Many of us learn who we're expected to be long before we have the chance to discover who we truly are. Over time, you may find yourself disconnected from your own voice as you try to meet the expectations of family, relationships, culture, or society.

I work with college and graduate students, emerging adults, and young professionals navigating depression, anxiety, identity exploration, academic and career stress, and major life transitions. You may be adjusting to a new stage of life, feeling pressure to succeed, questioning what comes next, or trying to understand how different parts of your identity fit together. I especially enjoy working with Asian and Asian American individuals, international students, first-generation and multicultural individuals, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

I see therapy as a collaborative space where we can explore not only what you’re experiencing, but also the relationships, experiences, cultural messages, and expectations that may have shaped how you see yourself. My approach is feminist, humanistic, and person-centered, and I draw from CBT when it’s helpful for understanding how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected. Depending on what you need, we may explore patterns, sit with difficult emotions, consider a different perspective, or develop practical strategies you can use outside of therapy.

Therapy doesn’t need to become another place where you have to perform, have the right answer, or constantly measure your progress. We’ll make room for what feels important to you, get curious about what feels authentic, and work toward a deeper understanding of yourself and what you want moving forward.

Identity, Culture & Life Transitions

Sometimes the person you’re becoming doesn’t quite fit the expectations you’ve carried with you. You may be adjusting to a new culture or environment, reconsidering what you want for your future, or trying to balance your own values with those of your family or community.

You might also find yourself wondering where you belong. Different parts of your identity may feel easy to hold in some spaces and more complicated in others. Family expectations, cultural values, gender, sexuality, relationships, and your own evolving sense of self can all influence how you understand who you are.

Therapy can give you space to slow down and get curious about these tensions without having to immediately choose the “right” answer. Together, we can explore what you’ve learned about who you should be, what you want to carry forward, and what may no longer fit.

Anxiety, Depression & Burnout

Maybe your mind rarely seems to turn off. You’re thinking about what you need to accomplish next, second-guessing decisions, comparing yourself to others, or worrying that you’re falling behind. Even when things are going well, it can be difficult to actually feel settled.

Depression can feel different. You may feel disconnected, exhausted, unmotivated, or less like yourself. Things that once felt meaningful may require more effort, and figuring out what needs to change can feel overwhelming.

For students and young professionals, academic expectations, career uncertainty, perfectionism, and pressure to succeed can add another layer. We can explore what’s contributing to how you’re feeling while developing practical ways to manage stress, understand your emotions, and relate to yourself with greater compassion.

About Me

Growing up in Guangdong, China, and later pursuing my education and clinical training in the United States has shaped how I understand identity, culture, and belonging. Moving between cultures has made me especially curious about the ways our environments, relationships, and communities influence how we understand ourselves.

I know culture can shape how we express emotions, ask for support, approach relationships, define success, and make sense of our experiences. At the same time, no two people experience their culture or identity in exactly the same way. I bring this awareness into therapy while staying curious about what your experiences and identities mean to you.

As a bilingual therapist, I provide therapy in both English and Mandarin. I’m also LGBTQ+ affirming and welcome conversations about sexuality, gender, culture, family, and the different parts of your identity and how they intersect.

Experience

During my clinical training, I provided individual and group therapy in school and hospital outpatient settings, working with adolescents and adults from a variety of cultural backgrounds and lived experiences. My clinical experience has included supporting clients with depression, anxiety, identity development, life transitions, academic stress, relationship concerns, and the challenges that can come with navigating different cultural environments.

I continue to deepen my training through research on depression and anxiety, identity development, attachment, LGBTQ+ mental health, and family relationships. This ongoing learning helps me thoughtfully integrate current research into my work while tailoring therapy to the individual person sitting across from me.

Licensure

As a Clinical Fellow, I am gaining the clinical experience and supervision required to obtain my LCPC. I receive ongoing supervision, training, and education to continue developing my clinical skills and expanding the tools I can offer clients. I am working under the supervision of Lauren Schmalbruch, LCPC.