
Brenda Xu
Counselor, MA, LMHCA, NCC (she, her)
Verified by Psychology Today
4 Endorsed
Seattle, WA 98103
Connect with Brenda Xu

I work with individuals who would like to explore how their upbringing has influenced the way they relate to others. Perhaps you've noticed the same patterns emerging in your romantic relationships or friendships, and you'd like to understand why. Do you struggle to establish and maintain boundaries? Is there something holding you back from asking for what you need and being vulnerable? Your parents may not have provided you with much emotional support due to generational and/or cultural differences. You'd like to understand whether the survival mechanisms that you've learned as a child are still serving you.
My personal and educational experiences as a queer Asian-American woman of first-generation immigrant parents have shaped my values as a trauma-informed and social justice-oriented clinician. I work through an anti-oppression, non-pathologizing lens and tend to view many "symptoms" of mental illness as normal responses to living in an unjust society.
I have a gentle approach that encourages empowerment and self-compassion, and we can move at a pace that is comfortable for you. You can schedule an appointment with me on my website at lightinthedarkcounseling.com Let's see if our connection feels natural and take it from there.
Email
Brenda Xu
now for a free 15 minute consultation
Connect with Brenda Xu

Finances
Fees
- Individual Sessions $175
- Sliding scale: apply if you may be eligible
- Pay by American Express, Discover, Health Savings Account, Mastercard, Visa
Insurance
- Out of Network
Email me for a free 15 minute consultation now.

Brenda Xu
Counselor,
MA,
LMHCA,
NCC
Qualifications
- Verified by Psychology Today Licensed by State of Washington / MC61337713
- Membership with Washington Mental Health Counselors Association
- Degree/Diploma from University of California, San Diego Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
- Attended Adams State University / Master of Arts - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Specialties and Expertise
Top Specialties
- Relationship Issues
- Setting & Maintaining Healthy Boundaries
- Racial Identity
Expertise
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Bisexual
- Chronic Illness
- Coping Skills
- Depression
- Divorce
- Family Conflict
- Grief
- Lesbian
- LGBTQ+
- Life Transitions
- Men's Issues
- Mood Disorders
- Peer Relationships
- Perfectionism & Burnout
- Self Esteem
- Stress
- Thinking Disorders
- Transgender
- Trauma and PTSD
- Women's Issues
4 Endorsements
Client Focus
Age
Adults
Participants
Individuals
Communities
Bisexual Allied
,
Gay Allied
,
Immuno-disorders
,
Lesbian Allied
,
Non-Binary Allied
,
Queer Allied
,
Racial Justice Allied
,
Transgender Allied
Age
Adults
Participants
Individuals
Communities
Bisexual Allied
,
Gay Allied
,
Immuno-disorders
,
Lesbian Allied
,
Non-Binary Allied
,
Queer Allied
,
Racial Justice Allied
,
Transgender Allied
Treatment Approach
Types of Therapy
- Adlerian
- Anti-oppression
- Attachment-based
- Culturally Sensitive
- Emotionally Focused
- Feminist
- Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Multicultural
- Narrative
- Person-Centered
- Psychodynamic
- Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
Location
Additional Location
Bellevue, WA 98004
Nearby Areas

Brenda Xu
Counselor,
MA,
LMHCA,
NCC
Last Modified: 25 Oct 2023