HI, IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
My name is Kat. I am a licensed psychotherapist in the state of California with a passion for empowering millennial and Gen Z women.
Before I became a psychotherapist, I worked in a corporate, creative industry for several years. As a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and proud INFP, I realized that my superpowers of perceptiveness and empathy could be better served in another field—one that celebrates our humanness. As a Chinese-American woman from an immigrant family, I am especially passionate about working with women of color and specialize in the challenges faced by Asian Americans. In addition to psychtherapy, I am trained in yoga and meditation. Over the past few years, I've taught at various organizations throughout Los Angeles, including AT&T, USC, and Horizon Media.
With all of my clients, I believe in the power of empathy, warmth, and nonjudgment. Dealing with anxiety and trauma is hard enough. Let's do this together!
I WORK WELL WITH CLIENTS WHO...
are curious and open-minded by nature. They are interested in better understanding themselves and the world around them.
recognize that there are often different parts of themselves in conflict with each other. Some people might use terms like "inner child."
are ready for and motivated towards change (even if they're not sure how to get there. Not to worry... that's why I'm here!)
embrace the idea that healing and growth is a journey. While approaches like EMDR can often bring about positive change quickly, they know that this human life is a process that builds on little steps day-by-day.
MY APPROACH
I believe that healing takes place in relationship, one that lets you fully be yourself. That means, I won't tell you what you should think or feel. Instead, I help you find your inner compass—an inner respite of calm, confidence and clarity. Through a variety of evidence-based approaches (below), we'll co-create a nurturing space that allows you to develop greater self-awareness, instill trust and compassion towards yourself, and integrate both mind and body into a whole sense of self.
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS)
Ever feel conflicted? IFS identifies and tends to the various "parts" within oneself. Some parts may represent wounded selves and painful emotions, while other parts try to control or protect the whole "system" (that is, you!) from that pain. IFS aims to connect one with their Self (the compassionate, confident and curious whole person at the core of every person) and alleviate emotional distress and confusion by changing the relationships between Self and all parts. In IFS, all parts are welcome.
GESTALT THERAPY
This approach invites you to break out of habitual thought patterns and to get in touch with actual emotional experience—what is right here and now. This allows previously hidden or avoided emotions to come to the surface. With greater awareness of what you're going through, you have more access to acceptance, new meaning, and more choices to move forward. Only when you are present with yourself—as you are right now—can change occur.
EMDR THERAPY
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) enables people to heal from the emotional distress and negative self-limiting beliefs that resulted from disturbing life experiences (i.e., trauma). Eye movements (similar to those in REM sleep) activate the brain's information processing system, tapping into its natural healing abilities. EMDR's 8-phased approach is a more structured form of psychotherapy that doesn't require one to talk in-detail about the traumatic events themselves.
MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is each person's natural ability to observe their thoughts and emotions in the moment with awareness and curiosity. Mindfulness skills are critical to mental well-being because they help build our capacity to ride the waves of big emotions and teach us to become more present with ourselves instead of lost in negative thoughts and emotions.
EDUCATION & TRAININGS
M.S. Marriage and Family Therapy
University of Southern California
2-Year Clinical Training
Southern California Counseling Center, a community mental health center in Los Angeles, CA
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR Consulting
Trauma Resiliency Model® (Level 1)
Trauma Resource Institute
