Cindy Ko (she/her)

Relational 

I believe that we are meant to be on this earth to "people"—that is, relationships with others are necessary for one’s emotional well-being. Healing does not occur in isolation, but in community, and it is possible to cultivate this. We will explore boundaries, communication, dynamics, and balance with the people in your life.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

CBT can be a helpful tool for those wanting help managing symptoms, learn skills to cope with stressful life situations (especially recurring ones), and ways to manage emotions. The heart of it is becoming aware of your own thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, and challenge thinking patterns.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

I see the beauty of ACT in the act of accepting your emotions (not judging them or trying to control them), being present, and moving beyond negative thoughts and feelings. This process can enhance emotional resilience, promote overall well-being, and move you towards living a life that is more aligned to your personal values.

Psychodynamic 

Sometimes it does go back to your past experiences, your childhood, how and where you grew up, your past thoughts, feelings, and memories. We'll explore those hidden, unconscious thoughts, and take a look at how it may be showing up today. But as always, we'll do this at *your* pace, and with your consent. Our goal is to learn more about who you are, and why you respond to events the way you do.

Immigration/Acculturation

As experienced it in my own journey of healing, I believe people are born whole, but as they grow, parts of themselves are cut off, repressed, and erased in order to assimilate to dominant group narratives. My work is informed by my own personal experiences, years spent in Taiwan ("source"), and the lived experience of peers and clients that have navigated similar journeys.

Cultural and Systemic Oppression

When approaching any challenge there is rarely a time that I am not also thinking about the context and the intersection of "-isms" that may be present (e.g., racism, ableism, sexism, classism, etc), in the background (or foreground!). To me, the beginning of liberation occurs from understanding where oppression comes from, how much it seeps into our lives, and how we can adjust our approach to what you're navigating based off of it.

Adjustment Disorder

There are life events and transitions we can anticipate, and then some that drop in a blink of an eye. Some may be accompanied with grief, with joy, anger, confusion, or a combination of those (and other emotions that are hard to name). Most clients enter counseling to navigate these transitions and I am honored to be a guide in these type of journeys.