Skip links
Asian and Asian American therapist in Los Angeles

Mindy Doan, LMFT

Teen, Adult & Family Therapist

I help teens, adults, and families explore the barriers that block them from living the quality of life they want and deserve. I dedicate my work to create a warm, safe space to rediscover yourself.

Pronouns: She/Her

Location: Arcadia,Burbank,Online

Language: English

Fee: $195

Sliding Scale: Available

Insurance: Can provide superbill for PPO plans

Accepting New Clients: Yes

Populations:

  • Adult
  • Family
  • Teen

Specialties:

  • Anxiety & Stress Management
  • Asian & Asian American Experience
  • Identity
  • Teen & Adult ADHD
  • Trauma & PTSD

I am so glad you are here!

Sometimes asking for help can be difficult or may feel second nature to you. You might wonder, “I want to change but I don’t know what and where to start.” Let me congratulate you on this first step in seeking support. Change starts with a thought, a recognition that you want more for yourself.

In therapy, we will focus on your strengths, where you’d like to see change, uncover the barriers that block your path, and clear the way so you can thrive. My goal as your therapist is to create a warm environment so you can focus on your growth.

Hi! I’m Mindy.

Finding the “right” therapist can feel daunting yet it is the key to create the perfect space tailored for you. How do I do that? Well, allow me to introduce myself to you.

My name is Mindy, and I am from the San Gabriel Valley. I come from a Vietnamese and Chinese family and have lived in both primarily Vietnamese and Chinese communities most of my life. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy with a specialization in trauma. My experience includes working in non-profit organizations, the hospital outpatient program, community mental health, school, telehealth, and in traditional office settings.

Due to my values in community and inclusion, I spent many years working in community mental health settings serving diverse and marginalized populations. From my experience, I gained humility, insight, and motivation in mental health advocacy. I continue to use this awareness to provide education in mental health while empowering others to live a quality life they can be proud of. 

Challenges with Life Transitions, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Identity for Adults and Teens

Whether you are a teenager, young adult, or in late adulthood, you may find yourself struggling with adapting to new stages of your life: entering or leaving relationships, going to college, living independently or returning to your parents’ home, finding a new job. Like growing pains, these transitional periods can be painful and unleash feelings of self-doubt about your capabilities. Together, we will understand the insecurities you experience, identify the strengths, and solidify your awareness of these changes so that you can regain control of your life. 

Anxiety and Depression

You may feel that your emotions get the better of you. Your mind is overrun by cycles of negative thoughts and feelings that prevent you from doing things you once enjoyed or trying new things. “If only I didn’t feel this way,” has become a common thought you say to yourself. While these thoughts and emotions can feel as though they’re never-ending, know that you are not your anxiety and depression. You, a fantastical human being, have qualities outside of the problems you experience.

In working with me, we will find the root of these problems and learn to separate them from you as a person. As your guide and empathetic listener, I will support you in overcoming these overwhelming feelings and help you find the right tools to feel prepared in managing them in the future.

Trauma & PTSD

In experiencing trauma, you may worry others will judge you or that they wouldn’t understand. You may try to carry on without addressing it. You may have normalized it as a common occurrence in your life or community, but it continues to hang over your shoulders affecting you mentally, emotionally, and even physically. An added trauma is feeling you are unable to share this weight with anyone else. Stigma prevents us from knowing that talking about our experiences and pain is a crucial step in recovering from trauma. How you heal varies and can differ from others, but the most important step is that you begin.

Living in a household where verbal, physical, emotional violence were normalized, I recognize that it can feel difficult to identify when the cycle began and stopped. Secondary trauma, a form of indirect trauma that is experienced from another person’s firsthand experience, goes unnoticed. It can start anywhere in childhood with family or caretakers and continue long into your adult relationships with friends, partners, and yourself. It can feel as though the pain will never stop. However, it doesn’t have to remain this way and you don’t have to walk alone.

Healing from trauma is like cleaning out a wound. It can be scary and painful but necessary in preventing infection. If done with proper care and attention, you might find that the pain will ease, the wound will scar, and that you’ll be able to look at it and think, “It doesn’t hurt me like it did before.” Let’s look at this wound together so we can begin the healing process.

Asian and Asian American Therapy

As a second-generation Asian American, I understand the pressures of living in two worlds. One world holds the heavy hopes and struggles of parents who traveled a great, arduous journey to provide you with opportunities that were not available to them. As listeners of these narratives, we are left open to experience secondary trauma, a form of indirect trauma felt through the traumatic experiences of others. The other world contains your dreams to live wholly without feelings of guilt or resentment towards the life carved out for you by family or stereotypes.

We want to belong yet our experiences in both of these worlds can feel at odds with each other. In creating a bridge between these cultures, we can rebuild our connection to the world and ourselves through understanding our cultural identity and their influence on our sense of belonging. In your story, you get to decide who you are.

Geek Culture

At a young age, I enjoyed a lot of things that were out of the norm. I grew interested in anime, manga, video games, and cosplaying during a time when these things were not as popularized as they are now. At the time, kids like me were bullied or shamed by peers and adults for enjoying these modes of entertainment as being “dorky,” “nerdy,” or “geeky.” As an adult, I rediscovered my enjoyment of geek culture and found a sense of community that were not available a decade ago.

If you struggle fitting in or would rather connect with others who align with your hobbies, I’m here with you. Geek culture is open and accepting of your interests. After all, they make life that much more fun and imaginative. Together we will create a new, adventure-filled story where the main character is you.

What Therapy Looks Like With Me?

Therapy is an individualized process with no set expectations for your healing. In therapy with me, you are the expert, and I am the empathetic listener. We will find the things that make you unique and strong and look at imperfections with curiosity and compassion. We will find and practice techniques to help you create a toolset of skills to manage stressful situations.

As your therapist, I will meet you where you are whether this is your first time in therapy or you’re a veteran. I take several approaches to guide our treatment, including strengths-based, trauma-focused, and narrative therapy. You’ll notice that I strongly highlight your resilience, ways you’ve overcome past struggles, and help you identify positive traits about yourself. In creating a new narrative, you will craft a new introduction of your life’s story that includes your hardships and an opportunity to allow your positive traits to shine.

Wherever you are in your journey, I am here to listen. Contact me to find out how to get started. I look forward to meeting you soon!

Registered California Board of Behavioral Sciences Number: LMFT 132962