About

You deserve a compassionate, connected life where you are not alone and don't judge yourself for your pain.

My Hopes For You

Be Real

I hope we will be two real human beings who can cry and laugh in sessions. You may feel uncomfortable at some point. After all, we don't usually share our intimate fears with strangers, at least not until we start to trust them. I will support you throughout the process.

Accept Yourself

I hope you will learn to accept that your struggles are not your fault. Accept yourself for who you are and what you have accomplished (even if it means just surviving the world). Believe in your worth and strengths.

Move Toward Healing

With a different understanding of yourself, I believe you can take steps towards healing your relationship with yourself and important people in your life, and living a more compassionate life.

When I considered therapy many years ago, I blamed myself for "failing" to solve my problems and bringing shame to my family. After many months of questioning if my struggles were bad enough, I finally decided to try it out. It was difficult and scary, especially since going to therapy is stigmatized in the culture I come from. Looking back, I made a brave decision that benefited me till now.

I am sharing this with you because I think we all need help at some point. It's not a reflection of your character or family. By considering therapy, you are taking a courageous step to heal - for yourself and your loved ones.

What can you expect in therapy with me?

If we focus only on reducing symptoms without addressing the core issues, you may feel better temporarily. But when stressful things happen again, the symptoms will come back in full force, sometimes worse. It is like turning off the stove, instead of just removing a pot of boiling-over soup from the stove.

I focus on addressing the core issues that cause your struggles. In my experiences, the outcomes from therapy that addresses the core issues are more long-lasting than from therapy that focuses on reducing symptoms.

I combine techniques from different therapy approaches based on your reasons for coming to therapy, needs, and goals. Here are two of my favorites:

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)

If you feel out of control or uncomfortable with your emotions, or if you are struggling with depression/anxiety/trauma, EFT can help.

You may have learned that some emotions, like anger or sadness, are not acceptable because of how others respond to you. You learn to suppress or avoid those emotions and judge yourself when you experience them. But the more you suppress or avoid them, the stronger you experience them at a different time, like a spring.

In therapy, I will help you name and reexperience those emotions in a safe and accepting environment. I will ask or say "What feelings come up when you talk about X?" "You seem uncomfortable with feeling sad. What is it like for you to feel sad right now?" "How do people around by respond when you show them you are sad?"

In doing so, you can become more aware and accepting of your emotions. The more aware and accepting you are, the more you can understand and communicate your needs, and the more you can improve your relationships with family, friends, and others.

Relational Cultural Therapy (RCT)

If you are afraid to show your friends / family / colleagues / others how you truly think and feel, or believe that these people will judge / leave / discriminate against you if you show your true self, RCT can help.

You may have learned to please others, avoid others, hide some parts or show only the positive parts of yourself, overextend yourself, or all of the above. These relational coping strategies may have helped you survive and protected you from the pain of rejection. But these strategies may also prevent you from having the fulfilling, mutual, and authentic relationships you want.

In therapy, I will help you understand how your relational coping strategies develop in the context of your past and current relationships, as well as societal factors (e.g., racism, sexism, xenophobia, heterosexism, grief avoidant culture). We will explore what ideal, fulfilling relationships look like to you and try different strategies that can get you there.

You can expect me to offer feedback like "I notice you became quiet and distant when we talk about X. Have you noticed that? What's going on?" I may also share my thoughts about you and personal experiences when relevant, which helps us be more real, vulnerable, and connected.

Expressing your true thoughts and feelings in and outside of therapy is scary and vulnerable. But with practice, you can begin to develop the relationships you want. Less isolation, more connection, and more compassion.

Education

PhD. in Counseling Psychology – Purdue University
MS.Ed. – Purdue University
B.S. in Psychology – University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Clinical Experiences

Postdoctoral Fellowship – University of California Santa Barbara Counseling and Psychological Services (UCSB CAPS)
Predoctoral Internship – University of California Santa Barbara Counseling and Psychological Services (UCSB CAPS)
Other clinical trainings – Four County Counseling Center Inpatient Acute Care Unit (IN), Cass Pulaski Community Corrections (IN), DePauw University Counseling Center (IN), Purdue University Honors College (IN)