Asian Behavioral Health Network (ABHN)

I believe in the therapeutic frame: a dedicated time and place just for you to talk about whatever is on your mind. People may use the space differently. Some to identify things they wish to change (and what gets in the way of change). Others to better understand loved ones and more deeply understand how relationship pattens get reenacted.

Together, we can look at the pieces and make sense of them. We can be curious about what is coming up for you– in your thoughts, feelings and in your body.

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.

My work as a therapist began in California where I received my M.A. in Clinical Psychology and worked extensively in community mental health since 2010 helping individuals to overcome chronic and debilitating issues. Outside of the therapy space, you may find me spending time outdoors with my husband and our three young children, running for self-care and using music and art as my creative outlets.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board-Approved Supervisor in the state of Texas and have been practicing in the Austin area for over 10 years.

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I am a Pakistani-American Muslim Woman of Color, Texan born and raised, and have learned to take great strength from my bicultural identity. I am bilingual, fluent in both Urdu and English. I believe that identity development is a life-long process – one that connects us to our roots, culture, family of origin, and selves. My own journey to connect to my roots after years of attempting to disconnect from them has shown me how much healing can take place in identifying values and traumas passed down through generations. I have learned that actively working toward incorporating what feels healthy and congruent for me and reconciling what does not has helped me on my ongoing journey toward authenticity and confidence in my identities.

Growing up in a tight-knit Muslim community in Garland, Texas, I am familiar with committed, but unhappy marriages, parent-child conflict, and identity struggles. Being a Muslim in the United States, I know what it can be like to feel different, misunderstood, and even unwanted – and I also know how freeing it can feel to learn to accept yourself fully. These experiences sparked my desire to help individuals and families improve their communication skills and build a shared understanding of love and connectedness both with themselves and their loved ones.

When the day comes when the risk to remain tight in a bud is more painful than the risk it takes to bloom. I stand in awe of your courage to undertake the challenging and life-giving work of therapy.

Together we will explore feelings, thought structures, behaviors, and family patterns; We’ll explore your obstacles as well as your inner strength and resistance.

Our time together will be carved from our common goal of creating a safe space. Here you can experience unconditional acceptance. We will explore the wounded, fragile and vulnerable parts in a safe and healing environment.

I was born and raised in inner-city Dallas as the only child to a Thai-Chinese mother and white American father in a community where not a single other soul looked like me. It was not until my own experience with counseling in college, where I studied Psychology and Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, that I first began to understand who I was and how cultural systems impacted my self-concept and ability to thrive.

When I am not counseling, I love spending time with my partner of 14 years, hanging out with friends and family, traveling, thrifting, streaming TV and film, finding creative outlets for my inner artsy kid, moving my body ecstatically, singing, trying new restaurants, and attempting to satiate my perpetual curiosity anyway possible. You will soon see that I love dopamine dressing, bright colors, and funky jewelry.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), working with teens, college students, and young adults in Austin, Texas.

I am also a proud South Asian, millennial, and child of immigrants (what’s up fellow third culture kids!). Outside of the office, you can find me dancing, trying new desserts, reading short stories or poems, doing puzzles, and connecting with friends and family.

My multicultural, feminist approach is informed by my own life experience growing up as a queer, multiracial woman of color in a bicultural, immigrant household. I spent much of my childhood traveling and living abroad, which has both informed my work and left me with the insatiable desire to wander. I love immersing myself in the richly varied cultures of our world. I practice anti-racism and I stand with Black Lives Matter. I learned early on that our diverse identities, upbringings, languages, traditions, ancestry, and heredity can have a profound impact, and I consider a client’s legacy, life, and intersecting identities when exploring issues and approaches for change. When I am not with clients, I can be found crafting, playing nerdy board games, tending to my plants (the love is real), or plotting my next international adventure. I am so honored to serve all of the clients I do across 32 states nationwide.

I hold the strong belief that people are perfectly imperfect. They are beautiful and spectacular but can also become stuck, unhappy and unable to live a fulfilling life. That’s where I come in.

As a passionate and certified Mental Health Counselor, my experience allows me to understand the best ways to address each client’s needs in an effective manner. I am flexible in my approach and use collaboration as the basis of my therapy.

My approach to therapy is collaborative. Everyone has a unique story and lived experiences. Allow me to enter your world and accompany you in exploring the hurt, or things that make you uncomfortable. I will provide an environment full of warmth and respectful curiosity as you share your story. I will foster a safe and supportive setting for you to explore how your life is deficient, challenged, and/or enriched by your community and cultures of belonging. I will encourage emotional expression in our sessions. Don’t know how? No worries—I will be with you every step of the way.

I offer services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I enjoy working with students, professionals, couples in all stages of a relationship, new mothers, those experiencing life transitions, and those experiencing grief. I am LGBTQIA affirming and sex positive. Additionally, I have a strong interest working with those who struggle with family of origin issues, especially inter-generational conflicts.