Hi! My name is Yin. I'm a bilingual (English/Cantonese) licensed Marriage Family Therapist. I have over 21 years of clinical experience in mental health. Outside of private practice, I am on staff at Berkeley Mental Health as a Senior Behavioral Health Clinician. I work with a range of mental health issues and day to day issues that everyone experiences for example feeling stuck in life, unfulfillment, guilt, shame, conflicts and anxiety. Many of the clients I see suffer from their depression or anxiety. These are largely manifestations of past trauma, deeper conflicts which have gone unexamined.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The foundation of my work is built on trust, empathy, and non-judgement. I bring empathy and curiosity to the therapeutic relationship, using genuine connection to build trust and safety within our work together. In addition to focusing on your strengths, I will help you build skills to understand and navigate your emotional experience. I believe in the capacity for growth and healing within each person.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
Making the decision to start therapy is a brave and powerful step to take at times when you are feeling vulnerable, experiencing emotional pain, or facing a difficult transition. As a therapist, my goal is to provide you with a safe and nurturing space where you can gain self-confidence and insight that will help you grow through your challenges. I offer sensitivity and encouragement to help clients identify their strengths and understand self-defeating patterns. My clients describe me as down-to-earth, warm, humorous and open-minded.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My background in community mental health has taught me to work with a wide range of identities and populations. I've been in the field since 2002 and have specialized training in psychoanalysis, trauma, grief work, and helping clients cope with health issues and disability.
Motivational Interviewing
I incorporate Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques to help clients explore and resolve ambivalence about change. Through reflective listening, supportive approach, questioning, and collaborative goal-setting, I work with clients to strengthen their intrinsic motivation for positive behavior change
EMDR
EMDR aims to reduce symptoms of trauma by changing how your memories are stored in your brain. I will guide you through bilateral stimulation techniques (in your brain) as you recall traumatic or distressing experiences in small doses until those memories no longer cause distress. EMDR helps us process painful memories in an integrated manner, leading to the release of somatic emotional experiences that have remained in the nervous system.