Natalie is a second generation Chinese American and understands the difficulty of trying to reconcile values from her Asian identity and her American identity. In her work with clients, she helps people investigate the impact of cultural influences on how they form their identity, make sense of seemingly conflicting values, and how all this informs how one sees the world. We are not doomed to replay generational trauma and Natalie empowers clients to live differently, but not totally abandoning their culture and heritage, because it is an important part of who we are as Asian Americans.

 

Natalie is also a self-proclaimed Geek and Gamer Therapist. As an avid gamer, Natalie is passionate about helping people create a healthy relationship with video gaming. She enjoys working with individuals who identify as gamers and geeks, and exploring mental health issues common in gaming and the gaming community. She is committed to de-stigmatizing gamers in the mental health space. Natalie warmly invites conversations about gaming, geek culture, anime, superheroes, and all kinds of fandoms because she knows that they are meaningful in people’s lives. She integrates gaming and geek culture in the therapy process to allow for self-expression and understanding one’s inner world. Natalie also utilizes virtual reality to aid in the therapeutic process.