Asian Therapists in Southwest, Portland, OR

As an immigrant from Hong Kong and child of immigrants, Vivien understands the pain of feeling stuck and not knowing where to start, when there is so much you want to achieve – whether it’s developing more rewarding relationships, making academic and career progression, healing from complex trauma, or gaining a sense of calm, confidence, and fulfillment as you navigate life in a complicated world.

I am an Asian-American therapist seeking to create a healing and culturally affirming environment for Children, Teens, and Young Adults. Life as a POC can be confusing to navigate as we can have traditions, values, and obligations that oppose our American cultural upbringing. This therapeutic space will be a safe container for those looking to explore their identity, purpose, and authenticity.

You are “highly functioning”. You have succeeded in most of the ways that were expected of you. Most people look to you for direction, leadership, and support. And, you have a different internal life. You feel resentful of all the obligations put on you. You struggle with intimacy. You feel alone despite having a large social network. You worry a lot. You have a hard time knowing what you need. You feel disconnected from yourself. You feel tired. You want more.

I know seeking therapy is scary, but I want to make this a welcoming and comfortable experience for you. Life has many ups and downs and we all need guidance sometimes. I am trauma informed and have over twenty years of working experience outside of counseling. I know the privilege I have as a cis gendered, heterosexual, light skinned Asian American woman, but I also know the flip side of being a minority in a majority white city. We can discuss and unpack your trauma together in a supportive environment. Whether it be depression, anxiety, stress or trauma, I can help you overcome it.

Hello, my name is Ryoka Kim, I'm a licensed psychologist working with adults. My specialities include: medical and health concerns, end-of-life concerns, including caregiver stress, family communication, and any grief issues. I am here if you are looking for relief from emotional pain, mental distress or other struggles. I want to help you through whatever is causing you difficulties in a supportive and collaborative way. I am thoughtful, and I listen with openness and compassion. I strive to create an accepting and safe environment where we work together to decrease your symptoms and struggles and to support your health and growth.

Therapy is writing your own story as we embrace the ‘self as inherently fluid’ and that all individuals are capable of crafting new and empowering stories that include a new sense of self. This is a healing journey, and I'm here to connect with you to explore together the trauma, grief, and other challenging life experiences that prevent you from healing, growing and living the fulfilling life you are seeking.

Are you feeling stuck in your life, and seeking transformation to help you heal, thrive and live a more fulfilling life? I specialize in working with individuals struggling with obstacles to fuller living: be it experiencing anxiety/panic or depression, living with trauma, body image issues/eating disorders, or experiencing marginalization due to one's identities or background. I offer an inclusive and affirming approach in working with clients from all walks of life. A life lived more richly and authentically is possible, and I'm here to support you with this journey of self-exploration, self-care and growth.

None of us come out of childhood without some cuts and bruises. Sometimes physical, but more oftentimes emotional. For many, these emotional wounds are still tender, open, lightly dressed with a bandage, forgotten, or even neglected. So when these emotions get touched we find ourselves reacting in ways that aren’t in line with the kind of person we want to be.

I am currently accepting clients. I am passionate about and have experience working with individuals in marginalized populations, individuals wanting to manage their anxiety, depression, trauma, and helping individuals through DV/IPV.

I am a licensed psychologist who has worked with adults and teen for over 25 years. Prior to life in Montana and Oregon, I was at Stanford Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, where I was awarded a fellowship following my clinical internship at University of New Mexico Medical. I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Oregon. I have worked with clients in various clinical settings, given national and international talks, facilitated many group therapy sessions and workshops for families, parents, and couples. I have been in private practice since 2014. I love what I do.

You might be someone who is exhausted from looking for a therapist who looks even a little like you. Maybe you are feeling grief, heaviness, sadness, and even anger about..everything. Perhaps you have saved every mental health Instagram slide deck and TikTok, but you still don’t feel like it’s clicking for you. You may be someone at a crossroads with the story and template you have been told you need to fit into. You may suspect that there is more-more to expect, hope for, and be.

Taking New Clients: Everyone has the essential ingredients for positive change. Individuals and couples who seek my support are in a difficult moment or intersection in life; seeking resolution between internal and external pressures; seeking satisfaction and harmony in relationships, identity, career, society, etc. I support clients who seek to deepen and broaden their perspective on who they are and who they want to become by examining self-limiting narratives, refining self-mastery, and cultivating self-compassion. BIPOC and multicultural clients often seek my support as well as those who want more from therapy than just insight.

Are you overwhelmed with navigating pressures from family, culture and society? Is it hard to find someone who can understand the intersections of your identity and life experiences? My BIPOC clients often tell me about the emotional fatigue of having to explain their stories to mainstream providers. This takes the focus away from healing. They want strategies that honor their deep narratives and tools that respect their heritage and cultural wisdom. If you see yourself in any of these struggles, I invite you to schedule a free consultation with me to reclaim your story.

Change is an amazing opportunity for growth. Whether the change is initiated by us or is unexpected, change is an opportunity to increase our self-awareness and grow towards realizing our best selves. Change is often challenging and can feel scary. Exploring how we react to change by following the thread of our reactive emotions, thinking and behaviors directs us to the strategies that will effectively set us on the path to self-discovery and empowerment.

I am deeply passionate about what I do with children and their families. It's a privilege to sit in a room or play with another human being and have them share with you their suffering, their joy, their anger, their confusion, their sorrow, and their successes. I strongly believe that mental health is essential to a person’s well-being, a healthy family, interpersonal relationships, and the ability and possibility to live a full and productive life.

You're deeply caring, creative, and curious. And you feel stuck, not good enough, overwhelmed, hurting. Disconnected from the life you want. You may be in numbness and slowly suffocating in a deep hole. You may find yourself shutting down and avoiding things that are usually important to you. You could be struggling to start a family, or dealing with scary thoughts and emotional pain in pregnancy, postpartum, or beyond. Even though you're not sure how, you are ready to make a change to live meaningfully, and are open to trying something new.

Are you have trouble finding your inner peace? Are you struggling with finding where you fit it? As a person from a biracial and multicultural background I have personal experience with some of the challenges faced by those growing in their identity. That feeling of not knowing where you fit or the struggle not feeling good enough. Learning the skills and tools needed to find your true self and build the confidence to show up completely. Assisting you in navigating and discovering who you are and growing through past experiences into your true authentic self.

Being part of the interconnected natural world, we thrive in connection, and without connection, we wither. In our work together we will collaborate in understanding what makes you come alive and wither, to look for ways to get unstuck and make meaning of your emotions, reactivity, and suffering. I believe that individuals and families can tap into their inner strength to repair and grow new resilience with guidance and support. My role is to restore balance, build communication, and provide support to help you create space to learn and integrate new skills and encourage new perspectives as you grow and thrive in connections.

The practice of being human is utterly challenging and incredibly complex. I offer empathetic support for individuals, couples, and families who frequently fall back into their own negative thought patterns and family dynamics. Using a mix of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychology, and a Family Systems approach, I can help you recognize and better understand how an individual action may affect yourself and others.