ABOUT ME
Philosophy
Psychotherapy is a creative process where one strives for personal growth, a place where one is nurtured and finds courage for change.
Although some clients seek help because they desperately want someone to explain what is “wrong” with them, here they are guided on a journey to discover their strengths and wellness rather than pathology. We collaborate to build within and outside our sessions. We think systemically. On any given day, we may move around and experience how our bodies orient us. Art is always on the menu, especially with children.
Experience
I am a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in mental health. My area of focus is in trauma, grief, attachment, and relationship issues. I have been in private practice in Fort Collins since 2001, serving adults and children aged 12 and up.
As a native of Hong Kong, I grew up bilingual in a society with Chinese cultural tradition dynamically infused with western influence. There I worked as a social worker before pursuing my Master in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
My post-graduate career started with psychiatric care in one of the most fast paced municipal hospitals in New York. While I was familiar with diagnostic assessment, including assigning medical labels, I became increasingly convinced that healing does not occur by eliminating symptoms but through a process of growth. I moved on to work in outpatient counseling at a private, non-profit agency as the lead therapist for their sexual abuse program.
The path of being a professional caregiver can only be sustainable through ongoing inspiration. While I benefit from continuous formal education, my breath of fresh air arises from the practice of yoga, a morning run, making art or by simply being in the mountains. My two wonderful daughters serve as my best teachers, especially in the art of listening.