My path into therapy began with my own experience as a client. As someone who immigrated to the United States close to adulthood, I sometimes find myself caught in the in-between, a gray space between two cultures and two languages. I believe this sense of in-betweenness is something many international students and first- or second-generation immigrants know intimately. In my own therapy, I often noticed that certain parts of myself felt more naturally expressed in English, while others could only be captured in Mandarin Chinese. I also know that for many non-native English speakers, some things simply feel easier to say in their second language. This is why I am especially passionate about offering a culturally sensitive, bilingual therapeutic space. 

My undergraduate major was originally in film production, and I have always been drawn to creative self-expression and storytelling. Meanwhile, my interest in bilingualism and language also motivated me to acquire a minor in linguistics. Through my own experience in therapy, through healing and growth, I found myself captivated by the particular kind of linguistic creativity that lives inside therapeutic conversation: the idea that through intuition and skill, one person can genuinely change another's life was almost magical to me. Coupled with my desire to leave a more meaningful impact through a helping profession, I eventually made the decision to transfer my major into Applied Psychology. My film background continues to impact my counseling work: I am especially interested in exploring imagery and symbols in dreams, as well as guiding imagery practices. 

After transferring, I worked at NYU's 1199 College Prep Academy, serving marginalized adolescents from healthcare union worker families. Through this experience, I gained fluency in guiding mindfulness and imagery exercises, as well as applying CBT techniques in coping with academic-related and interpersonal stress. Following graduation, I volunteered at a crisis
intervention hotline, providing de-escalation and emotional support to callers in crisis. Through these clinical experiences, I worked with a wide range of life issues, such as unemployment and intergenerational pressure, and came away with a lived sense of what it means to help someone.