(he/him)
New to Grow
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Pasadena, passionate about helping people move past the patterns that make them feel "stuck." As an Asian American therapist, I understand the unique pressures of navigating cultural expectations, family dynamics, and the pursuit of success. Life often feels like a constant cycle of trying to keep up—with professional demands, relationships, or heavy expectations. My goal is to create a space where you don’t have to "perform" or have all the answers. Instead, we can slow down and really look at what’s happening beneath the surface of your life. I work with introspective individuals ready for deeper change. Many of my clients are high-achievers who have "made it" on the outside, but internally battle feelings of shame, people-pleasing, or boundary struggles. Whether you’re processing complex family history, navigating identity challenges, or feeling burnt out, I’m here to walk alongside you. My approach blends two core principles: understanding your history and listening to your body. I use an intersubjective approach, which means we work together—using our relationship as a window into how you connect with the world. I also integrate the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) to help you get more comfortable in your own skin. This is about more than just insight; it’s about learning to calm your nervous system so you can navigate life without feeling constantly on edge. Ultimately, I want to help you move toward a life that feels authentically yours. By bringing hidden patterns into the light, we can reclaim your stability and freedom. You don’t have to carry the weight of the past alone.
Starting therapy is a big step, and I want to be transparent about how I approach our first few meetings. I typically view the period from our initial consultation through the first 3 to 5 sessions as a "getting to know you" phase. During this time, I may be more direct with my questions than you might expect. This isn’t because I’m rushing; it’s because I’m trying to get a clear, "bird's-eye view" of your full landscape—where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you hope to go. However, I want to be clear about my primary priority during this introductory phase: it isn't just about gathering your history or learning your story. My main goal is to help you feel comfortable, safe, and truly seen. I believe that everything else in therapy—the healing, the insight, and the change—depends on the quality of our connection. If you don't feel safe and supported, the rest of the process won't be as effective. Your comfort and our relationship are the foundation upon which all our future work is built. Your story and your experiences are sacred. I deeply honor the courage it takes to share them, and I am committed to treating what you bring to our sessions with the respect and care you deserve. As we get started, it is also important that we make sure this process feels like the right fit for you. I’ll be checking in to see if my style and our therapeutic approach align with your expectations. If you feel at ease and our goals are aligned, the rest of the work will naturally fall into place. We will move at a pace that feels sustainable for you, ensuring that we are not just analyzing your past, but creating a secure space where you can begin to feel, process, and grow.
What truly sets my practice apart is a deep commitment to making therapy feel like a genuinely human, collaborative journey. I know that walking into a therapy office can feel intimidating, and the traditional "clinical" experience—where the therapist acts as a distant, blank screen—can often feel cold or even isolating. I believe in something different. For me, therapy isn’t about me sitting across from you as an expert in your life; it is a communal, sacred space where we work together to uncover your own inner wisdom. My greatest strength is the priority I place on the relationship we build. I believe in starting slow, moving at a pace that honors your need for safety, and truly taking the time to get to know you as a person. I am not a fan of the wall that some therapists feel they must build between themselves and their clients. While I am not your friend, I am absolutely a human being who is fully present in the room with you. I bring that humanity into our sessions because I believe that healing happens most deeply when we feel seen, respected, and treated with authentic reciprocity. My approach is deeply inspired by the ancient, human tradition of wisdom-seeking—the way we have looked to guides, elders, and spiritual leaders for centuries to help us navigate life’s turning points. I don’t believe that healing or transformation is something I provide to you from the outside. Instead, I see my role as helping you turn inward to listen to your own spirit. I want to create the safe harbor you need so that you can trust your own voice, recognize your own strength, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that have been waiting to be heard. By combining deep psychological insight with body-based (somatic) support, I help you find a balance between understanding your history and feeling grounded in the present. I take your story and your experiences as sacred ground. I am here to hold that space for you with respect, honor, and warmth, walking alongside you as you discover that the growth and stability you are looking for have been within you all along.
I work best with people who feel like they’ve spent a lot of time "figuring things out" but still feel stuck. You might be someone who is high-achieving on the outside—maybe you’re a pro at navigating your career or social life—but on the inside, you’re dealing with a persistent sense of shame, a pattern of putting others’ needs before your own, or a difficulty setting boundaries that feel safe. You aren’t just looking for quick tips or a band-aid for your stress; you’re ready to understand the why behind your patterns and are curious about what lies beneath the surface. Often, my clients are navigating the complexities of identity—perhaps as a bicultural or first-generation individual—or working through the lingering effects of childhood experiences that felt a bit "off," like emotional neglect or inconsistent care. You might feel like you’ve reached the limits of what "talking it out" can do, and you’re looking to try something different. You’re ready to move beyond just understanding your history in your head and are open to the idea of healing through your body and our relationship. Most importantly, you are someone who is looking for a space to grow over the long term. You don’t need to be in crisis to deserve this kind of support; in fact, the work we do together is often most transformative when you have the stability to slow down and really lean into the process. If you’re feeling ready to stop performing, start listening to your own spirit, and cultivate a sense of inner freedom, we will likely be a great match. This is a space where you can safely move from simply "getting by" to actually feeling and embodying the change you want for your life.
Psychodynamic
I view our relationship as a "living" part of our work together. We all develop internal blueprints—patterns of how we relate to ourselves and others—based on our early life experiences. These patterns often show up in how you navigate your current relationships. I pay close attention to how these dynamics surface in our sessions, using our connection as a mirror to explore your history in real-time. By bringing these unconscious habits into the light, we can gently untangle old configurations and help you create new, more authentic ways of relating to the world.
Somatic
We often carry stress in our bodies, not just our minds. The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) is a body-based approach that helps us work directly with your nervous system. Rather than just talking through your history, we’ll learn to "track" the physical sensations that arise, helping you identify your "Resiliency Zone"—that place where you feel most like yourself. By learning simple, sensory-based skills, we can help your body find its way back to balance. This teaches your system that it is safe to settle, giving you the capacity to navigate life’s challenges from a place of grounded stability.