Hello! My name is Lily. I’m proud of you for being here today!

I am a second-generation Vietnamese American, and I was raised in Southern California. I also identify as queer and neurodivergent. I was diagnosed with ADHD-Inattentive in my early 20s, but I have been neurodivergent for my entire life. While I didn’t have a formal diagnosis as a kid, I already understood at a very young age that the way that I thought and saw the world was different. When looking for my first therapist, I realized that there was a distinct lack of mental health professionals who shared the same identities that I did. I pursued a career in mental health because I wanted to become the therapist that I wish I had when I was younger. 

During my years as a student, I spent my time learning from and working with other students with disabilities. Through this invaluable experience, I learned the importance of allowing people to define their own identities. As I continued working with neurodiverse clients individually (eg: ADHD, Autism, Trauma-based disorders, GAD, and more), I was able to witness the power of having a safe space that celebrates individuality with each client I saw. 

I aim to provide a judgment-free zone that will allow you to build on your strengths, overcome obstacles, and break down long-held beliefs that no longer serve you. 

Working With Me

As a clinician, I center a cultural humility approach. I will ask you about your identities and what they mean to you. Your experiences are unique, and your history shapes who you are. I will provide a non-judgmental space where you can feel safe and comfortable exploring how your history affects your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Therapy with me is client-centered. We will talk about the experiences that you want to process and work towards the goals that you set for yourself. Your ideas are a priority to me, and I want to help you achieve the future that you envision.

Therapy for ADHD & Neurodivergence

ADHD can feel exhausting emotionally and physically. Regulating emotions, maintaining focus, and finding motivation can all be incredibly difficult. Furthermore, ADHD and Neurodivergence can present differently in different people. There is no one-size-fits-all solution that works for everyone. 

My approach to therapy is client-centered and symptom focused. Together, we will focus on how neurodivergence affects your life and how we can mitigate the parts that are not serving you. We will find tools, skills, and strategies to work with your brain and improve your daily life. We will also process trauma in relation to neurodivergence, reduce negative self-talk, and build confidence so you can approach life with your best foot forward. 

As someone who is neurodivergent, it can feel like the world is actively working against you sometimes. The combination of rejection sensitivity and emotional dysregulation can make navigating social situations difficult. Identity shifts with late diagnoses can feel overwhelming. My role as a therapist is to give you the space you need to grieve, process, unlearn shame, and move forward.

Therapy for Trauma

Trauma can be extraordinarily painful, whether it happened recently or several years ago. It can happen as a result of a single incident or several incidents over a long period of time. Trauma can shape the way that you see the world and experience life in the present. Trauma can trap you into cycles of fear and doubt, sprouting and branching into every facet of your life. Long-term trauma can impact your development and shape the way that you perceive events in your life and your interactions with other people. At times, it can feel isolating and limiting. Other times, it can produce knowledge, empathy, and understanding for those in similar situations. There is more than one way to process trauma. 

I aim to create a space where clients can process their trauma at their own pace and in their own way. We process how current behaviors manifest from past trauma and break harmful cycles using methods from CBT, DBT, and ACT. We may also explore how trauma impacts daily living through higher levels of executive dysfunction or difficulty with emotional regulation.

Therapy for Anxiety

Anxiety can manifest as overthinking, decision paralysis, and emotional overwhelm. However, it can also manifest as physical symptoms like stomach aches, headaches, and shortness of breath. It can lead to avoidance and make it difficult to live in the present. 

From my experience and understanding, anxiety often stems from the unknown and the lack of a definitively known result. It is often bolstered by past experiences and traumas that seem to validate the anxious thoughts. There is no “correct” way to mitigate anxiety and everyone is different. Together, we may explore the anxiety triggers and how to manage or mitigate the symptoms when the anxiety occurs.

Therapy for Gamers

I remember the joy I felt when I played Pokemon Pearl for the first time on the Nintendo DS. Immersing myself in the game’s story helped me escape the hardship that I was facing in the outside world. It helped me connect with others, build community among friends, and it helped make living day to day a little easier.

As I grew older, I began playing competitive games. Through this experience, I realized what it meant to be a woman in gaming. I faced prejudice and sexism from other players solely based on my gender identity. I witnessed people lose opportunities or face harassment due to their gender identity or presentation. I completed my graduate capstone on the effects of gender identity on sexual harassment in competitive video games because of what I experienced and witnessed. 

Games and the gaming community can be a source of overwhelming joy and connection, but it can also be a source of pain and dissonance. During times of hardship, it can be a temporary escape from reality. A fictional character’s story can create a ripple effect that causes us to change and evolve as people. Whether it’s a desire for connection or a longing to heal from an emotional wound– I would be honored to work alongside you to help you move forward.

Seeking help takes a lot of courage, and I am proud of you for taking the first step. It would be my honor to walk alongside you on this chapter of your life.

Registered California Board of Behavioral Sciences Number: ASW 133071

Supervised by Jessie Li, LMFT 102623