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Meet Our Asian Therapists for Women & Teen Girls
Asian Therapists in Chicago
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Elizabeth Yoo-lae Cho, MAATC
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Sasha Mieko Vasilou, LPC
The Need for Asian Therapists
Despite the recognized need, there are significant challenges in finding culturally competent Asian therapists. Finding a culturally competent therapist can reduce the risk of assumptions or unnecessary pathologizing that Asian, Asian American, or marginalized clients may encounter when seeking mental health care. However, it can be challenging to find therapists of Asian descent due to factors such as geographic limitations and state-specific counseling licensure restrictions.
The term Asian American was coined by graduate students Emma Gee and Yuji Ichioka who aimed to increase visibility of Asian activists at the University of California Berkeley in 1968 (Time, 2020). Since then, several terms have expanded from Asian Americans and become U.S. Census categories. Including Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the 1990s, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) in 2010 (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023), and Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) in 2021 (Office of the Federal Register, 2021). Though, the vastness of qualifications that fit these terms represent 49 countries (United Nations, n.d.), the shared experiences of otherness unite the Asian diaspora in the U.S. (Lee & Ramakrishnan, 2019).
This underscores the importance of culturally competent mental health care that can honor these varied backgrounds. The limited number of Asian therapists in the field poses a barrier to accessing, as finding professionals who understand cultural nuances of shared and individual experiences is essential for effective treatment.
Challenges in Finding Asian Therapists
In 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau statistics shared that 3.28% of psychological professionals identified as Asian, and 0.03% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, compared to the rest of the workforce that includes 0.13% American Indian/Alaska Native, 5.08% Black/African American, 7.95% Hispanic, 2.68% Other, and 80.85% White (as cited. in, American Psychological Association, n.d.). Based on these statistics, one can infer that there are fewer minority identifying clinicians available in the field.
Considering the vastness of AAPI communities, there are several structural barriers for clients to seek culturally appropriate mental health services from Asian American clinicians. In Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, Cathy Park Hong (2020) wrote about their desire and challenges in finding a therapist who shared their culture and ethnic background, finding only one therapist in her insurance database at New York City with a Korean surname at the time. Hong’s story is not an isolated case. Several statistics have indicated a shortage of mental health professionals (American Art Therapy Association, 2021; as cited. in, American Psychological Association, n.d.). Statistics have also identified specific challenges for Asian Americans clinicians. Including access to education and financial support (Africa & Carrasco, 2011) and the burden of model minority (Lu, 2024; Omadeke, 2021). These obstacles contribute to the underrepresentation of Asian therapists, making it difficult for clients to find culturally aligned Asian and AAPI professionals.
Representation Gaps: Mixed-Race Clinicians
Multiracial, biracial, mixed race…many identifiers for the shared experience of belonging to two or more groups as defined by our racialized society. The experience can sometimes be not so different from a multiethnic experience which many monoracial folks may understand, but there is a unique state of liminal “otherness” of being mixed race in today’s world. Here, these identifiers will be used interchangeably as I appreciate the fluidity of the many titles, but, as always, we celebrate and honor whichever identifier represents a client’s personal experience best.
While constituting a minority, the population of multiracial individuals is the fastest growing demographic in the US (Rico, 2024). Most mixed race folks that exist today are children or teenagers, which means that though mixed race representation is lacking, it will become critically important for the next generations to come. Multiracial Asian Americans compose a significant proportion of this mixed race demographic (Rico, 2024). Existing as both, in the space between, and sometimes strongly identifying with one side of one’s family, each mixed person’s experience of their racial identity is unique and fluid. Given that to see oneself in another is such an integral part of human development and attachment, we believe that expanding our understanding of the multiracial experience and helping mixed folks find connection to multiracial clinicians, when desired, is paramount to supporting the therapeutic relationship. In addition to all the complexities that come with surviving and thriving as an Asian American in the US today, we also hope to help mixed folks along their journey of self-discovery, racial/ethnic identity development, and cultural connectedness.
Barriers in Asian and Asian American Communities that may Stigmatize Therapy
Limited Representation and Western Practices in Mental Health
Since therapy is primarily rooted in western practice and theories in psychology, there may be a hesitation to engage in therapy. Additionally, there may be language gaps in therapy and lack of cultural representation. Which makes therapy services less accessible, further emphasizing the need for diversity and continued cultural competencies in the field to address these gaps.
Possible Judgments in Seeking Therapy
Historically, seeking therapy has been met with judgment, including within Asian and Asian American communities. However, in recent years this stigma has significantly increased on a global scale due to collective recognition of the need to regularly address emotional well being.
Emphasis on Emotional Resilience and Self-Reliance
In many Asian communities, there is an emphasis on maintaining resilience and managing difficult emotions to “save face” or avoid burdening others. However, this isn’t unique to Asian communities; people across backgrounds also feel pressure to keep struggles to themselves or have challenges seeking help.
Influence of the “Model Minority” Stereotype
In addition to possible influences within cultures, harmful cultural narratives from external narratives such as the “model minority” stereotype may further emphasize holding difficult emotions or asking for help.
Strength of Informal Support Systems
Alternatively, there are informal supports that may serve as ways of emotional care. Which includes community based support and religious and spiritual practices for mental health care.
Benefits of Working with an Asian Therapist
Alongside the benefits of working with a trained mental health professional, there are additional perspectives that may come with working with therapists of Asian descent. Discussions can include possible shared understandings around multicultural, diasporic, and racial identities. Such therapists might also relate to experiences of varying degrees of generation of immigrant, or intercultural or intracultural dynamics, further deepening the therapeutic process.
Authorship Attribution
Section 1 & 2: Written by and adapted from Elizabeth Yoo-lae Cho (2024)
Section 3: Written by Sasha Vasilou
Sections 4 & 5: Written by and based on personal insights from Elizabeth Yoo-lae Cho
Works Cited
Cho, E. Y. (2024). Embracing identity, navigating discrimination, historic & contemporary traumas, self-care, and challenges of a second generation Korean-American art therapist (Master’s thesis, School of the Art Institute of Chicago). School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
https://digitalcollections.saic.edu/node/91746
Rico, B. (2024, May 31). 2020 census shows increase in multiracial population in all age categories. Census.gov.
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/06/nearly-a-third-reporting-two-or-more-races-under-18-in-2020.html
Balanced Awakening Lincoln Park561 W Diversey, Ste 205Chicago, IL 60614Asian Therapist Chicago Videos
Therapy FAQs
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Pretty much anything that you’re going through emotionally, or in your life, can be made a little or a lot better by therapy! If you are unsure about whether we can help you, please feel free to reach out and ask a question.
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Yes! But with some exceptions. There are 3 situations where, legally and ethically (whether we want to or not) we would have to break your confidentiality. These include if we learn of any potential child or elder abuse from you, we determine that you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or we receive a court order for your medical records. Also, some of our providers are under supervision and regularly consult with their supervisor about their client sessions. Supervisors have the same obligation to client confidentiality.
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Our therapy rate in Chicago for the first two sessions is $245. After that, 55 minute sessions are $220. We accept BCBS PPO and Aetna insurance.
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Yes! We offer virtual therapy sessions as well as in-person. Sometimes it’s easier for clients to engage in therapy virtually, whether due to commute time, caregiver obligations, or simple convenience. We want to make therapy as accessible as possible!
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Therapy can help in so many ways, especially when you feel a connection with your therapist! Usually longer-term benefits of therapy are having a more hopeful outlook on life, reduction in any symptoms like anxiety or low mood, better sleep, feeling more grounded in your body, less emotional distress, increased feelings of satisfaction and pleasure in life, more stability in relationships, having an easier time meeting your goals, and more.
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