I’m a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW, LMSW-C) offering individual therapy for adults in New York (where I’ve spent most of my adulthood) and Michigan (where I grew up).

As an Asian American growing up in predominantly white spaces and circles, I felt out of place from a young age. Being a quiet introvert whose name most people mispronounced or made fun of didn’t help. I was a pretty anxious kid who lacked the language to understand or express how I felt. It took time (years!) and good therapy to discover, accept, and appreciate who I am. With that lens, I strive to be curious, accepting, culturally humble, and anti-racist. I chose social work as a profession because of its core principles — perhaps most of all: respect for everyone’s inherent dignity and worth.

With extensive experience in advocacy and public service in NYC, I’ve spent most of my professional life working to make policy, programs, and human services better, more trauma-informed, more accessible, and less oppressive for people facing various “-isms” tied to their intersecting social identities. This work focused on mental health and evidence-based treatment; child welfare, family preservation, and custody; juvenile justice reform; education and disability rights; services for the unhoused; and LGBTQIA+ / TGNBI advocacy.

Weathering the COVID-19 pandemic pushed me to reevaluate my priorities and path. I had a respectable career in government, but each advancement led me further from why I became a social worker in the first place. This reflection helped me pivot back to supporting people on a deeper level and on my own terms. It’s an honor to connect with such remarkable people on their own journeys of healing, growth, and self-discovery.

I have a master’s degree in clinical social work, with a minor in law, from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan.