Theoretical Backgrounds

Drawing from interpersonal process therapy (IPT) and brief dynamic approaches, I help clients explore deep roots, which result in inflexible interpersonal styles and other ineffective coping strategies. Based on this exploration, I help them work with new emotional, cognitive, and behavioral patterns to fulfill their needs and follow their values. For this change, I also integrate acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) perspectives.

Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling

As an international Asian woman from a working-class background, it is so important to prioritize critical consciousness in my clinical and academic work. By using radical healing and intersectionality perspectives, I hope to a) provide a safe space to foster critical
consciousness to reduce individuals' stigma and a sense of blame, b) highlight individual/familial/cultural strengths, and c) advocate for clients to liberate my clients and myself. For this work, I take a wide range of actions, such as writing a letter for hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Adults on the Autism Spectrum Disorder

It has been unknown how to diagnose and serve intellectually-able adults on the autism spectrum, particularly those who were previously undiagnosed. It is my secondary clinical work, but I have received training at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UT Health) C.L.A.S.S. Clinic – Changing Lives through Autism Spectrum Services. I have learned about how to identify adults' ASD features and associated problems at CLASS Clinic, and I am passionate to continue to hone my skills.

Psychological Testing

One of my exciting clinical works is to conduct psychological testing to help clients understand who they are. I have witnessed many people have an aha! moment during the interpretation session. I have conducted objective/projective personality assessments, career assessments, substance use assessments, and autism spectrum disorder-related assessments like below: 

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1. Objective Personality Assessment: Standard Personality Inventory,The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescents (MMPI-A), Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Temperament
and Character Inventory (TCI), Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), NEO-PI-3, Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (KIP), Self-Concept Test (SCT), The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale for South Koreans,
and Emotion Regulation Strategy Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDIII), Beck Anxiety Inventory, Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory – III (MCMIIII)

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2. Projective Personality Assessment: House-Tree-Person projective drawing technique (HTP), Sentence Completion Test (SCT), Family Drawing Test (KFD), Rorschach test, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

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3. Career Assessment: HOLLAND, the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale, Career Decision Profile, Assessment of Career Decision Making, Attitudes toward Multiple Role Planning, Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (KIP), Vocational Aptitude Batteries

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4. Substance Use Related: The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, The Why Test, Tobacco Craving Questionnaire, Kim’s Smoking Cessation Motivation Scale, The Perceived Smoking Cessation Effect Scale, Self-Efficacy/Temptation

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5. Autism Spectrum Disorder Related: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System- Third Edition (ABAS-3), Adult and Adolescent Autism Spectrum Disorder Checklist, Adult Behaviour Checklist
for Ages 18-59, Adult Self-Report for Age 18-59, Autism Spectrum Quotient, Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire, Empathy Quotient, Ritvo Autism and Asperger’s Diagnostic Scale – Revised, Social Stories Questionnaire