I am passionate about increasing mental & emotional wellness and reducing the mental health stigma in the AAPI community. I am by no means an expert on all things AAPI and am curious to know what your unique experiences have been like navigating life as an AAPI. Working with an AAPI clinician can bring up some unpleasant feelings (for example: I may subconsciously remind you of the relative who really gets under your skin). And in the same breath, working with an AAPI clinician can be incredibly validating as you are with someone who “gets it.” In both situations, working with a fellow AAPI can create beautiful opportunities for healing & reparative experiences.
I have a special interest in exploring intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, and racial trauma as it pertains to the AAPI community. I hold space for folks who identify as the “token Asian friend,” those who have been asked one too many times, “Where are you really from” or the lovely question “What are you?” (sidenote, my favorite response to that question has always been, "Human"). I help folks process the tension that exists between the desire to honor your family’s cultural values while wanting to explore who you are outside of your family (eep, scary stuff right?). You may be seeking a place to process trauma & stress caused by race related violence. Perhaps you grew up in an AAPI family that prioritized appearance & “saving face” over your well-being or maybe you were labeled “over dramatic” or “too emotional” when in reality you were a human with normal emotions that were culturally deemed “unacceptable.” Or if you are like me and feel pretty far removed from your culture, therapy can be a space to grieve some cultural identity loss, reconnect to your ancestral roots, and gain a new understanding of yourself. Whatever the circumstance, it would be a privilege to work with you and honor your Asian self!
*Japanese American (JA) mental health is especially close to my heart.
