You have been thinking about therapy
but you want a therapist who understands what it is like to be Asian.
Perhaps you have known you needed therapy for a while now, but you are concerned that your experiences will not be understood by a therapist. Perhaps you are worried that a therapist will judge you or your family for your family dynamics. Maybe encountering racism, sexism, xenophobia, or the "yellow fever" is a part of your story, and you want a therapist who can understand without your having to explain the Asian experience. Perhaps it is just comforting to talk with someone who understands those cultural references.
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Perhaps you are a newcomer, or maybe a first- or second-generation immigrant. You may even be biracial (like me!). Regardless, you have begun to feel more and more depressed and anxious. You are likely:
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Hurting in your relationship with your parents— you are feeling stressed, wanting to be a good daughter or son but feeling pressured by loose boundaries. You may be carrying some inter-generational trauma that your parents are not aware of. You wish you could have a real conversation with your parents about these issues.
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Feeling isolated— be it in Florida or North Carolina, in your faith community or in your marriage, you feel alone in your cultural identity and experience. You may even feel that you are losing your cultural identity and values.
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Feeling stuck— you feel unfulfilled professionally or personally, and your anxiety is growing by the day. You may have undergone serious life transitions in recent years and are worried about your future. What should you do?
You really would like to talk to someone who will understand,
someone you can discuss all these aspects of your life with!
I can help.
Together, we can:
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Identify, unpack, and process your feelings and experiences
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Strengthen your inner support system and coping techniques
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Create strategies to preserve or transform aspects of your identity
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Gain clarity about your family dynamics and how you can better balance your
sense of self with your role as a daughter or son
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Explore therapy for personal and inter-generational trauma
Talking about mental health can be objectionable (at the very least) or even violently rejected by some members of our families and communities. Having emotional difficulties can be viewed as being "mentally ill," and trying to address wounds in ourselves and in our relationships often leads to anxiety, shame, insomnia, and unceasing nervous tension.
I'm so pleased that I can contribute to the progress our communities are already making towards taking care of ourselves and our relationships through therapy. More importantly, I'm proud that I can offer an Asian perspective to your journey of self-improvement!
We all need support during our struggles. I am a proud member of the Asian Mental Health Collective and a participating provider for the Lotus Therapy Fund program, through which you may be able to receive subsidized therapy for 8 sessions. To learn more about this organization and to explore other therapy resources available to you, click on my badge to the right!
Below is the most updated information on the Lotus Therapy Fund program and when its applications are available.
FAQ about Therapy for Asian Communities
1. What languages do you speak and what is your cultural background?
I grew up in Taiwan, in a biracial and bicultural household where we spoke Mandarin predominantly. I attended local schools and did not speak much English until I came to the States as a teen! Being that I am half-"American" ("white"), many of my Taiwanese childhood peers expected me to speak English or possess knowledge of American culture, but really, I felt I was a Taiwanese kid through-and-through. My immigration experience was thus similar to that of other first-generation immigrants (e.g., culture shock, marginalization, language barrier, microaggressions) but also unique in its own way (i.e., identity and value conflict, issues related to (not) belonging in multiple racial groups, issues related to others' assumptions about my ethnicity and thereby my person-hood).
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My personal experiences with culture, identity, and immigration are one of the greatest motivations for my becoming a therapist— everyone deserves to live with confidence and pride as the multifaceted people we all are, and everyone deserves happy, healthy relationships, especially in our family. I look forward to joining you on your journey towards a more fulfilling life.
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Regarding language— I am fluent (reading, writing, speaking, listening) in both English and Mandarin Chinese.
2. If we work together through the Lotus Therapy Fund, what happens after the 8 sessions are finished?
Once we complete the eight sessions, you will have the option to continue therapy with me as a regular private practice client. That means you will be responsible for my regular session fees. You may also reapply for the program, although placement is not guaranteed.
3. You look young. How much experience do you have?
I have the lucky Asian gene! I have more than eleven years of experience conducting therapy for individuals, families, and groups. I also serve as an approved supervisor for other marriage and family therapists, accredited through both the state of Florida and our national professional governing body— American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
4. How can I get started with therapy?
Schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation with me by clicking the button below. We will discuss what has led you to seek therapy, and I will answer any questions you might have; this will help us determine if we are a “good fit.” If we both choose to move forward, we will schedule our intake session. I look forward to hearing from you!