Sharon Kwon (she/her)

I am a 1.5 generation Korean American and have firsthand experience in matters pertaining to: identity, finding one's place in the world, cultural assimilation, life as an immigrant, clashing with immigrant parents, not fully belonging to any group, and feeling like an other. My goal is to help you understand your racial identity to better understand and heal from your personal, historical, and intergenerational trauma.

I grew up in an enmeshed household with very little boundaries that made it challenging for me to forge my own path. I constantly sought external validation from my immigrant parents and often felt like I took on the parental role. My understanding of love was that I had to feel needed in order to feel loved. I sought recovery through the 12-step program, Co-Dependents Anonymous. I hope to provide tools and insight for how to recover from codependency and cultivate healthy relationships.

I am a certified yoga instructor and incorporate elements of trauma-sensitive yoga in my therapy practice. My goal is to teach grounding techniques, mindfulness, and deep breathing exercises to help calm the body and coach you in learning to self-regulate and self-soothe after a traumatic event or triggering reminder of your trauma.

I utilize CBT in therapy to help clients identify negative automatic thoughts and challenge cognitive distortions contributing to anxiety or depression. Through a combination of CBT and trauma-informed talk therapy, my goal is to uncover negative core beliefs and guide clients in reframing negative thoughts into more positive, realistic affirmations to influence positive behavior and feelings.

As an immigrant, cultural values are a core tenet in my therapy practice. When implementing treatment modalities, I consider all cultural aspects and adapt therapy to fit the needs of the client. I am respectful and open to exploring all cultures and would love to learn more about the elements of your cultural background that make up who you are today and how you want to live going forward.

I approach therapy with a family systems lens because I believe that family is at the heart of immigrant populations. It's hard enough finding your place in the world, but when your dreams and life ideology clash with your family's, it might feel impossible to differentiate yourself without disrupting your family system. My goal is to help you navigate family conflicts through individual and family sessions so that you can communicate more effectively and openly with your family.

I approach therapy with a family systems lens because I believe that family is at the heart of immigrant populations. It's hard enough finding your place in the world, but when your dreams and life ideology clash with your family, it might feel impossible to differentiate yourself without disrupting your family system. My goal is to help you navigate family conflicts through individual and family sessions so that you can communicate more effectively and openly with your family.