Therapists in Pasadena, CA

By seeking support, you are taking one of the most important steps in your journey towards healing. I am an LCSW with over six years of experience providing individual and family psychotherapy to adults, adolescents and children. My aim with each and every client is to create a supportive space for growth and healing. My commitment to you is that our therapeutic relationship will be an authentic one. Together, you and I will pursue, through empathy and honest collaboration, a deep understanding your true self.

As a therapist, my initial aim is to create a safe and non-judgmental place so that my clients are able to access and share their thoughts, emotions, and experiences with me. Through compassionate curiosity, I ask intentional questions that allow my clients to get to know themselves, their needs, and their goals for therapy. As clients process their past and present experiences with me, I help connect the dots – finding common themes and patterns that may be contributing to my client’s suffering or what we call “the presenting problem.”

In my work with individuals and couples, I seek to provide a warm, safe, and supportive environment in which individual and relational issues can be explored. In this environment, challenges become opportunities for growth. I use a psychodynamic approach to explore what is occurring in one's life and/or relationship in the present, what occurred in one's past which influences the way one views him or herself in the present, and what may be going on at an unconscious level which impacts one's choices, behaviors, and beliefs about self and other.

Whether you're exploring gender or sexual identity for the first time, or have been out for 20 years, having a therapist that can relate to your experiences is vital. You may feel as though you didn't get the handbook of "how to human," or believe that there must be a secret ingredient that you've somehow been missing in order to feel better. It can be frustrating to feel as though you've tried everything just to be heard. If you've been taught to mask or hide your true self in order to survive in a world that constantly tells you that you shouldn't exist, it can be transformative to be seen and held as you are.

My passion is conducting therapy with Asians, both immigrants and Asian-Americans. As a Taiwanese-American therapist, I am well-versed in the family dynamics of Asian culture. I am also experienced in dealing with parent-child conflicts between first-generation Chinese parents and their westernized second-generation teenagers and adult children. My work centers on helping parents and children recognize their cultural differences in order to better understand one another and maintain healthy relationships. Sessions may be in either Mandarin and English.

I utilize a client centered approach in working with adolescents and adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, and life transitions. In a safe, supportive, and non judgemental space we can explore the negative patterns in your life, work through any barriers, and move towards healing, growth, and change

Recently the world as we knew it was turned upside down. With the onset of Covid-19 and a "Safer at Home" order as well as school closures, parents are under more stress and pressure than ever. I am currently providing individual therapy and parent coaching via our secure video platform. If you find yourself having difficulty managing your frustration and/or anxiety, or feeling the enormous pressure of home schooling your children while keeping up with the other demands in your life (i.e. work, home responsibilities) do not hesitate to reach out. You do not have to figure this out alone.

Are you looking for ways to connect with your inner strengths and resiliency - and to learn skills for coping with life's challenges, disappointments and transitions? Do you want to re-establish a connection with yourself or create healthy communication styles in your dating, friendships, family or marriage relationship? Has the pandemic allowed you to pause and re-evaluate next steps with a new path? In my work at Flourish and the Institute for Girls’ Development, I assist high school seniors, young women and women to find balance and learn ways to cultivate strengths.

If you've become lost amongst obstacles on your journey, I'd like to help guide you to more happiness by offering suggestions, uncovering unwanted patterns, and leading you from the past to the present in order to heal and evolve, enhancing your happiness. Through changes in perceptions/attitudes and being willing to see situations with a new pair of glasses, you can reach your goals and evolve. My clients report that they enjoy my down-to-earth attitude and humor and my use of Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, TRM, meditation and yoga to treat mind-body symptoms. I work best with clients who are motivated to gain self-awareness and see patterns that are no longer serving them. I give homework between sessions in order to keep the continuity of healing working consistently. I feel very blessed to be working in a field that serves people who are finding their best selves and evolving into the people they want to be.

I am a licensed mental health clinician who is vibrant and supportive. I have an extensive background working with adolescents and young adults through a wide range of challenges in both the educational and clinical setting. I have worked with many individuals who experience symptoms and characteristics of depression and anxiety among difficulties in coping with life changes or transitions. As a psychotherapist, I am caring, empathic, and compassionate - I believe that all people are deserving and capable of support, healing, and happiness.

Trauma. Betrayal. Anxiety. Relationships. Discernment. These are my areas of focus. Whether you are an adult seeking to heal childhood wounds or you are facing an overwhelming challenge in present day, we can collaborate on a path forward. Change is possible and I will be in your corner every step of the way.

I have the knowledge and skill to help you with over 24 years' experience. My clients find a comfortable and supportive atmosphere in session, which usually leads to rapid progress toward their goals. I believe people make meaningful changes in their lives by working in partnership with their therapist. Depth psychology offers the unique opportunity to improve the circumstances of your outer life through the richness and creativity of your inner life. Call today and explore the possibilities of how therapy can help you.

Distracted. Lonely. Confused. Sound Familiar? Are you your own worst enemy? Has indecision or a "dumb" choice messed up your career, school or personal growth? Do you agonize over decisions? Or are plagued by critical thoughts? You may ask, "Why is this so difficult?" You want help. You want more than being asked, "How does that make you feel?" You want someone who gets you, gives honest feedback, and offers tools to take ownership of your life. Let's have a conversation that start moving your life forward.

Mental health challenges are due to the aftereffects of traumatic experiences. Trauma can place a strain on your family, work, relationships, and even cause issues with self-worth. I specialize in trauma therapy along with treating personality disorders, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and addiction. All these disorders can look different from person to person, and that is where our therapeutic journey of empowerment and self-exploration begins. I concentrate on creating a safe space of growth and self-discovery through unconditional positive regard, emotional regulation, and guided activities.

As a multiethnic, multicultural woman of color, child of an immigrant, and trauma-informed associate clinical social worker with a background in gender studies, I approach my work with an intersectional lens. I consider the whole human being as well as the various systems they are part of and the effect these systems have on a person’s life. It is important to me that I am mindful of how my client perceives the world and how the world perceives them. As a trauma-informed yoga instructor, I also consider how emotions can show up somatically.

You are the expert in your own experience, so our work together will be collaborative, creative and customized to fit your unique needs. I strongly believe that we are all doing the best we can with the knowledge and resources we have in the moment. We can’t do better until we know better, so I’m here to support you as you learn, grow, heal and discover what "better" is for you.

As we walk through life collecting experiences, relationships and hardships along the way, we may land in places of struggle and personal suffering. Whether you are trying to keep up with a changing world, facing adversity or social inequality, or still healing wounds from the past, I am ready to join you on this journey to help you find the path of inner growth and transformation. When we arrive in the therapy room, whether it is in person or virtual, I bring a warm, collaborative and relatable approach to meet you where you are at.

I see couples all the time who love each other desperately but just can’t seem to make it work. Some couples put it this way: “It’s like we keep having the same fight over and over again and nothing ever gets resolved. We just have a big fight, followed by silence, and then we just go back to our daily lives without ever working through the issues until the next fight happens. I don’t know what’s happening or why it’s happening but it’s just awful.”

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been in practice for over 20 years. The foundation of my work is the firm belief that we are wired to connect with others. When we fail to do so in some aspects of our lives, we become depressed and anxious and feel alone. My goal is to help you have healthy connections with others. People who have found my work helpful include couples dealing with relational issues, cross-cultural relationships, childhood trauma, anxiety, cultural and race issues.