About

License: I am a licensed independent mental health counselor (LMHC), license number LH61094349, in the state of Washington. As an LMHC, I abide by the American Counseling Association code of ethics and Washington State Laws regulating mental health professionals. Additionally, I am responsible for receiving ongoing professional development achieved through annual continuing education courses.

Philosophy and Approach: I believe that people are trustworthy, resourceful, capable of self-understanding and self-direction, able to make constructive changes, and able to live effective and productive lives. We as humans, in pursuit of satisfying three fundamental needs—autonomy (to make one’s own choices regarding beliefs, values, and personal presentation), competence (to strive for success, completion, and achievements according to one’s personal determination of satisfaction), and relatedness (human connection, tenderness, warmth, emotional responsiveness, and acceptance). I strive to provide a warm and welcoming environment and to be emotionally ready with an open mind for individuals I serve. I implement relationship-building skills to ensure individuals feel heard, safe, and connected. I use evidence-based approaches to help people establish treatment goals. The relationship between individuals and I is equal and collaborative throughout the process. I maintain a positive, caring attitude at all times and strike an effective balance between past, present, and future focus fitting to the individual’s needs, strengths, and struggles.

Formal Education and Training: I received my Master of Arts degree from Gonzaga University (CACREP), the program emphasized clinical training, personal growth, group facilitation, applied theories, child & adolescent counseling, and multicultural counseling. I received my DBT training through PESI and I am certified through the Evergreen Institution. I have received training in suicide assessment, crisis intervention, emotionally focused therapy, substance use treatment, and psychological first aid. I have completed over 3,000 hours of postgraduate clinical mental health work while being directly supervised by licensed clinicians.

About me: My personal cultural history has given me an awareness of mental health issues faced by people who are marginalized. In my professional life, I have worked with the refugee population, multicultural families, international students, and the LGBTQ+ community. In my personal life, I advocate for social justice issues in order to protect the human rights of the most vulnerable, as well as to promote the importance of mental healthcare for those who are affected by injustice and marginalization. I have experienced and come to respect the nuance of building relationships across cultural differences. I am proud of my developed ability to adapt to different cultural environments and build trust with people who have very different backgrounds from my own. As a Chinese native who has lived in the U.S. for eight years, I am culturally and linguistically fluent in Mandarin and English.