My name is Brenda Xu (she/her), and I specialize in working with marginalized populations, including members of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. My areas of clinical focus are cultural/racial identity, intergenerational trauma, relationship/attachment issues, and grief.

I’m a queer Chinese-American woman, and grew up in a multigenerational household with first-generation immigrant parents and relatives, which allowed me to understand the challenges of navigating various cultural worlds. Before entering the therapy field, I was a full-time singer/songwriter. Having first-hand knowledge of the unique emotional challenges and complex social dynamics of being a working musician has helped me to connect easily with other artists who are struggling with the creative process, imposter syndrome, work/life balance, and navigating various roles while pursuing a career in the arts.

My personal and educational experiences have shaped my values as a trauma-informed, anti-oppression, and social justice-oriented clinician. I believe that you are the expert of your own story and honor your process by allowing it to guide the skills and training that I draw from. I work collaboratively with you to establish goals that you’d like to achieve in therapy, and check in periodically to obtain your feedback about our progress together. I explore how past and present experiences contribute to thinking and behavioral patterns, such as the establishment of core beliefs, emotional triggers, and attachment styles. I also recognize the significant connection between the mind and body and seek to integrate somatic techniques to improve emotional regulation, when appropriate. In addition, I take into account the impact of racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of systemic discrimination and oppression on your health and well-being. We may also explore how these power dynamics show up in our therapeutic relationship.

Hi, my name is Jason Chug and I work with clients who struggle with anxiety and depression related to existential issues, low self-esteem, and life transitions. The individuals I work with seek to gain the awareness and ability to make intentional decisions towards living a happier life.
I help clients process their old emotional blockages and use a blend of modalities and theories to help them understand the why’s and how’s of their behavior. With this knowledge, we collaboratively work on an action plan to make changes.
My desire to work in the counseling field stems from my own experience dealing with mental health challenges. As an Asian-American, it was challenging to find support within a culture that often stigmatizes and misunderstands mental health and holistic well-being. After spending years reflecting and working on myself, I was able to come out of this challenging time and grow as a person. This experience brought about the desire to help others with the hopes that I can be the person who I needed back when I was struggling.
The desire to want more out of life and to seek help is a courageous step – I welcome the opportunity to support and witness your journey.

Therapy is not always about solving problems or finding who’s at fault. It is a chance to see ourselves more clearly and find compatible coping strategies for various life challenges. My experiences at one of Seattle’s largest homeless support programs have shown me the importance of relationships even when all else fails. Moreover, a secure and intimate relationship requires more than just compassion. It takes patience, honesty, and vulnerability to break free of the perpetual negative cycle of verbal arguments and stone-walling.

As a first-generation immigrant, I am also fully aware of the complexity of societal expectations and cultural influences on our relationships. My current education at Gonzaga University and my ongoing training as an Emotionally focused therapist have shown me what it takes to create a safe environment for us to communicate authentically. I strive to understand the intricacies of your relationships and explore solutions for healthier intimacy moving forward.

From Psychology Today: Therapy is a wonderful opportunity for personal growth. It is also helpful in overcoming human experiences such as anxiety and depression, for improving relationships and for changing behaviors that may be hindering our quality of life. It is common to experience hesitation or ambivalence when starting therapy, much like many other new beginnings.