My background:

Originally from Guangdong, China, I immigrated to San Francisco as a teenager with my family—an experience that deeply informs my clinical practice. Navigating the complexities of language barriers, acculturation, and the search for identity as a first-generation immigrant allows me to offer a unique level of empathy to my clients. My professional mission is rooted in the belief that exploring one’s 'true self' is a vital part of healing, a process I have personally navigated and now professionally facilitate for others.

As you might notice that my name is in Vietnamese. My parents were Chinese-Vietnamese refugees—often referred to as the 'boat people'—who were forced to relocate in the late 1970s and resettled in China where I was born and raised. My background as an immigrant and refugee, along with my life experiences, led me to choose social work as my career and passion. Today, I use that background to partner with my clients, offering a safe space to explore challenges and provide guidance through life's many transitions.

Education and license:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) #99848

Master of Social Work with concentration on Health/Mental Health, San José State University

Bachelor’s of Art in Social Work, San Francisco State University

Trainings:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained

Social Justice Informed Therapy

Gottman Method Level 1

Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Work experience:

With over a decade of experience navigating the complexities of the Bay Area’s behavioral health systems, I provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy to diverse populations. I am currently providing full-time psychotherapy services via a hybrid model, including in-office sessions in San Francisco and California-wide virtual care.

San Mateo County-Behavioral Health and Recovery Services

I worked full time as a Psychiatric Social Worker with a background in interdisciplinary clinical care and county-wide crisis intervention, where I focused on building rapport and connecting the most vulnerable, marginalized populations to essential behavioral health resources. I also managed a diverse caseload, focused on stabilizing mental health symptoms and improving client outcomes through evidence-based interventions.

UCSF Citywide Case Management

Prior to my work at San Mateo County, I was a Clinical Social Worker at UCSF Citywide Case Management, I provided comprehensive outpatient mental health services tailored to the AAPI community in San Francisco. My clinical scope included individual and group psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and intensive case management for dually diagnosed clients. To ensure holistic care, I coordinated psychiatric medication management, primary care services and facilitated transitions to Acute Diversion Units (ADU) and residential programs to support long-term symptom stabilization for those experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders

Community Youth Center of San Francisco

My commitment to social work is deeply personal. I began my career as a peer leader in San Francisco before transitioning into a role as a Youth and Family Counselor at the Community Youth Center of San Francisco (CYC). These formative years at CYC solidified my passion for advocacy and defined my professional mission to empower underrepresented communities.

Professional Affiliations:

Facilitator for Cultural Humility Training for San Mateo County

Former Co-chair for the Chinese Health Initiative of San Mateo County

Personal interests:

I like to travel as much as I can and I am a foodie. I enjoy listening to music and singing, Pilates, and yoga.