Therapeutic Approaches

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps you notice the patterns in your thinking that make life feel harder — such as self-criticism, catastrophising, or assuming the worst.
Together, we gently identify these patterns and learn new ways of responding that feel more balanced and realistic.

CBT is especially helpful if you want skills for managing anxiety, low mood, overthinking, and confidence issues. It is practical, structured, and focused on creating meaningful day-to-day change.

ACT invites you to make space for your inner experiences rather than fighting them.
You learn to notice thoughts and emotions with curiosity, not judgment, and gently shift out of old patterns that keep you stuck.

At the heart of ACT is your values — what gives your life meaning.
Therapy becomes a process of moving toward those values with small, steady steps, even when things feel difficult inside.

It’s a compassionate approach for people who want clarity, direction, and emotional breathing room.

EMDR is based on the understanding that the brain has an innate capacity to heal, much like the body does. But when an experience is too painful or overwhelming, the memory may not be fully processed. Instead, it can remain “stuck,” keeping the nervous system in a protective state. As a result, you may find yourself re-living aspects of the past—your body, emotions, and thoughts becoming intensely triggered by everyday situations that seem neutral to others. This is what it feels like to live in “trauma mode,” where the past is still shaping the present.

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Through gentle bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or taps), EMDR helps the brain safely reprocess these memories so they no longer feel raw, intrusive, or overwhelming. As the memory settles, the emotional intensity softens, and the mind and body can reconnect with their natural healing pathways.

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I integrate EMDR with grounding, stabilisation, and body-based awareness so we move at a pace that feels safe, steady, and manageable. EMDR can be particularly helpful for PTSD, complex trauma, medical trauma, emotional neglect, and long-standing self-beliefs shaped by early experiences.

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As a Full Member of the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA), I follow current best-practice guidelines and provide EMDR within a structured, trauma-informed framework. I also integrate it flexibly with other therapeutic modalities, tailoring the approach to each individual’s needs and readiness.

This approach is based on understanding your body’s stress response.
When the nervous system feels unsafe, it creates anxiety, tension, shutdown, or emotional disconnection — not because something is wrong with you, but because your body is trying to protect you.

In Polyvagal-informed therapy, we learn how to gently signal safety to the nervous system.
You develop tools for grounding, stabilising your emotional state, and building a sense of internal steadiness and connection.

It is especially helpful for trauma, chronic stress, burnout, and anyone who feels “on edge” or “numb.”

Schema Therapy helps you understand the deeper emotional themes that repeat in your life — the parts of you shaped by early experiences, relationships, and unmet needs.

These patterns aren’t “bad”; they are old protective strategies.
Together, we explore these patterns with empathy and clarity, helping the younger parts of you feel seen, supported, and cared for.

Schema Therapy is especially helpful for long-standing patterns in relationships, self-worth, perfectionism, shame, or emotional sensitivity.

IFS sees your inner world as a collection of “parts,” each trying to protect you in its own way — the critic, the avoider, the perfectionist, the child part who carries old pain.

Instead of fighting these parts or feeling ashamed of them, we learn to understand their fears and intentions.
As your compassionate “Self” becomes stronger, these parts soften and heal, allowing you to feel more integrated, grounded, and whole.

IFS is gentle, powerful, and especially meaningful for trauma, emotional conflict, and people who feel at war with themselves.

Mindfulness-based therapies teach you how to relate to your inner world with presence rather than urgency.
You learn how to notice thoughts and emotions without being swept away by them, helping your nervous system settle and your mind regain clarity.

MBCT combines mindfulness with cognitive tools, making it especially supportive for people who struggle with rumination, negative thinking loops, or early signs of depression.

DBT is for people who feel emotions deeply.
It teaches grounding, self-soothing, and communication skills that help you stay steady even when life feels chaotic inside.

We work on four core areas:
• understanding and regulating emotions
• coping through stressful moments safely
• staying present and grounded
• building healthier, more balanced relationships

DBT’s heart is compassion — helping you respond to your emotions in ways that feel safe, supportive, and empowering.

Therapy is shaped by your cultural identity, language, values, and lived experience. I provide bilingual (Korean and English) psychological support and work with clients navigating cultural transition, migration stress, intergenerational dynamics, and the experience of living between cultures.

This approach recognises how culture, family, and community shape emotional wellbeing — and ensures that therapy feels relevant, respectful, and grounded in your real life.