Hanh Dang

About Hanh

My approach

I truly believe that the most effective therapeutic progress stems from a collaborative, mutually respectful process between two authentic human beings. My purpose is to be a companion and guide clients through the journey to find meaning in suffering and to take steps toward self-compassion and self-actualization.

More background

What would be important for someone to know about working with you?

Although my practice utilizes a variety of modalities, as a Certified EMDR Therapist, I specialize in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), a neurobiological approach that targets difficult memories from the past that form problematic patterns contributing to current issues, such as difficulty trusting, perfectionism, self-doubt, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Recognizing the important role of our protective system, I also incorporate parts work to help clients learn, befriend, and develop compassion for all parts of themselves that, at times, have been in conflict and causing overwhelming internal turmoil. With the use of humanistic, mindfulness-based, and somatic techniques informed by the polyvagal theory, clients can take steps toward finding peace in the nature of impermanence and approaching life in a gentler way.

In what ways does your personality influence your approach to therapy?

Being a neurodivergent, queer, Asian American therapist, I am familiar with the cultural barriers and challenges of identifying as an immigrant, a woman, and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community both professionally and personally. During the darkest part of my life, I was fortunate to cross paths with healing professionals who showed me hope. Since then, I have made it my life’s mission to pass on that hope to others. I constantly strive to provide a safe, respectful, and healing space for all, especially those from underserved and marginalized communities. I am acutely aware of the collective trauma many communities are struggling with as oppressive, discriminating policies and hateful rhetoric are widespread all around us, and my hope is to be able to offer a refuge where that pain/anger/fear can be witnessed and shared and, when appropriate, transformed into an energizing force to stand up and take up space once more.

What is your style/approach to therapy?

I truly believe that the most effective therapeutic progress stems from a collaborative, mutually respectful process between two authentic human beings. My purpose is to be a companion and guide clients through the journey to find meaning in suffering and to take steps toward self-compassion and self-actualization. The most important thing I impress upon my clients is the fact that they are in complete control, and we move as slow or as fast as their protective/nervous system feels safe to do so. Being in control does not mean that clients have to come up with things to say in sessions as I generally have a framework of what we would work on; rather, being in control means clients can say "I don't feel like I have the energy to reprocess today" or "I don't like this intervention" or stopping trauma work to take a break, and those feedbacks would be respected and honored. I also use humor, psychoeducation, and appropriate self-disclosure to help folx understand their thoughts and behaviors, even the ones that have been labeled as "dramatic" or "overreacting", from a neuro-biological perspective and trauma-informed lens. If my values and approach to therapy resonate with you, please feel free to contact me for a free consultation to determine if we would be a good fit.

Work history

With over 15 years of experience in the fields of human services and psychotherapy, I have had the privilege of working with a folx from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of needs AND strengths. Whether it was driving to the hospital in the middle of the night to support and advocate for sexual assault survivors through the interview with law enforcement and forensic exam with the nurse, or mentoring and advocating for foster youth, or providing counseling to marginalized folx at the LGBTQ+ Center, or providing unconditional positive regards and holding space for older adults who fell into deep depression and suicidality from battling with chronic illnesses on top of mental health concerns, I felt incredibly honored to be entrusted with the opportunity to bear witness to their suffering and to hold hope for these individuals in their vulnerable space until they can start seeing that hope within themselves.

The decision to open my own psychotherapy practice came from the deep desire of being able to authentically show up and tailor individual approach to each client without the limitations or restrictions of the medical-industrial complex. Throughout the years of working with clients using a combination of EMDR Therapy, Parts work (Internal Family Systems, Ego State Therapy, and Structural Dissociation), Compassionate Inquiry, and Mindfulness practice, I have been gifted with the opportunities to witness extraordinary transformation in front of my own eyes. My typical clients usually come to me with repetitive self-critical and self-deprecating thoughts that destroy their self-worth, confidence, self-compassion and, inevitably, impair their interpersonal relationships. Through our work, these folx rediscover authentic qualities of themselves and start taking up space as individuals who no longer need to base their self-worth on successes or validation from others, embody a sense of quiet confidence, and can view themselves and others with much more kindness and compassion.

Specialties

Types of therapy

Who Hanh works with

Ages

Adults, Elders (65+)

Communities

LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Black / African American, Latino / Hispanic, Asian American, Indigenous / Native American, Immigrant, Neurodivergent, People with Disabilities, Sex Worker Allied, Body Positive, Open Relationships / Non-Monogamy

Languages

English