Where I grew up...
I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. Following my bachelor’s degree in psychology and expressive arts therapy training in Korea, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in dance movement therapy in the United States because I discovered the unique value of body-based therapy and the creative process in the healing process. I’ve lived in several states across the United States, including California and Colorado, as well as other countries, including Thailand and India. As an Korean immigrant, I understand how difficult it is to adjust to change, and I have worked as a therapist with expatriates, immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
My professional training
My training has been in a variety of clinical settings, including:
- A residential mental health facility in Colorado for at-risk children and youth who have suicide or homicidal intent, plan, attempt, or self-harm behavior.
- A non-profit in Colorado that provides mental health and academic support for immigrant high school students to go to and complete college.
- A refugee resettlement center in Colorado that offers mental health and case management services to refugees from a variety of countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Congo, Myanmar, Nepal, and others.
- A non-profit mental health clinic in California that provides mental health, case management, and housing services to people with severe mental/physical health conditions, immigrants, asylum seekers, human trafficking survivors, unhoused people, LGBTQ+, and people living with HIV.
When I'm out of the office...
When I need to relax, I practice yoga, Pansori (Korean traditional opera), and the sitar (Indian traditional instrument).