Therapist & Clinical Social Worker specializing in trauma, grief, RELATIONSHIPS & MULTICULTURAL therapy
Canh Tran, MSW, LICSW
Heal Your Past To Make Peace With Your Present
ONLINE THERAPY IN WASHINGTON STATE & CALIFORNIA
For adults (21 years old+) and couples/dyads
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Hi, I’m Canh.
I work with three types of clients:
1) Those who want to heal from childhood trauma, abuse, grief, loss and neglect
2) Those exposed to trauma as a result of their jobs such as caregivers, healthcare workers, clinicians, and first responders who want to process secondary & vicarious trauma, grief & loss, and burn out.
3) Those who have healed and are healing from trauma and loss and want to focus on post-traumatic growth issues such as personal growth, secure attachment, improving self esteem, identity shifts, unconditional self love, acceptance, trusting themselves, and making meaning from their past.
You’ve tried traditional talk therapy before and want something different.
I offer somatic and experiential therapy.
You’re seeking a direct therapist who will challenge and interrupt you, so you don’t vent the entire session.
You’re seeking an active therapist who will talk with you in session like a real human being. I curse and laugh.
You’re seeking somatic therapy to embody the changes you want because you’ve been living in your head.
While talk therapy helps most people, for some clients, they found it ineffective and unhelpful.
Many clients have told me:
Their therapists were warm and gentle, listening to them without consistent feedback, guidance, support, and/or challenge
Their therapists were more passive in the therapy room and they wanted a more relational, casual, back and forth relationship in session
Their therapists focused too much on therapy talk/speak and intellectualizing, and they wanted to understand things in a practical manner
Taught them practical skills like mindfulness & deep breathing, but they wanted to learn how to actually implement or integrate their learnings outside of session
Their therapists sympathized with them, but weren’t able to fully empathize with them and their experiences (e.g. notice micro changes in tone or inflection, notice when sensations/emotions emerge)
Their therapists were good at summarizing, reflecting or repeating words back to them, but weren’t able to connect the dots or patterns to their long term issues
While talk therapy, active listening, and supportive therapy is helpful for most clients, I believe there are some clients who require more than listening and support.
These clients usually need help with:
Attachment or developmental trauma and/or neglect
Anxiety & depression
Low self esteem
Guilt & toxic shame
Chronic, ongoing, repetitive relational patterns/dynamics
Codependency & anxiety
Rigidity & perfectionism
Fear of intimacy & pushing others away
Fear of conflict & fawning/appeasing
Pushing down emotions/emotional suppression
Intellectualizing
Projection
Rationalizing
Dissociation
Shutting down and going numb
Staying busy and distracting
Personality restructuring/reorganizing
Disorganized attachment
Psychological defenses, survival mechanisms, tactics, mechanisms and protectors
False self vs. true Self
Limited emotional capacity to feel and sense
Lower self-concept and self -efficacy
Nervous system regulation
Dissociation and detachment
Avoidance, protectors, and/resistance
Self reliance to a fault
Fear & terror
Secondary gains
Over working
Over exercising
Over eating
Problematic behaviors, substance misuse, and addictions
There are other approaches to therapy that are effective for where talk therapy has not been helpful, specifically:
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
Mentalization Based Treatment
Ego States Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and
Somatic Experiencing
These modalities are generally more 1) Directive, active, and intensive, or 2) Slower, embodied, and emotional, requiring client vulnerability, motivation, effort, collaboration, honesty, and outside practice.
This is not the sort of therapy where you can show up to and expect the therapist to do all the work.
I require your effort, participation, motivation, and engagement each and every session.
We will intensely practice and have a different experience with your thoughts and feelings in session together, working as together as a team to achieve your goals.
You will feel emotional pain and discomfort in and outside of session.
Think of this like going to the gym for your brain. We will push you, but not too much
I believe the best therapy for you is the one we create together, taking into account your preferences, personality, culture, as well as my skill, experience, and variety of therapeutic techniques.
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You’re looking for long term solutions to long term issues.
While there are no quick fixes or solutions for long standing issues, there is hope.
I work best with clients who have tried talk therapy before for months/years, and want something more active, engaged, practical, and dives deeper into your issues.
I blend talk therapy, somatic therapy, spirituality, Buddhist psychology, mindfulness, the importance of relationships & emotions, mother nature, and cultural wisdom/ways of being and knowing into my practice.
One therapy modality will not be effective for every issue and every person.
Complex issues require complex solutions.
As a therapist, I also incorporate roles such as teacher, guide, facilitator, coach, and cheerleader when necessary.
At my core, my eclectic approach blends:
Trauma informed and trauma specific therapy
Understanding of impacts of stress and trauma on human development and functioning using EMDR, IFS, SE, Ego States, ACT, AEDP & EFT
Parts/IFS/Ego States work/Structural Dissociation theory
To help integrate fractured/disconnected aspects of ourselves
Relational Psychoanalytic Theory, Psychodynamic Therapy & Object Relations Theory
Impacts of early childhood and cultural upbringing and environment, enactments, splitting, attachment, mentalizing, projective identification & the unconscious
Somatic/Mind-Body Connection
Relational Therapy
Attunement, relational patterns/dynamics, family roles, corrective experiences, self disclosure, repairing after ruptures/conflicts, and
Experiential techniques
Mindfulness, gestalt, psychodrama, guided imagery, self reflection, nature
You can learn more about my approach by clicking here.
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I love learning.
I regularly attending trainings in the areas of: grief, anxiety, somatic/mind-body therapy, trauma recovery, multicultural therapy, attachment, and relationship issues.
My entire career of 8 years has been spent deepening skills and knowledge in trauma recovery, PTSD, CPTSD, complex trauma, developmental trauma, childhood abuse, emotional neglect, and attachment issues.
As of 2024, I am deepening my knowledge in facing our own mortality, death, grief, loss, somatic therapy, and dissociation.
As of 2025, I am reading foundational texts on Psychodynamic Therapy & Relational & Intersubjective Psychoanalysis.
I also regularly attend my own personal therapy (with pauses/breaks as needed to integrate), engage in peer and professional clinical consultation, and take time off so clients can receive the best care possible and for me to sustain my work long term due to the occupational hazards of being a therapist.
EDUCATION
University of California, Post-Master’s Fellowship (Counseling & Psychological Services & Social Services)
University of Washington, Master of Social Work (Mental Health Concentration)
University of Washington, Behavioral Health Fellowship
University of Texas, Bachelor of Arts
ADVANCED TRAININGS & EDUCATION
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Levels 1 & 2 & IFIO Basic Trained For Couples/Dyads
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Levels 1 & 2
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship For Couples/Dyads & Emotionally Focused Individually Therapy (EFIT) Levels 1 & 2
Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) Couples/Dyad Therapy Levels 1 & 2
Gottman Couples/Dyad Therapy Level 1
PRATI Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
MAPS (now Lykos) MDMA Therapy for PTSD Training Program
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Basic Trained
Somatic Psychedelic Facilitator Certificate - The Embody Lab
Somatic Experiencing (SE) For Trauma Resolution (Completed up to Advanced Level 1; Anticipated Completion of 3-Year SEP Credential Winter 2027)
Trauma-Informed Care Training Certificate: Working with Female Survivors of Violence
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Psychodynamic Therapy & Object Relations Theory
Fundamentals of Clinical Hypnosis (Level 1)
Level I: The Complexities of Complex Trauma - International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD)
Death Doula/End of Life Education and Planning Training
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Anticipated 2027 Trainings
Somatic Experiencing for Trauma Resolution - Advanced Level 2 (36 hrs)
Prolonged Exposure (PE) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (14 hrs)
Advanced EMDR Training
Approaching Phase Two Differently with Clients With Complex Trauma
Helpful Strategies in the Reprocessing Phases for Clients with Complex Trauma in EMDR Therapy
Comprehensive Four Blinks Version of Flash Training
What Does It Mean To Queer EMDR Therapy?
EMDR Therapy & LGBTQ+ Experiences
Clinical Perspectives On Conducting EMDR Remotely
Working With Dissociation In An Online Environment
The EMDR Approach to Trauma: Intro to Adaptive Processing
Advanced IFS Training
6 Tools For Better IFS Therapy Integration
Using IFS With Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Creating an Inner Healing Circle of Protectors in IFS Therapy
Difficult Protectors as our Heroes
Distinguishing Self-Like Parts From Self-Energy in IFS Therapy
DBT 4 Module Skills Seminar: Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness & Distress Tolerance (10 hrs)
Post Traumatic Growth for Mental Health Professionals (3 hrs)
In Depth Self Care, Secondary Trauma & Burn Out Training
Compassion Fatigue: Running on Empty
Rooted in Compassion: Harm Reduction in Action
The Ethical Mandate for Provider Self Care
Holding Space While Staying Grounded: In-Session Support for Clinician Self-Regulation
Strong Developmental Networks and Mentorship: Early and Mid Career Considerations
Building a Resilient Clinician
Honoring the Dignity of Risk: How Autonomy Drives Growth and Healing in Clinical Care
Ethically Creating and Nurturing Clinician Wellness
Fuel Your Fire: Empowering Self-Care for Mental Health Professionals to Prevent Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
Beyond Bubble Baths: Self-Care in Modern Times
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2026 Trainings
WBCP Psychoanalytic Fellowship Program (24 hrs)
Somatic Experiencing for Trauma Resolution - Advanced Level 1 (36 hrs)
Introduction to NARM® Webinar: The NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) for Healing Attachment, Relational & Developmental Trauma (1 hr)
Working with the Earliest Forms of Developmental and Complex Trauma: Understanding the NARM® (NeuroAffective Relational Model®) Connection Survival Style (1.5 hrs)
Level I: The Complexities of Complex Trauma - International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) (30 hrs)
7-Day Mindfulness and Liberation Meditation Retreat – Foundations of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (21.5 CEU hrs)
5-Day Meditation Retreat -Befriending Mortality: Mindfulness of Death (Maraṇasati) Practices to Cultivate Insight, Presence, Compassion, and Meaning (15 CEU hrs)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (50 hrs)
Transforming Resistance - 6-Month Seminar in Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) (18 hrs)
The Psychotherapy Institute - An Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) Weekly Study Circe (25 hrs)
In Depth Trauma Training (40 hrs)
Delivering Death Notification with Compassion and Professionalism
All Eyes on DV: Developing a Multi-Disciplinary Perspective of Domestic Violence
Am I Crazy? The Ramifications of Gaslighting and Its Impact of Survivors
Immigration: Trauma and Grief
Anger and the Nervous System: Residual of the Fight/Flight System - The Work and Role of the Therapist
Through the Looking Glass: A Fresh Perspective on Cultural Competency and Working with Survivors from Diverse Communities
Trauma and Our Nervous System
Therapeutic Yoga for Overcoming Trauma
Highlighting Online Romance Scam Victimization in the United States: Insights and Implications
Healthy Sexuality After Abuse: Inviting Your Body to Something Different
Examining BDSM, Consent, and Non-Consensual Sexual Sadism
But Isn't He Still a Good Dad? DV Offender Manipulation Tactics During Post-Separation
Building Abuse & Trauma-Informed Faith Communities
Navigating Grief and Building Resilience for Families
From Harm to Healing: Trauma Informed Care for Religious Wounds
Healing-Centered Safety Planning with Immigrant Survivors
Understanding Complex Trauma and Repeated Sexual Victimization
Reclaiming the Holidays: Coping with Grief and Trauma
Trauma Informed Care
Bad to the Bone: The Interconnectedness of Pet Abuse, Partner Abuse, and Child Abuse
Confidence in Court
Post-Separation & Post-Divorce Abuse: When Getting Out Isn't the End of Abuse
The Link Between Serial Killers and Violence Against Women
Sexual Assault Prevention, Support, and Resources in Higher Education
DARCC’s Approach to Enhance Trauma Informed Care for Survivors of Sexual Violence
Empowering Communities through Education: A Comprehensive Approach to Preventing Sexual Violence
2025
Death Doula/End of Life Education and Planning Training (40 hrs)
Fundamentals of Clinical Hypnosis (Level 1) (25 hrs)
Somatic Experiencing for Trauma Resolution - Intermediate Levels 1, 2 & 3 (72 hrs)
Grief /End of Life Training
Exploring the Complexities of Grief (2 hrs)
Intro to Perinatal Loss: The Presence of an Absence (2 hrs)
Perinatal Loss and Prolonged Grief Treatment (1 hr)
Immigration: Trauma & Grief (1 hr)
Loss, Grief, and Domestic Violence: The Power of Transformation (2.5 hrs)
Loss of Autonomy: Working With Differently-Abled Individuals (1.5 hrs)
Nutrition and Hydration Near the End of Life (1 hr)
Advanced Cancer and End of Life (1 hr)
Perspectives on Cultural Considerations in Goals-of-Care Conversations (2 hrs)
Embrace, Engage, Empower: Cultural Awareness in End-of-Life (1 hr)
Advanced Lung Disease: Prognostication and Role of Hospice (1 hr)
Veterans Nearing the End of Life: Distinct Needs, Specialized Care (1 hr)
Trauma and Dissociation/CPTSD Informed Internal Family Systems (IFS) - A 5-Day IFS Retreat With Joanne Twombly (32 hrs)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) (14 hrs)
Narrative Therapy Training (12 hrs)
Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (6 hrs)
2024
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 2, Deepening & Expanding (42 hrs)
Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) Basic Training For Couples/Dyad Therapy (72 hrs)
Somatic Experiencing for Trauma Resolution - Beginner Levels 1, 2 & 3 (72 hrs)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Workshop - Shame & Guilt (2 hrs)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Workshop - Chronic Pain (2 hrs)
Somatic Psychedelic Facilitator Certificate - The Embody Lab (32 hrs)
Psychedelic Education Certificate (MDMA, Psilocybin, Ketamine, and 5-MeO-DMT) - Psychedelic Support (20 hrs)
Trauma-Informed Care Training Certificate: Working with Female Survivors of Violence (40 hrs)
7-Day Silent Retreat: Befriending Mortality: Living An Awakened Life Through Mindfulness of Death
Cultivating Focused Attention: An Intensive 7- Day Mindfulness Retreat for Mental Health Professionals
7- Day Silent Meditation Mettā Retreat: Teachings and Practices to Cultivate a Wise, Compassionate, and Responsive Heart
Mentalizing and Mentalization-Based Treatment with Adults (MBT Adult): An Introduction (6 hrs)
General Psychiatric Management (GPM) for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) (6 hrs)
Clinical Supervision Training: (Almost) Everything You Need to Know (18 hrs)
2023
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1 (72 hrs)
PRATI Foundational Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Training (30 hrs)
MAPS (Now Lykos) MDMA Assisted Therapy Training (30 hrs)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (14 hrs)
Introduction to Military Culture, Families and Deployment (6 hrs)
Overview of Military Service-Related Behavioral Health Challenges (7 hrs)
2022
Psychobiological Approach to Couples/Dyad Therapy (PACT) Level 1 (30 hrs)
Psychobiological Approach to Couples/Dyad Therapy (PACT) Level 2 (30 hrs)
Transforming Resistance - Yearlong Seminar in Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) (18 hrs)
Mental Health Suicide in 2022: An Update for Professionals (6 hrs)
Socratic Dialogue: A 4-Stage Model of Discovery (1 hr)
2-Day Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Training - PESI (12.5 hrs)
In Depth Trauma Training (27.5 hrs)
Healing from Childhood Trauma (3 hrs)
Trauma and Couples Therapy: Treading through Contentious Waters (3.5 hrs)
Trauma Informed Care (3 hrs)
The Neurobiology of Trauma (1.5 hrs)
How Deep Does Pain Go?: The Impact of Violence Across
One's Lifespan (4 hrs)
The Elephant in the Room: Interventions to Treat Trauma (3 hrs)
Joy and Sorrow in the Same Cup: Addressing Grief, Loss & Trauma in Adoption (1.5 hrs)
Trauma Informed Responses to Sexual Violence (1.5 hrs)
Life After Death: Overcoming Childhood Trauma (1.5 hrs)
The Impact of Childhood Trauma Across the Lifespan (3 hrs)
Exploring the Complexities of Grief (2 hrs)
2021
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Level 2, Essential Skills (80 hrs)
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) Levels 1 & 2 (24 hrs)
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) (12 hrs)
Seeking Safety Training (Substance Use & PTSD) (6 hrs)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills: Introduction (12 hrs)
Community Resiliency Model (CRM) (6 hrs)
Attachment Injury Resolution Model (AIRM) (12 hrs)
NICABM - The Treating Trauma Master Series: A 5-Module Series on the Treatment of Trauma (10 hrs)
2020
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship (28 hrs)
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (27 hrs)
All Patients Safe: Suicide Prevention for Medical Providers (6 hrs)
2019
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Level 1 Immersion (30 hrs)
Trauma Informed Care & Practical Approaches To Managing Trauma Responses In Eating Disorder Treatment (12 hrs)
Mindful Self-Compassion Core Skills Training (22 hrs)
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Boot Camp/Immersion (32 hrs)
2018
Motivational Interviewing Skills (MI) Training (12 hrs)
Gottman Couples/Dyad Therapy Level 1 (12 hrs)
Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA) (14 hrs)
Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk: Core Competencies for Mental Health Professionals (6 hrs)
Essentials of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) (5 hrs)
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I work with clients who are committed to therapy, come to sessions consistently, and are ready to do the hard work of healing in and outside of session.
These clients are often seeking a trauma, anxiety, relationship, and/or grief specialist who is highly trained and skilled with years of experience.
Clients often know after 1 full session with me if this type of therapy I offer is a good fit for what they are seeking.
One of the most important things for prospective clients to know is regarding vacation/time off, especially if they plan on working with me longer term.
I regularly take 6-8 weeks off annually for professional development, training, workshops, and self care to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue due to the intensity of my work.
While I cannot plan in advance, I usually take one week off every 3 months. I will let you know at least 1-2 sessions prior to my time off so you can plan accordingly.
Every few years, I take extended time off/sabbatical (anywhere from 2-4 months off). In these cases, I will offer you 2-3 backup therapists for short-term support, or you are welcome to continue seeing them even after my return if they are a better fit. I will let you know at least 3 months prior to taking extended leave.
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WE MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT IF YOU VALUE:
01. Being Challenged & Interrupted At TImes
Rather than venting every session and have me nod in silence
I believe there is a limit to how much endless validation can help you grow
Most of the clients I see provide me feedback that their previous therapist did not provide them structure and education on therapy, and instead just allowed them to vent without guidance.
Therapy with me is a deliberate process where we will address what you’ve been avoiding gradually. I will provide you ample education and rationale for why we are doing what we are doing, so you don’t feel lost.
02. Are Active In Therapy
Come in with things to talk about, practice skills/tools outside session, open to trying new things.
Therapy works best if the client is motivated, open, and engaged to used the session to confront their challenges so they can grow.
Change is rarely comfortable and pleasant. It is my job to support you with compassion, empathy, and professionalism.
Research shows about 40% of the change from therapy occurs outside of session, is due to client related factors (e.g. personality, motivation), and other systemic and contextual factors (e.g. time, money, home life, support).
Forcing yourself or being forced to attend therapy rarely yields positive results. It’s your decision to decide if therapy will be a helpful tool for you.
03. Direct Communication & Soliciting Feedback
Therapy is most helpful when you communicate with me your disagreements, your requests/wants, and when you give me feedback on what is and isn’t helpful. I’ll do the same.
This is why many clients “ghost” their therapist when there is a disagreement, rupture, or conflict and they end up feeling misunderstood, hurt, or invalidated.
Or at worst, this is why sometimes clients stay in therapy that is ineffective for them longer than they need to due to fear, anxiety, or worries of some sort and wish their therapist could read their mind and address the implicit issues in the room haunting the therapy session.
If you struggle with assertive communication and want to learn this, I can help you.
04. Dialectic or Balance
I try to balance things in therapy:
Balancing validation with challenge
Balancing insight with learning skills
Balancing listening with interrupting
Balancing acceptance with change
Life is a dialectic. Both things and multiple things can be true at the same time.
05. Other Methods Outside of Talk Therapy
Such as mindfulness, experiential therapy, psychodrama, somatic therapy
There is a limit to how beneficial talk therapy can be, especially you are an intellectualizer who values logic, data, theories, and cognizing over emotions, sensations, and experiences
As Steven Hayes states, “Get out of your head and into your body”.
05. The Healing Power of Relationships
We will use our therapeutic relationship as a template for learning new healthy experiences and opportunities for repair and growth
The relationship patterns you struggle with outside of therapy will inevitably show up in our sessions, between me and you.
These challenges give us insight into why you struggle as well as what you need to change and grow into the sort of person you want to be toward meeting your therapeutic goals. We will interrupt these patterns with new experiences and patterns.
Example: If you are a people pleaser, you will most likely use people pleasing strategies in therapy which will get in the way of therapeutic progress. Intervention: People please less and have the option to utilizing assertive communication (vs. passive, passive aggressive, or aggressive communication styles) so you can ask for what you want without guilt.
Example: If you fear conflict, you will most likely try to avoid conflict in therapy, which is impossible because conflicts are a normal part of any relationship. Intervention: Understand the root of why you fear and avoid conflict. Normalize conflict by learning healthy communication, healthy relationships, communication skills, and accessing your emotions and sensations.
Example: If you struggle with feeling, naming, and being aware of your emotions, you will most likely struggle with accessing your emotions in therapy. Emotions are important and provide us data, like thoughts. Intervention: Understand the strategies for why you struggle with accessing your emotions. Slowly build the capacity to feel, name, and express your emotions so you can have a more meaningful life based on connection vs. disconnection.
06. Want to Learn How to Become Your Own Therapist Long Term
My goal is for you to gain insight and understanding into why you do what you do, interrupt unhelpful cycles of sabotage, and learn skills/tools to manage future conflicts
WE MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD FIT IF YOU:
01. Expect Perfection
I’m not perfect, will make mistakes, and will communicate directly when this occurs toward resolution
02. Expect Me To Do All The Work
Examples: Solve your problems, tell you what to do, consistently have to ask you what you want to work on in session, am more curious about you than you are of yourself
03. Cancel Sessions Often
Therapy works best with consistency
04. Don’t Take Accountability
Confronting our shadows require honesty about our humanity and limitations
05. Don’t Liked Being Challenged
Of course, I will be gentle and compassionate, but in my experienee, endless validation is not going to be helpful long term
06. Demand Instant Change Within 3-4 Sessions
While relief can come in a few sessions, long term change requires compassion, practice, patience, and repetition
07. Want to Get Rid of All Your Feelings & Thoughts
Pain is inevitable in life
My goal is for you to learn to accept and manage life stressors, pain, and grief with more compassion, nuance, and acceptance.
If we get rid of painful feelings and thoughts, we also then will have a difficult time accessing joy, love, and peace. What we resist persists.
Moreover, there are things in life that cannot be forgotten, forgiven, or rid of such as the loss of a loved one or traumatic experiences
08. Aren’t Interested in Exploring Your Past, Childhood, or Upbringing
There are other therapists who focus only on the present moment with an emphasis on skill building and generating quick solutions that may be a better fit (CBT, DBT, ACT)
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Clients often come to me after going to a generalist (a therapist that treats a variety/breadth of issues rather than specific, targeted issues).
I specialize in 6 areas:
Childhood Trauma & Neglect/Adults Abused & Neglected as Children
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Growing Up With Emotionally Immature Parents/Caregivers, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Inner Child Work, Parentification, Sexual Abuse, Bullying, Parents/Caregivers With Untreated Mental Health Issues, Dysfunctional Families, Parenting as a Survivor of Trauma & Neglect, Anxiety, Fear, Hyper-vigilance
Physical Death, Traumatic Loss, Ambiguous Loss, Loss of Safety/Time/Trust/Identity/Ability, Separation, Divorce, New Diagnosis/Illness, Facing Our Mortality, Embodied Grief, Grief Rituals & Practices, Tending to Grief
Relationship/Attachment Issues
Couples/Dyadic Therapy, Dating, Loneliness, Low Self Esteem, Intellectualizers, Workaholics, People Pleasers, Over Functioners, Codependency, Avoidants/Counter Dependency, Anxiety
Children of Immigrants & Refugees
Bicultural Identity, Cultural Double Bind, Internal Conflicts, Shame & Guilt, Roles & Responsibilities, Intergenerational Trauma, Migration Stories, Code Switching, War, Grief, Anger, Survival Strategies, First Generation College Students
Self Esteem & Self Improvement Therapy
Self Issues (Self Esteem, Self Worth, Self Love, Self Acceptance, Self Compassion), Belonging & Connection, Identity Development, Core Values, Learning Practical Skills/Tools, Goal Setting, Accountability, Procrastination & Challenging Negative Self-Talk/The Inner Critic, Internalized Oppression, Wounded Healers
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I work with…
Couples/dyads who want to learn assertive communication skills, fight more effectively, and rebuild more intimacy and trust in their relationship
Chronic over thinkers who intellectualize their problems, are self-aware to a fault, and find it hard to connect to their feelings
Those in the midst of a major life transition (becoming a parent, empty nest syndrome, divorce, separation, starting school, changing jobs, new diagnosis, recent loss, etc.)
Men who want to become more aware of their emotional world, increase comfort with vulnerability, and learn to ask for what they want in healthier ways
Those who want to explore their own mortality, discuss the practicality and emotionality around their own death, anxiety/fear of death, and continually mourn their losses and grief
Healthcare professionals, therapists, and social workers who are wounded healers
Those who are exhausted, overwhelmed, burnt out, experiencing compassion fatigue, and want to take better care of themselves
Adults abused as children, emotional neglect, sexual violence/assault, attachment/developmental trauma, and those who grew up in dysfunctional families
Survivors of trauma who are parents who want to parent healthier children and break the cycle of trauma
Immigrants and children of immigrants who want to break unhelpful generational patterns, and break free from guilt
Queer/gay people who want to learn to love themselves unconditionally, feel more at home in their bodies, and unlearn harmful messaging from family, society, and our larger culture
Those seeking exploration of their intersectional identities, processing existential issues, and finding more meaning and value in life
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I want to…
Decrease psychosomatic symptoms caused by emotional stress (e.g. headaches, fatigue, exhaustion, migraines).
Interrupt patterns of self sabotage and self-defeating behaviors (things I do that I know aren’t good for me, yet I keep doing them).
Understand why I do what I do.
Heal from the impacts of trauma, grief, and loss.
Learn how to manage my traumatic triggers and flashbacks.
Learn how to manage stress, anxiety, panic, and overwhelm.
Learn how to be kinder to myself and practice self compassion.
Become more aware, name, express, and feel my emotions.
Learn how to manage overwhelming thoughts and emotions.
Have a more intimate, strong, and robust relationship with myself and others.
Have a space for myself because I usually internalize my thoughts and feelings.
Become more comfortable with vulnerability.
Learn to ask for what I need and when I need help.
Learn direct and assertive communication.
Learn healthy and flexible boundaries.
Work through feelings of shame and guilt.
Increase my sense of Self (confidence, esteem, acceptance, love, compassion).
Find more meaning and value in my life.
Have an outside perspective to my issues.
Integrate psychedelic experiences (Ketamine) to maintain gains and insights.
WHY PEOPLE LIKE WORKING WITH ME
01. Authentic & Honest
Healing requires being real and direct. I’m not a robotic, neutral therapist who sits in silence.
I bring my personality, genuineness, and sense of humor into sessions. Sometimes, I laugh and curse.
Expect me to be professional, straightforward, kind, and compassionate.
02. Challenging & Supportive
You want someone who will ask you the hard questions, challenges you, and offers feedback.
Change often happens at the intersection of discomfort, patience, and repetition.
Please be open to feedback and change if you want your life to be different.
I’ll also be open to learning, flexible, and adaptive.
03.Focus On Long Term Change
You can learn why you do what you do.
We’ll get to the root of your issues so you can feel relief, freedom, and peace, not just stay on the surface level.
You’ll increase self-understanding, acquire practical skills, and reconnect to your true self so you can stop self sabotaging patterns.
My goal is for clients to work me out of a job and stop seeing me.
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A therapist’s years of experience, type of therapist (social worker, psychologist, mental health counselor, etc.) and the type of therapy they practice (CBT, DBT, etc.) matters less than the quality of the relationship you have with your therapist.
Research shows that one of the largest factors for therapeutic success and effectiveness is the relationship between you and your therapist.
Other factors include:
Hope
The client
The therapist
Treatment type/model
Routine feedback/measurement
Attention to diversity, and
Factors outside of therapy such as having stable housing, employment, finances, support, etc.
Read more here.
You should find a therapist you like, find comfortable talking with, and who also has adequate training for your specific issues.
Therapy is much more effective if you have your basic needs met (housing, employment, financial stability/income, food, water, safety, etc.).
While therapy is 1-1 and individualistic, the therapist should attend to issues of diversity, difference, oppression, and systemic issues in session and how they impact mental health and distress.
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My biggest teachers have been in relationships and this is where I learned to grieve, stumble, fall, fail, grow, laugh, celebrate, and thrive.
I am grateful for supervisors, teachers, mentors, femtors, authors, speakers, modalities, trainings, and experiences that have guided me on my professional and professional journey, whether or not I have physically met them.
Authors
Maureen Walker
Toni Morrison
James Baldwin
Ocean Vuong
Therapists & Healers
Ignacio Martín-Baró
Alice Miller
Thích Nhất Hạnh
BJ Miller
Francis Weller
Jacob Ham
Esther Perel
Virginia Satir
Travis Heath
Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Melanie Klein
D.W. Winnicott
Nancy McWilliams
Usha Tummala-Narra
Irvin Yalom
Jeffrey Seinfeld
Supervisors
Kin Ming Chan
Tobirus Newby
Alice Cagampang Ryan
Colleagues
Helen Youngju Kim
Menosh Z.
Georgina Mendoza
Nabilah Khan
Giovanna Torres
Modalities
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Somatic Therapy & The Mind-Body Connection
Buddhist Meditation
Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT)
Object Relations & Attachment Theory
Relational & Intersubjective Psychoanalytic Theory
Psychodynamic Therapy
I Have More Questions
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Of course.
Therapy is not the only way toward healing and growth. Some people never go to therapy and live full and complete lives.
There are many ways to heal and therapy is only one way, but certainly not the only way. You get to decide if therapy is a part of your journey or not.
While it's possible to work on your own personal healing, therapy offers different benefits that may be difficult to achieve on your own.
Talking to a friend, reading books, journaling, mindfulness, meditation, exercise, yoga, smart phone apps, chat GPT, Claude AI, and scrolling through TikTok and Instagram are all tools.
Therapy is another tool.
Therapists provide:
Accountability
Support
A professional perspective
Structure
Confidentiality
Expertise, skills, and training
Forcing yourself or being forced to attend therapy rarely yields positive results.
Don’t go to therapy if you don’t want to. It will be a waste of time, energy, and money without commitment to the process.
It’s your decision to decide if therapy will be a helpful tool for you.
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I like this post and this post on how to find a therapist and how therapy works (sometimes).
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Of course.
Artificial intelligence can be helpful for most people with mild to moderate symptoms and can assist with:
Providing psychoeducation (teaching clients about mental health issues like depression, trauma, and anxiety)
Help with skills/tools implementation such as worksheets, strategies, etc.
Provide support and validation with structured conversations
Generate answers to more basic questions about mental health issues
However, for trauma, grief, and relationship issues, these issues can be more complex, nuanced, intricate, and require human connection.
The type of therapies I practice (experiential, emotion-focused, and attachment/relational focused), rely on:
Noticing subtle, micro movements and changes in your body, posture, breath, and tone of voice
Help you manage your overwhelming thoughts and feelings in real time (co-regulation, attunement)
Challenge you with compassion when I notice you utilizing defenses, protective strategies, and other methods of survival that no longer serve you 100% of the time
Building a strong therapeutic relationship with you in real time based on feedback, respect, curiosity, trust, safety, and empowerment
Repairing and having discussions after a disagreement, conflict, and/or misunderstanding in real time instead of avoiding difficult topics/issues and walking on eggshells
Spontaneity and interrupting you at times if I notice you are doing something that is getting in the way of your healing and growth
Humor, sass, and authenticity, bringing my whole self to session
Witnessing, holding, and containing your pain, wounds, and grief in real time so you can be more seen and held
Offering you a corrective experience you may not have had before instead of repeating the same patterns/dynamics with previous people, including therapists
The clients I work with experience complex trauma, grief, personality functioning issues, relationship difficulties, and multicultural concerns, which inherently require more of a human focus.
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Yes, but it depends.
Research shows about 15 to 20 sessions are required for 50 percent of patients to recover as indicated by self-reported symptom measures.
Therapy Is More Helpful When:
There is a good relationship between client and therapist (personality, temperament, style, approach, feeling understood and validated)
Adequate education, training, and skill needed to treat the concerns
Regular feedback/measurement toward progress
A treatment plan/road map provided
Understanding about what therapy is and is not (expectations, boundaries)
Hope the therapist can help
Hope therapy will be useful/effective
Treatment model/approach/style matches what client concerns need (e.g. you want a therapist who is active, direct, and talks with you vs. someone who nods at you in silence)
Respect for diversity and difference are addressed
The client:
Has goals and what they want to work on
Practices skills/learnings outside of sessions
Brings up positive and negative feedback to the therapist
Comes to session consistently on time
Is open to trying new things and ways of relating and thinking
Read more here, here, and here.
For some people, at best, therapy is ineffective.
At worst, therapy is harmful and contributes more to stressors and an increase in negative symptoms.
This is why it’s important to do your own research, learn about different therapy models, try therapy out for 1-3 sessions, and determine if it’s a good fit for your needs or if you require something else (e.g. coaching, support group, medication, etc.) or a different type of therapy (e.g. equine therapy, expressive arts therapy, sandtray therapy, somatic therapy, etc.).
A list of therapeutic modalities/approaches:
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Because I do not accept insurance, your file/record will be confidential.
You have the right to confidentiality except in certain cases.
These exceptions include:
Imminent harm to self (suicide)
Imminent harm to others (homicide)
Knowledge of child abuse
Knowledge of elder abuse
In these cases, confidentiality can be broken
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You can also see if there are any complaints against your therapist on the websites below.
Washington State
California
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My licenses are below.
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To be a professional (follow ethics, confidentiality, respecting your choices/preferences, treat you with respect and kindness, be direct in my communication)
To be open to feedback and suggestions
To be prompt and on time to session
Honest if I can or cannot help you at anytime and provide a referral to another therapist (e.g. if your symptoms don’t get better, if I learn I do not specialize in an area/issue you bring up)
Honest if I notice repeated unhelpful patterns and dynamics occurring and to directly communicate this with you
Predictability and consistency (sessions at scheduled time, notice when I take time off, providing a backup therapist referral should I be gone for longer than a few weeks)
Flexible in my approach (if something doesn’t work for you, I will adjust as needed)
To provide you with a treatment plan or roadmap of what to expect during our work together
To let you know when I think it is best to stop therapy if you have met your goals, plateaued with me, if I’ve lost objectivity, you’re being harmed in our work, or not getting better in our work
Please note I am not a medical prescriber and do not prescribe psychiatric medication.
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Consider if therapy is the right approach for what you’re seeking vs. other alternatives (coaching, support groups, courses, workshops, retreats, etc.)
Consider if you have the time, money, energy, and effort to invest in and outside of session at this moment in your life
Establish achievable goals and expectations
Consider maximum monthly therapy expenses or if you want to use insurance
Solicit feedback: Be honest about what is helpful, isn’t helpful, and tell your therapist
Come into session with topics you want to talk about/explore
Patience: It may take multiple sessions to feel progress
Compassion: Kindness, not shaming and criticism, helps with fostering long-term growth and change
Carve out time before therapy to prepare and after to take care of yourself gently and slowly and to transition to your next activity with more ease.
Identify what’s most important to you in a therapist (e.g. style, age, personality, cultural background, values, training, fees, insurance)
Ask for clarification and comprehension if you are unsure what your therapist is discussing or bringing up.
Not every therapist will be a good fit. There are many types of therapists with different personalities, approaches, cultural backgrounds, etc. Find someone with whom you feel comfortable talking openly.
For example, if you’re seekng a solution-focused type of therapy, you can consider CBT or Brief Solution Focused Therapy.
If you’re seeking trauma-focused therapy, you can consider PE, CPT, EMDR, IFS, etc.
If you want a more passive therapist who will let you talk without interruption, you can consider person-centered therapy, humanistic therapy, psychodynamic therapy, psychoanalytic therapy.
Read more here (How to Make Therapy Rewarding & Successful).
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My goal is for clients to work me out of a job and stop seeing me.
Therapy has a beginning, middle, and end.
Length of treatment depends on your goals and your ability to invest time and money.
Some clients benefit from brief therapy (1-4 sessions) or short-term therapy (3-6 months) for a single issue.
Other clients benefit from longer-term therapy (6-12 months+) for more complex issues.
Some clients, especially those with a history of complex traumas and multiple childhood attachment ruptures/injuries attend therapy for years.
Others enjoy having a space to continually explore, uncover, and work through their identity, questions, and anxieties.
We’ll end therapy when your goals have been met, your symptoms have decreased, you want space and time to integrate your learning, and/or at anytime you feel therapy isn’t helpful.
Some folks also like to pause and take a break, coming back when necessary.
Note: While I work with some clients long-term, when we approach a new year, I will do the following to make sure treatment is still helpful:
Sending you a review/progress/feedback form
Asking if you have new goals you want to work on
Encouraging you to take time off from sessions to see if you can maintain the gains you’ve made and integrate learnings without seeing me for 1-3 months
Exploring if we have plateaued in our work and things have become repetitive and “meh”
Encouraging you too do adjunctive work with someone else in an area I lack training in
Changing the modality/framework of our sessions (e.g. from more skills based/solution focused to more open-ended and existentially oriented)
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Signs you're progressing in therapy can include but is not limited to:
Gaining insight: learning why you do what you do
You learn skills and tools to manage overwhelming situations and life stressors
You can cope and manage stressors using helpful strategies and rely less on unhelpful survival strategies
Your initial symptoms have decreased
Your mood has improved
You have more flexible ways of thinking
You feel more confident to handle things on your own
You try things outside of therapy and are more able to experiment and take risks you usually avoid
You feel more empowered
And more
Your therapist should have a treatment plan for you.
A treatment plan is an overview of your issues, concerns, goals, and what evidence based interventions and treatment types will help you work toward your goals. This is often completed in the early stages of therapy.
Reviewing your treatment plan periodically can help you see if you've made progress in therapy, as well as identifying barriers toward achieving your goals.
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To be prompt and on time to session
To come to session with a general idea of things/concerns/issues you want to discuss/explore/dive into
To be open to trying new ways of thinking and being
To be honest and direct about your needs/wants
To solicit feedback when things aren’t working
To honor the therapeutic boundaries
To do the work outside of session (practice, practice)
To practice patience and acceptance
To tolerate the hard work of confronting uncomfortable and painful experiences (healing is rarely easy and fun)
To let me know when you think you want to stop or pause therapy, or need another type of therapist/therapy style
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It’s common to feel nervous and stressed about going to therapy, especially if you’ve never gone before.
Human beings are hardwired to avoid pain, discomfort, and the unknown.
Common reasons clients feel unsure about therapy:
Feelings of embarrassment
Discomfort with vulnerability
Stigma around mental health due to cultural norms
Expenses/fees
Fear of being misunderstood
Fear that treatment will not be helpful
Commitment to treatment long term
Past negative experiences with therapists
And more
I’ll ask you questions about your worries so we can alleviate and address your concerns.
There is no “perfect” time to start therapy. We begin where you are at and we move slowly. The hardest part is usually making the first step and reaching out.
Trust times take time to build. We’ll only continue meeting if we both find it helpful and a good fit.
If I’m not a good fit for your needs, there are a variety of therapies and types of therapies available who can help you.
As a therapist who goes to therapy, I still feel nervous at times going to therapy!
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I do not have adequate specialized training & experience with the following populations and issues:
Children
Adolescents
Teens
Families
Psychosis
Sleep issues/insomnia
Mandated/court ordered therapy
Disability evaluations
Forensic evaluations
OCD
Discernment counseling
Sex therapy
No Crisis Services
I can’t take on clients who are actively suicidal and homicidal, active eating disorders, active addiction, and/or problematic substance use due to being a one person practice.
These issues require a higher level of care where you are provided intensive care (e.g. more than an hour once a week).
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True safety is not possible as safety is on a continuum and is complex.
I engage in the following for all clients so therapy can be safer.
Therapeutic Frame & Boundaries
Letting you know up front what to expect in therapy (e.g. risks and benefits to therapy, money, cancellation policy, office location, etc.)
Having flexible and firm boundaries to protect us both
Pacing & Phase Based Approach
Taking a gradual, slow approach to therapy vs. diving right in
Following Judith Herman’s 3 phased/phased based approach to therapy
Asking for Permission & Invitation
Everything I ask you to do in therapy is an invitation or encouragement, but not mandatory
I consistently ask for permission in session to see if you want to explore a particular topic, go deeper into a more sensitive topic, etc. instead of assuming
Ongoing Feedback
I solicit regular verbal and written feedback because I can’t read clients’ minds/assume that therapy is going well
Feedback has been shown to deepen and make therapy more effective
Grounding, Resourcing & Regulation
Teaching you practical skills/tools to manage distress and overwhelm
Teaching you the importance of having a strong foundation in learning to self-regulate/self-soothe
Confidentiality & Its Limits
Letting you know everything is confidential in therapy with the exception of certain areas such as: knowledge of child abuse, knowledge of elder abuse, and imminent harm to self or others
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I use both trauma informed care/therapy and trauma specific therapy.
All therapists should be trauma-informed, whether or not a client is seeking therapy for trauma recovery.
Trauma informed care/therapy means I follow a set of beliefs including:
Shift from “What is wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?"
Recognizes trauma is widespread and occurs often
Focuses on physical, emotional and psychological safety, trusting relationships (safety on a continuum and complex, pacing, gradual process, flexible boundaries)
Patient empowerment (collaboration, asking for feedback, asking for permission)
To avoid active intentional re-traumatization
Not all therapists have trauma specific training.
Trauma specific therapy means I have specific training, education, and skill in working with particular types of traumas including: sexual abuse and assault, childhood emotional neglect, childhood abuse, domestic violence/intimate partner violence, racial trauma/race based discrimination, etc.
These are some of the types of traumas:
Single incident/event trauma or PTSD
Attachment, development, or childhood injuries or traumas
Historical or intergenerational traumas
Identity-based traumas such as racism, homophobia & sexism
This also means I am trained in a wide range of modalities and approaches including: CPT, CBT, EMDR, IFS, Psychodynamic therapy, etc.
I also have in depth training, knowledge, and experience with the following:
Dissociation
Grief and loss
Toxic shame
Emotions like fear, anger, guilt, and sadness
Adult attachment styles
The importance of early childhood experiences
The importance of culture and difference
Defenses/survival strategies/resistance/protectors
Nervous system regulation
How trauma alters the brain
Mind-body connection/soma
Counter transference and transference
Projective identification
Enactments
Secondary or vicarious trauma
Burn out
Compassion fatigue or compassion/empathetic distress fatigue
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The first therapy session is called an intake or assessment.
Your therapist will use this session to learn more about you, gather pertinent information about your life such as your family history, culture, history of your issues/concerns, your strengths, your support system, what you've tried before to alleviate your issues, and more.
You can prepare for your first session by:
Anticipating being asked many questions from your therapist
Reviewing and completing all required paperwork
Arriving a few minutes early
Coming in with a list of questions you may have
Being as open as possible
Talking about your issues and what you're experiencing, and
Reminding yourself you can decline to answer any questions if you don't feel comfortable
If doing teletherapy, ensure you're in a private enclosed space, your internet is stable, proper lighting in your room, logging on and checking your sound, camera, and internet service, and arriving a few minutes early.
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You might cry. Many people do. And it's completely okay.
Crying is a normal, helpful, and natural way for our bodies to release pent-up emotions.
Crying is a way to let go of the pain, sadness, burden, fatigue, or frustration you may be carrying inside.
By crying, you're actually taking a positive step towards healing.
Or you might not cry. And that’s okay too.
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I see clients Mondays - Thursdays virtually for residents of California & Washington.
I have an office in Downtown Ballard. The lease expires September 30, 2026.
I am unsure if I will sublease another office for in person work 1-2 days per week or will move to 100% telehealth.
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I do not accept insurance. This is why.
Click here for referrals for therapists who accept insurance.
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If you are new to therapy and finances are an issue, I recommend finding a therapist who takes insurance or offers a lower fee because finances can create anxiety and stress.
This way, you get to experience therapy with lower financial risk in case it's not a good fit.
I work best with those who have been in therapy prior for months/years and want something different than traditional talk therapy (e.g. “How does that make you feel?”).
The best way to know if we would be a good fit is to:
Browse my website, read through my profile, look through what I specialize in, and watch my videos to get a sense of my personality, and then
Schedule a first session as a 5-10 minute consultation will not be long enough to truly know if we will be a good fit.
I offer an optional 5-10 minute meeting to answer any questions you may have before beginning therapy that isn’t on my website (usually personal in nature) or for a vibe check to see if our personalities mesh well together.
During our first session, I’ll learn more about you, provide you education, a plan for therapy, and we’ll both mutually decide if we should continue working together or if you require another type of therapy or therapist.
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Review my website and watch my videos to see if we might be a good fit.
Click here to get started and begin therapy with me.
Note: There are no guarantees therapy will solve all problems, or how quickly changes will occur. There are no miracle cures, but it improves the odds, particularly if you start early.