Psychotherapy with Adolescents, & Adults

Therapy is hard stuff. Nobody does it for recreation. By the time we seek out mental health treatment, we are often at a point where we might feel like we’ve tried everything we can think of already or maybe a bit discouraged. As a therapist, I specialize in meeting you right here where you are at and collaborating with you in accordance with your goals and values. My style is person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. I believe my job is not to be the “know-it-all expert” who tells you what you need to do, but to provide a nonjudgmental space and therapeutic connection where we work together to empower you in ways that are most meaningful and impactful to your specific needs.

My therapeutic style draws mainly from Humanistic and Experiential therapy; I believe that as humans, we tend towards growth and do best when we are connected to others and ourselves securely. I also believe that meaningful change happens when we are able to experience it first through actions and expression. I also incorporate Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Polyvagal-informed therapy, and Feminist theory.

I enjoy working with adolescents, individuals, couples, and families. My specialties include working with religious or faith-based issues, those who struggle with internalizing or opening up to others, life cycle transitions, and those who are new to therapy. Additionally, as a 2nd generation Chinese-American, I am passionate about recognizing and working with how culture has shaped our own individual upbringing inside and outside of the home.

I am a Registered Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, supervised by Heeseung Kang, LPC. I hold a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chapman University in Orange, California. Before joining Portland Mental Health and Wellness, I worked as a community-based therapist providing therapy and crisis response for at-risk children and adolescents, including their families.

Therapy may be hard, but let us start where you are at together!