing and deep self-compassion—so that we can more fully appreciate even the simplest moments in our beautifully complex lives.

Person-centered (Rogerian)

I deeply value each person’s lived experience and hold a core belief that we all carry the capacity for healing within us. I see therapy as a collaborative and compassionate space where empathy and authenticity can support meaningful growth. With the right conditions—community, trust, and support—we naturally move toward health, resilience, and self-acceptance. Rather than focusing solely on analyzing difficulties, I strive to honor each individual’s unique context and cultivate a greater sense of self-worth, agency, and wholeness.

Eclectic

Over the years, I’ve trained in a range of therapeutic modalities that have meaningfully shaped my work, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Play Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. While these approaches offer valuable, sometimes directive tools, I integrate them in a way that invites reflection rather than prescription. My goal is to offer ideas and perspectives that individuals can explore at their own pace—taking what resonates and adapting practices in ways that feel authentic and helpful to their unique journey.

Location

Virtual

Licensed in

Rated 5.0 stars out of 5, 34 ratings

2 ratings with written reviews

May 10, 2025

I didn't choose two of the above because I truly couldn't choose just two - she is "all of the above" - she's exceptional.

Verified client, age 55-64

Review shared after session 49 with Julie

March 21, 2025

Julie was great. It was my first therapy session and was nervous and she really helped relieve that and was comfortable by the end. She really listened and it was just an all-around great first session.

Verified client, age 45-54

Review shared after session 1 with Julie