LP, 15 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello. My name is Tzu-Chen Cheng. I have been a licensed clinical psychologist in California for the past 15 years. I believe in the human potential for growth and healing, if they were put in a safe and nurturing environment. I immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan as a teenager, so I have personal knowledge of the challenges associated with adapting to a new environment as well as the possibility for overcoming adversity. I look forward to working with you to explore and gain a deeper understanding of yourself to grow and create positive change!
A typical first session will involve me asking you questions to get to know you and your situation better. If you're new to therapy, I will also spend some time explaining the process of psychotherapy and answer any questions you may have.
My strengths are my capacity to listen and be there with you without looking away, without judgment. I believe in a person's ability to heal and grow, when provided with a safe and supportive environment. I am good at creating such an environment, so if you're willing to tolerate some discomfort and explore the parts of yourself that have confound you or held you back, I can be a good partner in that process.
My ideal client is someone who may have struggled with issues such as depression, stress, or relationship issues that seem to keep coming back. They are interested in self-exploration and looking into their past and present with me to develop insight and find solutions to live a happier, more fulfilling life.
My overall approach to therapy is based on humanistic ideas, where the therapist is there to encourage the growth and healing of the client. I believe that the client has the capacity to grow if given a safe and nurturing environment. I am not there to dictate how you should live your life. Rather, I want to be an ally who provides unconditional support and ask the right questions to facilitate personal growth.
I want to support your healing and growth by being a friendly yet neutral observer. You lead the way in this journey, and I will accompany you so you're not alone.
I am flexible in my interventions depending on what I believe you need at any given moment. Early on, I might focus on providing quick, concrete suggestions to help cope with a crisis, in the mode of solution-focused treatment. If I sensed that you're stuck in a fixed and unhelpful thought pattern, I might utilize CBT techniques to identify and challenge it. Ultimately, I believe that eventually you will get better at not only coping with symptoms but also at self-reflection that could lead to breakthroughs and meaningful changes.