My Approach to Helping
Hello, I am a bilingual Vietnamese-English licensed clinical social worker in California with over 20 years of working experience in the mental health field. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, grief & loss, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anger & stress management, familycoupleintimate relationship issues, substance abuse, parenting problems, individuals with special needs, career challenges, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, personality disorder, etc.
My approach to therapy is client-centered, which means that clients are the experts on their own lives and determine the scope and depth of therapy.I use a variety of modalities, which incorporate best practice from Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Behavior Modification, Mindfulness and Relaxation, Reality-Based, Cognitive Behavioral, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused, Short-Term Problem Solving, and Psychoeducation for individuals age eight and up.
In individual therapy, I believe in working in partnership with clients, utilizing their strengths to help them sort out their challenges and achieve their goals. I also realize how important it is to identify all aspects of an individual’s life that impact their well-being, including their physical health, support systems (family, friends), work or school environment, and faithspirituality in this process. I think when people have hope and can learn to challenge and replace irrational thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes, people are free to experience change.
In couple therapy, I strive to create a safe, non-judgemental, and comfortable environment so couples can work together to gain insight into the various contributions to their feelings and problems. We will work on strategies that allow couples to address the root causes of their problems, improve communication skills, build empathy and respect, learn effective problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, and strengthen connection, including intimacy. Very soon, couples will discover things about not only themselves but about each other in order to make changes and propel their relationship forward. As long as each of them is open to sharing as well as accepting what is shared with them, this process of exploring can be highly rewarding, and it will also set up their relationship for success down the road.
Everyone needs courage to take the first step towards change. If you are ready and willing to take this step, I’m here to support and help you.
I’m looking forward to working with you!