I received a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Purdue University, IN. I worked as a staff psychologist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Counseling Center for 4 years before I joined USC in 2021. I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in psychology from Ewha Womans University in South Korea and worked as a licensed counselor in Korea prior to the Ph.D. program. I am currently working as an Assistant Clinical Professor of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, and serves clients outside of USC on Fridays and weekends as my private practice. My professional interests include – ADHD; adjustment issues; anxiety; career issues; depression; intersecting identities; relationship issues; and bilingual counseling (English and Korean). I utilize an integrative approach to therapy, primarily using elements drawn from Psychodynamic, Interpersonal, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) or Solution-Focused therapy based on the nature of the issues or client’s needs. 저는 Purdue University, IN에서 상담심리학 박사학위를 받았습니다. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 상담센터에서 4년간 심리학자로 일한 후 2021년에 USC에 합류했습니다. 한국의 이화여자대학교에서 심리학 학사 및 석사학위를 취득하고, 박사 과정에 들어가기 전에 한국에서 2급 상담심리로 일했습니다. 현재 University of Southern California의 Keck 의과대학에서 임상 조교수로 일하고 있으며, 금요일과 주말에는 개인 상담소에서 USC 외부 내담자를 상담하고 있습니다. 저의 전문 관심 분야는 ADHD, 적응 문제, 불안, 진로 문제, 우울증, 정체성, 관계 문제, 그리고 이중 언어 상담(영어와 한국어)입니다. 저는 통합적인 접근법을 사용하여 치료를 진행하며, 주로 심리역동적 치료, 대인관계 치료, 인지행동치료(CBT), 동기강화면담(MI), 또는 문제해결 중심 치료를 사용하여 내담자의 문제 성격이나 필요에 따라 치료법을 적용합니다.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I start the very first session with an introduction and notice of the confidentiality. During the first session, I focus on understanding the background of the client's struggle, their current functioning to determine the treatment plan. I clearly communicate what I have observed during the session and mutually decide therapy goals and plan; I see my clients as the expert of themselves and respect what they want for themselves. I do have some questions that I typically ask in my first session, but more importantly, I want them to take some time to be comfortable with me. Depending on their comfort level, I may pause my questions and listen to what they have to say about them and their situation first. Most of my clients found it very helpful when I shared my observations related to their situation at the end of the session. They also reported that the session was not intimating as they initially expected, and felt hopeful at the end of the first session. 첫 번째 세션에서는 소개와 비밀 유지에 대한 안내로 시작합니다. 첫 세션에서는 내담자의 문제상황에 대한 배경과 현재 기능(functioning)을 이해하여 치료 계획을 세우는 데 집중합니다. 세션 중에 관찰한 바를 명확히 전달하고, 상호적으로 치료 목표와 계획을 결정합니다. 저는 내담자를 자신에 대한 전문가로 보고, 그들이 원하는 바를 존중합니다. 첫 세션에서 통상적으로 묻는 질문들이 있지만, 더 중요한 것은 내담자가 저와의 세션에서 편안함을 느낄 수 있는 시간을 갖는 것입니다. 내담자의 편안함 수준에 따라 질문을 멈추고 그들의 상황과 자신에 대해 이야기할 시간을 드리기도 합니다. 대부분의 내담자들은 제가 세션 끝에 그들의 상황과 관련된 관찰을 공유할 때 매우 유익하다고 느꼈습니다. 또한 처음 예상했던 것보다 세션이 위협적이지 않다고 느꼈고, 첫 세션 후에 희망을 갖게 되었다고 보고했습니다.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having worked with young adults for the past 20 years, I've developed my own skills for helping you (a) identify the root cause of your challenges and (b) create a tailored plan that leads to measurable progress. My clients have told me that they enjoyed their work with me because they loved the insight about them and their patterns that they got from our work, warm and consistent support from me, and changes that they were motivated to make throughout the course of the therapy. 지난 20년간 성인들과 함께 일하면서 (a) 문제의 근본 원인을 파악하고, (b) 측정 가능한 진전을 이루기 위한 맞춤형 계획을 세우는 데 필요한 기술을 갖춰왔습니다. 저의 내담자들은 저와의 작업을 통해 자신과 자신의 패턴에 대해 얻은 통찰력, 저의 따뜻하고 일관된 지원, 그리고 치료 과정에서 변화를 만들어내려는 동기를 얻어 도움이 되다고 말했습니다.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
As a first generation immigrant and a former international student from South Korea, I am very passionate about working with clients with multicultural backgrounds. Since 2004, I have worked with people in South Korea, college students and graduate student in IL and CA, and people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who struggle with relationship issues, family, life adjustment, intersecting identities, communications with older or younger generations, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and so on. Having started as an international student and eventually becoming a first-generation immigrant, as well as being a parent to second-generation Korean American children, I have found that my professional and personal empathy has grown over time. I offer bi-lingual therapy; I worked as a licensed counselor in S. Korea until 2008 (and I am currently licensed in CA and IL as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist), so you can speak only Korean, only English, or both languages in session. 한국에서 온 첫 세대 이민자이자 과거 유학생으로서 다문화 배경을 가진 내담자와 일하는 것에 대해 큰 열정을 가지고 있습니다. 2004년부터 한국에서, 일리노이와 캘리포니아에서 대학생 및 대학원생, 그리고 20대, 30대, 40대의 관계 문제, 가족 문제, 생활 적응, 교차 정체성, 세대 간 소통, 우울증, 불안, ADHD 등을 겪는 사람들과 함께 일해왔습니다. 유학생으로 시작하여 결국 첫 세대 이민자가 되었고, 2세 한인아이들의 부모로서, 저의 전문적, 개인적인 공감 능력이 시간이 지남에 따라 성장해 왔다고 느낍니다. 저는 이중 언어 상담을 제공합니다. 2008년까지 한국에서 2급상담심리사로 일했기 때문에 (그리고 현재 캘리포니아와 일리노이의 주정부 공인 임상심리학자이기 때문에) 세션에서 한국어만, 영어만, 또는 두 언어 모두 사용할 수 있습니다.
About Jiyun Kang
Jiyun Kang offers therapy covered by CalViva Health (Medi-Cal), Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal), Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal), Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Health Net (Medi-Cal), L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Orange County Mental Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal) and San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal) in California.
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Strength-Based
I utilize integrative approach to therapy, primarily using elements drawn from Psychodynamic, Interpersonal, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) or Solution-Focused therapy based on the nature of the issues or client’s needs. In therapy, I strive to create new understanding, provide corrective experiences, and promote changes.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize integrative approach to therapy, primarily using elements drawn from Psychodynamic, Interpersonal, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) or Solution-Focused therapy based on the nature of the issues or client’s needs. In therapy, I strive to create new understanding, provide corrective experiences, and promote changes.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
I utilize integrative approach to therapy, primarily using elements drawn from Psychodynamic, Interpersonal, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) or Solution-Focused therapy based on the nature of the issues or client’s needs. In therapy, I strive to create new understanding, provide corrective experiences, and promote changes.
Psychodynamic
I utilize integrative approach to therapy, primarily using elements drawn from Psychodynamic, Interpersonal, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) or Solution-Focused therapy based on the nature of the issues or client’s needs. In therapy, I strive to create new understanding, provide corrective experiences, and promote changes.