“Let the waters settle, and you will see the moon and stars mirrored in your own being”—Rumi

Hi, I’m Angela (she/her)

I’m so glad you are here.

I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist who is passionate about destigmatizing mental health in Asian communities. I am 1.5 Taiwanese American and I understand the stressors that have impacted so many children of immigrants--of having to navigate between two worlds, but belonging to neither, of being the cultural broker for your parents, and of having the constant pressure to pay back your parents sacrifices.

As the eldest daughter of an immigrant family, I understand the burden we carry to take care of our family. We have learned to always think of others before ourselves, to "not rock the boat", or to "be seen and not heard". In being "good", we have made ourselves small. This playing small has cost us the ability to speak up for ourselves. In fact, we're are plagued with guilt when we think of doing anything for ourselves. Because of this guilt and feeling too selfish, we do not seek the mental health support we need. Other cultural barriers that keep us from receiving support includes the shame and the fear of "airing out our dirty laundry" in order to "save face".

My purpose is to change that and to help our communities see that there is no shame in healing. My passion is to educate individuals on the intersection of culture and mental health and empower individuals through therapy.

Learn more about me!

Why “The Sassy Asian Therapist”?

While presenting myself behind a clinical curtain may put me under a more “professional” light, I’ve realized that “professionalism” is a construct that creates a power hierarchy between expert and client. I seek to close that power gap by consciously choosing to show up as my authentic self, being relatable, and thus more accessible.

I grew up being called “sassy” because I was outspoken and did not fit in the paradigm that Asian women are expected to bind and contort themselves to fit into. I use my authentic voice to speak up against systems that continue to subjugate BIPOC folx, women, and other marginalized communities.

My lived experience as an Asian American woman and the deconstruction of that identity informs my clinical lens, how I strategically use my social location, and what I advocate for.

Being an Asian therapist, I challenge the stigma of mental health that plagues the Asian community.

Lastly, I believe that I can only take my clients as far as I have gone. Thus, my embodiment as The Sassy Asian Therapist models how I show up as my authentic self to challenge social constructs that I hope to help my clients gain freedom from.