My Story

Do you ever feel like a fish out of water, navigating life's ups and downs on your own?

Do you long for someone who is deeply interested in your journey, someone whose
mission in life is to assist you in navigating the tsunamis and tidal waves of grief, fear, and
uncertainty?

I've dedicated my life to supporting those who are struggling with mental and
physical health issues, recognizing the interconnectedness of the body and mind.
I have experience with crisis survivors, veterans, healthcare professionals, caregivers,
those living with chronic, terminal, and autoimmune, neuro-immune illnesses, trauma/burn
patients, physically and mentally challenged clients, immigrants, refugees, victims of violence,
politicians, and celebrities. Underneath it all, we all have our cross to bear. Sharing our burdens,
feeling heard and cared for lightens the load, helping us to breathe more easily and thrive.
 

As a Taiwanese immigrant child, I understand the complexities of
incomplete bonding, family tensions, and living in high conflict areas. Feeling like a fish out of
water in both the United States and my birth country and navigating rites of passage alone has
shaped my commitment to being there for others. Therapy has helped me immensely in my
journey and I want to pay it forward.

I am delighted to support CA Grief Therapy Center's goal of providing low-cost mental
healthcare to the community, with a belief in the power of therapy to help individuals, couples,
families, groups, organizations and communities find their voice and power.

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My Approach

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• A client centered approach on meeting clients where they are and embracing a holistic

perspective that acknowledges the interdependence of mental and physical health.

• Experience with Bio-Psycho-Social (BPS) factors influencing overall well-being, and

experience with spiritual exploration through personal experiences/epiphanies and
theology and philosophy coursework.

• A wide range of techniques and strategies used and customized when working with

individuals, couples, families, groups; including, but not limited to: Gottman, Imago,
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), IFS
(Internal Family Systems, ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis.)

• Counseling tailored to be client-centered, narrative-based, and supportive, helping clients

make decisions aligned with their values and aspirations. I am experienced with
recreational therapy, mind-body modalities and have facilitated creative writing
workshops and will use different approaches to achieve the right fit.

• When counseling more than one person at a time such as in couples, family, group

therapy – I like to “gamify” the interactions so group, couples, family therapy is not
“scary” or awkward. I will collaborate with my client(s) on how deep you want to go and
when. My goal is to leverage your strengths to help you overcome your adversities and
to give you a positive learning experience so you can apply what you have learned.

• Providing a secure environment for individuals, couples, families, groups; offering

counseling and coaching sessions for all stages of your journey, including pre-marital,
pre-college, career counseling and coaching.

• Creating a caring atmosphere in family, couples, group therapy, overcoming challenges

arising from different belief systems and conflicting interpersonal dynamics.

• Open to counseling various groups, such as work teams, roommates, housemates,

students, friends, organizations, communities etc., to improve relationships, mental
health, and productivity.

• Assistance with conflict resolution, mindfulness, relaxation, distress tolerance, change

skills, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and communication skills.

• Offering support during major life changes, such as getting older, increasing

responsibility, college, new job, job loss, career changes, changing finances, retirement,
marriage, family formation, divorce, illness, life, and death.

• Providing a safe space for reflection, cultivating calmness and appreciation of the

journey. My goal is to help my client(s) integrate the various aspects of their lives into a
unified and meaningful journey

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Ami Yang

Ami@CaliforniaGriefTherapyCenter.Org

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