Angela Nguyen, LCSW

Culture affects the ways we interact with others, and the ways we view ourselves and the greater world around us. When you add in additional cultures, it can feel increasingly complicated. You may find yourself feeling like your cultural identities are heavy weights to bear, even if you are proud of them. You may also find that family expectations, language barriers, intergenerational trauma, or immigration histories make your identities feel even more tricky to navigate.

I understand that all of these identities and factors can show up in your experiences. You are welcome and encouraged to bring all parts of you to our sessions. As a Vietnamese-American child of immigrants, I have spent my life trying to walk the fine line of balancing two sets of cultural values. I understand how confusing and exhausting it can be to shoulder familial and societal expectations. Together, we will help you identify your most authentic self and how your cultures can make sense in your life.

The mental and physical stress of harmful or painful experiences can lead to trauma. When we experience trauma, it can overwhelm our ability to cope and significantly impact the way we interact with ourselves and the world around us. You may find yourself struggling with nightmares, avoiding certain triggers, and feeling like you’re constantly in fight-or-flight. It can feel like you’ll never be the same again. And even worse, it can feel like you’ll never find the light on the other side.

In trauma-informed therapy, we move at your pace. We start with rebuilding your sense of safety and security in your mind and body. As you begin to reconnect with yourself, I will guide you through processing your traumatic memories, one piece at a time. In doing so, I will help you reconnect with yourself again. The experience may always be painful, but you do not have to continue to live in pain.

Being neurodivergent means that you process and experience the world in different ways than neurotypical people do. Unfortunately, our neurotypical society often does not appreciate these differences. You may have been taught to feel ashamed or embarrassed for functioning differently than other people, or you may feel like something is wrong with you. The pressure of trying to mask your neurodivergence can be stressful and exhausting.

I know how challenging it can be to try to meet others’ expectations constantly, and how discouraging it can feel to be misunderstood at every step of the way. My experience with ADHD may not be the same as your experience with neurodivergence. But I am passionate about helping other neurodivergent folks find appreciation and support for their unique brains. In our sessions, we will work together to identify your strengths and work with your brain, not against it.

I use a holistic approach that focuses on you as an individual. We will explore your thought and behavioral patterns, identify where the patterns are coming from, learn about the interpersonal roles you play in your life, and process painful feelings or experiences that are still impacting you. We will practice new approaches and communication strategies, and create a toolbox of coping skills. I use a combination of modalities: mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy), and more. We will figure out an approach that best works for you.