Immigration/Acculturation

One of our core founding principles is to support individuals and families struggling with the challenges of adapting to a new culture, acculturation and adjustment to a new cultural environment while honoring their cultural heritage and supporting their mental health. Our awareness and advocacy of the trauma of immigration we support clients in achieving integration and resilience in their new environment.

Specialties include: An Immigration Evaluation adds tremendous value to an immigration case. They are critical in detailing a client's mental health, trauma history, and compelling reasons for leaving their country of origin. Through my work with immigrants and their families, I conduct evaluations to assist with the immigration process. I've conducted evaluations for a wide range of immigration cases, including asylum and extreme hardship waivers.

I have worked for many years life changes especially with the immigrant community and 2nd generation youths who may have recently arrived or came to this country.

I have the experience not only of having, myself, lived and worked in other countries in my adult life, but of having worked with refugees, immigrants, dislocated peoples, expats living abroad, and persons who have returned to their country of origin, as well as, those unable to return to the country of origin. I have an existential and person-centered non-pathologizing lens through which each person's lived experience is honored and is at the core of the therapeutic relationship.

In addition to providing therapy, I also conduct Immigration Psychological Evaluations to assist individuals and families in their immigration process. If your attorney suggested that you obtain a report from an immigration evaluation therapist, you’ve come to the right professional. I have worked with individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and I’m experienced in conducting psychological assessments.

I completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship at RAMS, Inc., a community mental health agency in San Francisco, California. As part of my work at RAMS, I completed clinical rotations at the Comprehensive Crisis Center, PAES Vocational services, and an outpatient clinic. The didactic part of my training at RAMS focused on cultural competency, which has been an essential part of my clinical work with first-generation immigrants in psychotherapy.

Many of my clients are first or second generation citizens, or working here with a green card. Immigration/Acculturation is not usually the reason someone seeks therapy with me, but it underlies almost every conversation.

Together we will explore issues of home, belonging, and identity, as well as cultural expectations, individuality, and choice.

I specialize in exploring the unconscious impacts of immigration and acculturation. I help clients navigate the emotional complexities of identity, belonging, and cultural integration, uncovering how early experiences and internalized cultural conflicts shape their current struggles. Through this process, we work to integrate past and present, fostering a sense of self that honors both heritage and personal growth.

Historical/Intergenerational Trauma Racial Identity Family Conflict

As an immigrant, I can relate to your experience. I have worked with immigrants and their families through all of my training. I look forward to hearing your immigration and acculturation story. I continue to stay on top of immigrant and racial issues in our country so that I can help individuals from various races and religions as they navigate through their racial identity, immigration story, and the challenges that they face.

I bring a deeper understanding of immigration and acculturation issues through my own experience. I have a lived experience of being from an immigrant family, and navigating the intricate balance between personal, familial, cultural, religious, and national values. I work to create a safe and understanding space for clients to explore their own identities and how they would like most to authentically live them in their current lives.

I am an immigration evaluation therapist who has been conducting immigration evaluations since 2015. At this time, I offer immigration evaluations for the following types of cases: Hardship, Cancellation of Removal, Removal of Conditions, VAWA (for men and women), and U-Visa. I offer evaluations for clients located in the following states: Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and South Carolina.

I am a bilingual therapist fluently in English and Mandarin. I am familiar with culturally competent therapy and service. Born and raised in Taiwan, I have worked and clinically trained in the U.S in various Asian mental health setting including hospital outpatient department, community mental health clinic, school-based mental health services, and private practice. As an Asian American psychotherapist, I naturally connect with immigration and acculturation issues that clients experience.

I have experience working with BIPOC individuals navigating racial identity, immigration and acculturative stress. I also have experience supporting clients who identify as navigating multiple cultural identities.

I come from a unique background of spending my early childhood in South Korea and navigating the issues of adapting to a new culture after immigrating to the United States. I'm also passionate about raising awareness about the importance of therapy and destigmatizing mental illness in Asian American communities.

As an immigrant, I understand first hand the challenges one faces around acculturation and assimilation. Going through the immigration process can be scary and the pressure from the society along with family pressure can result in stress while feeling like you don't quite fit in. As your therapist, we will delve deeper around the challenges you face and assist you in feeling confident with yourself and finding healthy ways to cope with potential anxiety that can arise.

As an 1.25 generation Chinese-American (the son of immigrant parents), I have a special interest in using a multicultural approach to support clients who are immigrants or the children of immigrants.