You don’t have to heal alone
Affordable, gentle, trauma-informed therapy for people who have been holding it together by themselves for too long. Sliding scale available for qualifying clients.
Welcome. I am Eileen and I’m so glad to meet you.
If you have been carrying a lot on your own, maybe for a long time, you deserve a place to set some of it down. Many of us learned early on that it was safer to hold everything together by ourselves. Healing can begin when we no longer have to.
I offer a warm, steady, and unhurried space to explore the lingering impact of trauma and other painful life experiences. My approach is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and LGBTQIA+ affirming. I also welcome neurodivergent clients and honor the many different ways our minds and nervous systems work.
Together, we can make room for you to reconnect with your own inner knowing, and to live more fully as the person you have always sensed you could be.
Healing for the body, mind, and spirit.
A holistic approachSometimes insight alone is not enough to lead to lasting change, because our psychic wounds often live in the body. I blend psychodynamic and relational talk therapy with body-based approaches like Hakomi, IFS-informed parts work, and mindfulness to help you reclaim your essential wholeness.
Areas of FocusComplex and Developmental Trauma
Relational Patterns and Attachment
Self-Esteem and Identity Development
Life Transitions and Meaning-Making
Anxiety and Depression
Mind-Body Awareness
Experiences I have Deep understanding of
I welcome people from all walks of life, these are some areas where I have deep lived experience, and where I can offer a unique perspective to those who share them.
Asian diaspora & Immigrant Experiences
As a 1.5-generation immigrant from Taiwan, I understand what it means to feel caught between cultures. Many of us carry model minority pressures, perfectionism, family expectations, and intergenerational trauma, often shaped by the lasting effects of colonization and migration.
In our work together, we can gently explore these layers and make room for a sense of self that feels truly your own. I also offer sessions in Mandarin Chinese.
我們也可以用中文談，歡迎與我聯絡。
High pressure careers and burnout
Having spent more than twenty years in high-pressure workplaces such as tech, I know how these environments can shape the way we see ourselves.
Perfectionism and the constant drive to perform can lead to a deep exhaustion and loss of motivation that rest alone does not seem to fix, leaving you disconnected from your body, relationships, or sense of purpose.
Together, we can slow down, understand the pressures both around you and within you, and make room for a way of living that feels more sustainable and more like you.
Creatives & Highly Sensitive People (HSP)
As a lifelong creative and someone who identifies with highly sensitivity, I know how deeply we can feel the world and how closely our work can be tied to who we are. Many sensitive and creative people notice what others miss and pour themselves fully into what they care about, which can also bring overwhelm, self-doubt, creative blocks, or the sense of being "too much."
Together, we can honor your sensitivity as a strength, tend to your nervous system, and make room for your creativity and your whole self.
Frequently Asked Questions-
The first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and talk about what brought you to therapy. You can share what you are hoping will change, and any parts of your life, past or present, that feel important for me to understand.
We will also go over practical details like limits of confidentiality and cancellation policy. Most of all, this session gives you a sense of what it feels like to work with me. Feeling comfortable with your therapist matters, and this is a chance to see if we are a good fit.
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Yes. I offer sessions in person at the Heart in Balance Office located in Oakland and online through HIPAA-compliant video platform. I can work with anyone who is located in California at the time of our sessions.
I hold all online sessions from a private office, and I encourage you to join from a quiet, private space where you can speak freely.
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Sessions are 50 minutes long. I recommend meeting weekly, especially during our first few months together, while we build a relationship of trust and safety. That relationship is the foundation of therapy.
Research supports this. A large review of nearly 300 studies found that the strength of the relationship between client and therapist was consistently linked to better outcomes, across many different therapy approaches.¹ Healing happens in relationship, and meeting consistently gives that relationship room to grow.
Over time, we can talk together about whether a different rhythm might serve you better.
¹ Flückiger, C., Del Re, A. C., Wampold, B. E., & Horvath, A. O. (2018). The alliance in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 316–340.
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I offer a sliding scale from $35 to $75 per session, based on what is manageable for you. I am a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee completing my Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). As part of my training, I see clients through Heart in Balance under the supervision of Jeanette Shelby, LMFT #127144.
Working with a trainee is a more accessible way to begin therapy. If cost is a concern, please reach out. We can talk openly about what works for you.
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I offer a sliding-scale fee. I do not bill insurance directly, but if your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, I can provide a superbill every three months that you can submit for possible reimbursement. Coverage varies by plan, and some plans do not reimburse services from associate or trainee clinicians, so I recommend calling your insurer before we begin.
A superbill includes a diagnosis code, and I am happy to talk through what that means before you decide.
Questions you can reach out to your insurance provider with:
Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health?
What is my deductible, and how much of it have I met?
What percentage of the fee is reimbursed?
Do you reimburse services from pre-licensed clinicians working under supervision?
If you plan to use out-of-network benefits, let me know in our first session and we can go over how superbills work.
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The agency I work with, Heart in Balance has a 24-hour cancellation policy. If you need to cancel, please let me know by email or phone at least 24 hours before your session.
Sessions missed without notice, or canceled with less than 24 hours' notice, will be charged. When possible, we will try to reschedule your session.
Currently providing services at Heart in Balance Counseling Center, Supervised by Jeanette Shelby, LMFT, License #127144
Asking for help takes courage
Reaching out can feel vulnerable, especially if you have spent a long time managing things on your own. Whatever you are carrying, you are welcome to bring it. You can share as much or as little as you like.
We can simply begin with a conversation to see if working together feels right to you, and we will always move at a pace that honors your needs.