Therapists in Sierra Madre, CA

Life can be challenging at times. You may be feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or "stuck". You may find yourself constantly taking care of others, leaving little to no time for yourself. You may be struggling with self-criticism, and wanting to love yourself a bit more. You decide you want a change. The journey to growth and healing takes time and courage, and you do not have to do it alone. As a therapist, I would love to help you to learn skills to cope with difficult emotions, to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your experiences, to recognize your inner strengths, and to discover a sense of fulfillment in your life.

Healing is a deeply personal journey, and integral to this process is having a nonjudgmental space where you can feel safe and heard. Therapy can be that safe place to explore aspects of your identity you may never have addressed, reconnect with wounded parts of yourself, and foster a greater sense of acceptance to help you to handle the many stresses of life. Whether your concerns involve childhood trauma, life transitions, or relationship issues, I will meet you where you currently are with empathy and patience.

We are at a time where compassion towards self is more important than ever. Life is overwhelming and complicated. Maybe you "have it all" but feel like something is missing or you are having issues communicating your needs. Many struggle with the idea of having symptoms of depression and anxiety internalizing the symptoms with being "crazy". I am here to remove the labels and have individuals be more aware of the symptoms you experience (fear, poor sleep and appetite, nervousness, sadness, negative thoughts, etc.) and treat them with compassion, reframing and safe coping skills to better improve your life.

I’m glad you are here! Looking for a therapist means you’ve taken the initiative to ask for help and seek for change. Many people say that they already start to feel better after making their first appointment. Whether you are feeling stuck or blocked to achieve your goals, losing self-confidence and motivation; or having difficulty coping with a recent loss, a big life change; or finding yourself feeling more anxious, sad, angry, or having more arguments and feeling unsatisfied in your significant relationships; or you are interested in figuring out who you are and feel more connected with yourself; I am here for you.

Imagine the freedom of living without constant worry and anxiety. As an Asian American therapist, I offer culturally responsive care addressing intergenerational trauma, stress and depression. Together we'll work towards unlocking your unmet needs, discover purpose and restore balance back into your life. Do you find yourself lost in responsibilities for others; whether its your partner, work, family, church or even your child? This can lead to a loss of self and identity, overwhelm, low self-esteem, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. Hardship and pain can often feel lonely, but you don't have to face these challenges alone.

I have worked in a variety of settings, including community mental health centers, college counseling centers, hospital clinics, and HMO clinics. Therefore, I have experience working with a diverse range of patient populations and presenting issues. My predoctoral training helped me to assist clients with depression, anxiety, and relationship difficulties. My postdoctoral training focused on trauma work, including sexual assault and child abuse. I welcome a complimentary phone consultation.

Are the feelings of helplessness and powerlessness always present in your life? Have you been acting fine while there is a lot of anxiety, hurt, and anger inside? Having this mental state can be painful. Many people learn not to talk about it and get busy in their life. This avoidance can worsen their anxiety and depression. And it can develop other mental health symptoms, such as panic attacks, insomnia, and obsessive compulsive disorders. Trauma and attachment injuries are often the root causes of the issues.

We often go through life transitions unaware of how the past might still have a hold on us. Sometimes we simply need to take a moment to reflect on how experiences and relationships have shaped our perception of ourselves and situations. Processing how past traumas are linked to the present can help us to recover, heal, and to understand how behavior patterns and responses are formed in the first place so that we can change for the better.

I am interested in your story - where you have been and hope to go, what you have done and dream of doing, and who you are and have yet to become. My clients are often highly intuitive and high achieving adults, creatives in the art and entertainment industry, helpers, parentified adult children, entrepreneurs, executives, couples, Asian American professionals, and parents. Common issues include: relationship issues with loved ones, dissatisfaction with current life/direction, work/life balance stress, burnout, codependency, self-neglect, complex family dynamics, performance/creative blocks, anxiety, depression, and trauma.

I believe everyone, if given a supportive and secure space, can discover their inner-self and learn to appreciate who they genuinely are, which leads to improved relationships. I am a licensed clinical psychologist in California and Taiwan with over 10 years of practice experience. I have helped diverse populations with a wide range of issues in a variety of settings, including a community mental health center, a college counseling center, a domestic violence women's shelter, a re-entry program, an outpatient opiate treatment clinic, skilled nursing homes, a youth correctional counseling program, and an elementary school district.

You always try to do the right thing, but somehow, people don't appreciate it. When you try to help, they might even blame you! You put your needs aside to take care of others, and no one is there to take care of you, but you don't say anything. Maybe you cry when no one is there. And then you put your smile back on and turn back into the person they need you to be. One day, it all gets to be too much, and you don't know what to do. So you come see me.

Starting therapy is difficult and scary; however, you do not have to do it yourself. I understand it is also vulnerable to share your stories with a stranger. Therapy is a space where you can feel safe being yourself. With sincerity, I strive to build that safe environment for you and work collaboratively to find yourself. I want to empower you to understand your thoughts and feelings. Working through your negative behavioral and thought patterns, we will identify how these currently affect your life. I will help you find solutions within yourself that you feel comfortable practicing and sustaining, using your natural strengths.

Are you native Japanese or involved in a relationship with a person of Japanese descent? Are you or your family member feeling lost or depressed after moving to Los Angeles from Japan and having trouble adjusting to life in the United States? Are you a college student or foreign language student and feeling overwhelmed by living alone in a foreign culture and learning new social dynamics? Are you having problems parenting your American-born children? I can help you.

Dr. May has over 20 years of experience working as a psychotherapist, researcher, educator, and supervisor in the field of mental health. She has had the privilege of training at UCLA with leading experts in the field of psychiatry and psychology and conducted clinical research at the UCLA Medical Center for several years. Dr. May has helped countless adolescents, adults, families, and couples overcome their personal obstacles to live healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.

Hi. I am a Licensed Psychologist working and living in the community that I grew up in. I have been in clinical practice since 2004. My practice focuses on: 1) Couples and Relationship Therapy, 2) Minority Mental Health, and 3) Emotional and Behavioral Improvements with Teens. Let's talk...

For the last 23 years, I have been working as a psychotherapist in various types of fields in both Korea and the US. Throughout those years as a bilingual therapist, I have worked with many diverse clients with different ethnic or socio-economic backgrounds, ages and issues, which obligates me to be always humble and careful given the depth of impact people could experience by sharing their pain and joy with trusted someone in a safe and caring environment.

You don't like your current state. You don't like your mood swings, you don't like your insecurity, you don't like that you feel stuck both physically and emotionally now in this pandemic. The world is changing so rapidly and everything is different. You know you're not the only one who's struggling and you want to be more positive, yet it still feels like you're the only one who’s out of place, left behind, and failing. You want to stop feeling this way, you want to change.

Many of us are struggling to get through the days as we deal with the stress of balancing complicated thoughts and feelings about identity, relationships, and coping with the constant pressures of living in our current situation. Whether it is the weight of the pandemic, the state of our society, personal and relational struggles, or all of the above, I would be honored to walk with you as a supportive, consistent, and helpful companion and guide in your journey towards healing and strength. I view the therapeutic relationship as an equal partnership as we work together towards the fulfillment of your personal and relational goals.