My Story: Finding My Voice and My Purpose
1992, age 17, Beijing - the Central Academy of Drama, Mandarin Department.
The experience that first taught me what it means to be seen.
For much of my childhood, I struggled to feel seen or heard. I experienced bullying both at home and at school, and I learned to cope by becoming quiet—almost invisible. For years, silence was my survival.
That changed when I studied Mandarin in China at age fourteen. For the first time, I was surrounded by people who looked like me and treated me with genuine kindness and respect. I was seen for who I was, not how I looked. That experience changed the direction of my life and, eventually, my work as a therapist. Learn how I integrate those lessons into my therapy approach to help others build confidence and connection.
I returned to China at seventeen and later moved there at twenty-two. Living abroad taught me something profound: people’s cruelty often reflects their own pain, not your worth. Through that understanding, I began to heal—learning to build relationships rooted in safety, authenticity, and compassion. Today, I help my patients do the same.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I specialize in ADHD and relationships, working with individuals, couples, and families in Wisconsin and Florida. Whether it’s managing ADHD symptoms, navigating conflict, or rebuilding self-worth, my work blends lived experience with clinical training to help people create meaningful, lasting change. Discover more about my professional background and how decades of ADHD coaching shaped my clinical work.
Healing isn’t about forcing positivity; it’s about having the courage to face what’s painful so that real transformation can begin. That belief guides everything I do in therapy. Have questions? Visit the FAQ page or reach out to schedule a consultation.
Book an appointment to share your story.
My Background
I was adopted from Vietnam in the early 1970s and grew up in Elgin, Illinois. From a young age, I developed a deep love for language, culture, and travel—perspectives that continue to influence how I connect with patients today.
At fourteen, I became the youngest student ever accepted into the Chinese Language Department at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, and the only one to complete the three-year program in ten months. I later earned an Associate’s degree from Elgin Community College, a Bachelor’s in Asian Studies (Chinese History) from Kalamazoo College, and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University.
Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, I spent nearly a decade living in Beijing, where I developed English language programs for children and trained teachers in early childhood education. In 1998, I founded Beijing’s first expatriate homeschooling community and designed an interdisciplinary curriculum for my son, who has ADHD. That experience deepened my understanding of neurodiversity and family dynamics—knowledge that continues to shape my work with parents today.
My writings have appeared in several publications, including an essay titled “Path to Parenthood” in Beyond Cultural Anxieties: Ingredients of Fear, Tests of Character (2004), as well as numerous articles on ADHD coaching and a book chapter in Coaching Perspectives (2014).
“When we understand our pain, we begin to understand our power.”
My Philosophy
Healing begins with understanding. Each person’s story is unique, and therapy offers a compassionate space to explore that story fully—without judgment.
Everyday, through my work with patients, I am reminded of the resiliency of the human spirit. Being a psychotherapist means it is a privilege to be a part of people’s emotional lives in times of distress. I am afforded the opportunity to be in people’s lives during the lowest, most frightening, and darkest emotional experiences they have ever had. There are many aspects to this experience which are very touching to me as a therapist attempting to move the individual or family through the healing process. The bravest people in this world are those who have the courage to reveal their pain and make the difficult decision to work towards healing.
Step into your power and schedule your first appointment today.
Telehealth sessions are available for residents of Wisconsin and Florida.
Return to the Home Page to explore all available services.
My mission is to offer accessible, compassionate, and results-driven therapy, while also being committed to providing the education, tools, accountability, and strategies people need to change their lives.
