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Hello, my name is Kyungah, pronounced k-young-ah, and I often go by Kim.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Colorado, a Certified EMDR therapist, and a Level 1 iRest Yoga Nidra teacher.
I am originally from South Korea, where I was born, grew up, and earned a master’s degree in counseling and worked as a therapist. I obtained my second master’s degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University, Colorado, in 2009.
I have been asked many times what drew me to become a therapist, and here are my two reasons: I never stop being curious about how the mind works, and I am drawn to pain and suffering. Curiosity drives me to seek a deeper understanding of the mind (and body, as they are inseparable), while honest encounters with suffering fuel my well of compassion.
Here are some highlights about me:
- I am an immigrant from South Korea and can offer therapy in both Korean and English.
- I am passionate about helping fellow immigrants and BIPOC individuals with cultural/racial trauma, career issues, and relationship difficulties.
- Taking a whole-body approach, I aim to help you achieve physical, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual well-being.
- My approach is strengths-based and emphasizes empowerment through skill-building.
- I am certified in EMDR(Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and have undergone various advanced EMDR trainings, including: Treating recent trauma with EMDR, group resource enhancement protocol, attachment-focused EMDR, EMDR for treating racial trauma, and the flash technique.
- I am a mindfulness practitioner and trained in mindfulness-based techniques, such as DBT(Dialectical Behavior Therapy), ACT(Acceptance and Commitment therapy), and foundations of MBSR(Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction).
- Over the years, I have recognized the extensive range of impact of early traumatic experiences and have pursued various learning opportunities to better serve my clients. These include trainings in Treating Adult Clients of Emotionally Immature Parents, Level 1 Yoga Nidra Teacher Training, Shame and Self-Loathing in the Treatment of Trauma, Clinical Applications of Internal Family Systems, and Nutritional Psychology Certificate Program.
What it looks like to work with me:
- I view issues through the lens of trauma (past unresolved issues that still negatively impact you), meaning I will ask, “What happened to you?”
- I prioritize building resources, especially in the beginning, so I will ask, “What is working for you?” Then we will work on helping you create more resources in your life.
- I will inquire about your overall health and lifestyle to support you in achieving physical and emotional well-being.
- I may teach you skills and techniques, such as relaxation/grounding and mindfulness-based awareness, and encourage you to practice them between sessions.
- EMDR has been proven effective in resolving past experiences that continue to negatively affect you. When the time is right, we can explore if it may help.
- I welcome discussions about cultural and immigration-related trauma, as well as stress from experiences of racism. Please feel free to bring up these topics in our sessions.
Lionheart therapy 