Services
- Individual
- Adolescent/Teen
- Group
About My Clients
Brene Brown says: "If we really want to live a joyful, connected, and meaningful life, we must talk about things that get in the way.” For people who come from families of color, particularly Asian and Latinx families, talking about generational trauma is taboo. Your pain is valid. You do not have to ignore or forgive them, "because they're family." When we sit down for therapy, I am here to listen, empathize, and help you heal.
My Background and Approach
I work with teens and adults experiencing communication and relationship problems due to trauma, abuse, or domestic violence. To do this, I follow the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model to help clients identify unhelpful/negative thinking styles, establish neutral and positive reframes, raise social-emotional awareness, and build conflict resolution skills. I practice from a trauma-informed perspective which means I will always accept you for who you are and listen or ask questions in a non-judgemental way to help you change harmful narratives about yourself. Survivors of trauma often struggle with harmful narratives about their situation that was either told to them by others or by themselves. If you've ever thought something like "If I try to leave, they won't let me" or "I can't tell them how I feel" then you know what I mean. Those harmful narratives are precisely what I'm trying to help you change so you can find your voice and end toxic relationships.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I believe that defining one's identity is a highly individualized process which can't be forced upon anyone. Identity has several key parts including, but not limited to, gender, ethnicity, and spirituality. As a therapist, I have supported many people exploring their gender identity and have been told things like, "Rob, you're the only therapist who didn't think my gender identity was a diagnosis." There are times when such a diagnosis is requested, like when a client wants their insurance to cover the cost of a surgery which will help them feel more comfortable in their own skin, and in those cases I will work with you to ensure that's what you want. I've found diagnoses like Gender Dysphoria often do more harm than good, but I'm always willing to work with my clients to achieve their goals. At one point, homosexuality was also considered a mental disorder. These are just 2 examples of how the mental health field needs more progressive minds; and I'm proud to say I'm one of them!