Welcome to online counseling. Initiating therapy is often a scary and anxiety-inducing process. By coming here, you've already taken a radical step in walking closer to your preferred life and preferred being.

I have more than 10 years of experience in providing clinical therapy to individuals, couples, families, and children in a wide range of capacities, such as outpatient mental health clinic, residential settings, foster care programs, homeless shelter, city center, and my own private practice. My clients will tell you that they experience me as a genuine and warm person. I embrace compassion, respectfulness, and modesty in conversations. Never will I claim to “know” your experiences fully and the extent in which problems have impacted you. I aspire to always try to understand the unique circumstances you’re going through by asking questions instead of coming to my own conclusions. I also bring my personal experiences into our discussions when such sharing can provide perspectives and resonance. I understand the problems we encounter in life can often convince us that there is no way out and attempt to undermine our abilities and hopes. No matter how difficult the issues are or how frustrated and hopeless you feel, I’m dedicated to team up with you against the problems you’re facing and tackle them together with tireless persistence.

My practice embraces recovery-oriented approach such as Narrative and Post Modern Therapy, which focus on the meaning in which we construct our lives, the stories that influenced these constructions, and the socio-cultural-political forces that help shape our identities. Narrative Therapy holds the premise that our identities are informed by narratives, whether uniquely personal (e.g., the stories that we know and tell about ourselves and the stories that others know and tell about us) or culturally influenced (e.g., dominant cultural ideas about who we are and our worthiness). Depending on the kinds of identity conclusions we embrace, they can either empower or subjugate our sense of who we are. I believe that we are "multi-storied" and that the emergence of problems reflect the distanced relationship with our own knowledge, skills, and commitments. Special attention is devoted to reclaim your life from the problems and develop "richer knowings" of yourself, in addition to deconstructing dominant discourses that may have undermined your abilities, efforts, and values. This is a non-blaming and non-shaming view that creates some breathing room from the challenges you're experiencing and regain a sense of control and agency back from the problems. This strength-based, meaning-based, and active approach lays the foundation for living in empowering ways and weaving together the threads of possibilities and agency. I look forward to working collaboratively with you to reclaim the directions of your life.

To better personal growth and ensure the highest quality of care, I continue to learn from the folks I meet with and from my professional field, by reading, conversing, writing, and reflecting. I have published two articles, one in Family Process and one in the Journal of Feminist Therapy. I presented at the American Family Therapy Academy in Colorado (2009) and in Maryland (2010). I also believe in giving-back endeavors and devote a fair amount of time providing pro bono work and discounted counseling sessions to folks in need. In 2012, I received President Obama's Volunteer Service Award in recognition of my counseling service at the Village of Hope.

Personally, I feel an intricate connection between my mental health and physical fitness, and feel that a resilient mind contributes to a strong body, and vice versa. Thus, I run, hike, and travel as much as I can. Being in nature restores my spirit and humbles my mind, while running hones my sense of discipline and dedication. Most recently, I finished a marathon in under 4 hours. At my leisure, I also enjoy getting lost in books and movies, and spending time with my two nephews and my partner of 12 years. Nature, music, family, reading, and physical activity keep me grounded.

My Availability: I am able to review messages on a daily basis. There may be delays on weekends and holidays. Depending on the length and the complexities of issues, my response time will vary. I will be able to respond more frequently to shorter messages. For lengthier messages, it will take me a bit longer because I prefer to reflect thoroughly and respond in a thoughtful manner. However, I understand that sometimes you may need more support during certain periods in life, and I’m more than willing to engage more frequently in times of need. I welcome you to discuss your hopes and preference with me in regards to frequency of engagement. I hope for us to develop a pace of interaction that is helpful to you and one that makes sense for both of us.