Welcome

My name is An-Ping, you can also call me Andie. The wounds and scars from complex trauma show up in all aspects of our lives, sometimes without us knowing it. They can quietly shape our relationships, family dynamics, and even the way we move through our careers. You might notice them in how you respond to conflict, how safe you feel in closeness, or how much pressure you place on yourself to keep everything together. Over time, these hidden wounds can take a toll on both mental and physical health.

Therapy offers a space to slow down, notice, and begin to heal. I believe that change unfolds not just through insight but through connection with ourselves and with others. In our work together, I strive to create a space that feels warm, grounded, and deeply attuned to your unique story.

About Me

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a bicultural, Mandarin-speaking immigrant. My approach is shaped by both my clinical training and years of experience working in a fast-paced, high-performance professional environment, where I developed a deep understanding of the pressures and inner conflicts that often come with achievement.

In addition to my background in psychology, I hold a PhD and continue to work in a research career alongside my clinical practice. This dual path allows me to integrate curiosity, structure, and compassion into the therapeutic process; meeting clients who are both analytical and emotionally deep.

I work from an integrated and holistic perspective, combining trauma-informed, attachment-based, and psychodynamic frameworks. I am also in training for EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to support clients in processing traumatic experiences through evidence-based and body-centered approaches.

My goal is to meet you wherever you are, addressing acute symptoms when needed, while also exploring the deeper patterns that shape your sense of self, belonging, and connection.

My Approach

Healing is not linear, it's relational. I see therapy as a collaborative process, where we honor both your present experiences and the unseen layers underneath. I draw from modalities such as:

Attachment-Based Therapy

To explore patterns of connection and disconnection.

Trauma-Informed and Somatic Awareness

To help you tune into your body and build a sense of safety from within.

Psychodynamic and Depth Psychology

To understand how early experiences and unconscious beliefs shape current struggles.

EMDR (in training)

An evidence-based approach that helps reprocess traumatic memories and reduce emotional distress.

Together, we'll work toward greater clarity, self-compassion, and the freedom to live in alignment with your values.

Who I Serve

Adults:

I can help adults who want to understand themselves more deeply and move beyond anxiety, grief, or perfectionism.

Couples:

I have plenty of tools and experience with couples who feel stuck in conflict, distance, or miscommunication and long for more connection. As a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, I use a structured, evidence-based framework to help couples strengthen communication, build emotional safety, and navigate conflict more effectively.

Cross-cultural Backgrounds:

I have my own multicultural background to help connect with those who may carry unique challenges of identity, family expectations, and belonging.

Areas of Focus

RELATIONAL AND ATTACHMENT WOUNDS

Many of our adult struggles stem from early relational experiences, moments when our emotional needs weren't met, or when we learned that vulnerability wasn't safe. These early lessons often echo into our adult lives through patterns of avoidance, conflict, or over-responsibility in relationships. In therapy, I help you recognize and transform these patterns, cultivating trust, safety, and deeper emotional connection, both with yourself and others.

COMPLEX TRAUMA

Complex trauma refers to the repeated experience of emotional, physical, or relational harm, often in childhood or within environments that felt chronically unsafe or invalidating. Unlike single-incident trauma, complex trauma can quietly shape how we see ourselves and relate to the world. It might show up as chronic self-doubt, shame, hyper-independence, or emotional numbness. Our work together focuses on rebuilding safety from the inside out. We'll explore the survival strategies that once helped you endure, and gently support your nervous system toward regulation and connection.

RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL TRAUMA

Religious trauma can occur when spiritual or faith-based environments create fear, guilt, or shame instead of love and belonging. You may struggle with conflicting beliefs, self-blame, or a loss of identity after leaving a faith community. Healing this type of trauma involves disentangling your inner experience from external expectations and reconnecting with your own wisdom and spirituality on your own terms.

CULTURAL IDENTITY & BELONGING

As a bicultural and Mandarin-speaking therapist, I understand firsthand the challenges of navigating multiple cultural worlds. Many of us carry both pride and pain from our cultural heritage, trying to honor family values while also embracing individual needs. Therapy offers space to unpack intergenerational patterns, acculturation stress, and experiences of marginalization or invisibility. Together, we explore how your cultural identity shapes your relationships, boundaries, and sense of belonging, helping you find an authentic voice that honors all parts of who you are.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE & CAREER STRESS

For professionals and high achievers, the same drive that fuels success can sometimes lead to burnout, anxiety, or a constant sense of "not enough." With years of experience in high-pressure academic and research settings, I understand the tension between ambition and well-being. In therapy, we explore perfectionism, imposter feelings, and the parts of you that equate worth with productivity. The goal isn't to lose your ambition, but to create balance, purpose, and a sense of calm that allows you to thrive without burning out.

COUPLES & PREMARITAL COUNSELING

Relationships are living systems that require ongoing attention, curiosity, and repair. As a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, I use a structured, evidence-based framework to help couples strengthen communication, build emotional safety, and navigate conflict more effectively. Premarital counseling can be a powerful way to deepen understanding, align expectations, and lay a solid foundation for your future together.