Hi, I am Ming, a second-year Ph.D. student in Counseling Psychology at the University of Iowa. I go by either he or they pronouns.

You are seeking change. The question is: How can I best help you achieve it? Therapy, at its core, is a relationship. Our therapeutic relationship is the primary vehicle that I leverage to promote change. The therapy relationship is expected to be safe and non-judgemental yet nonetheless involves significant and difficult emotional work. I try my best to provide an environment where you can talk about anything and everything, safely and comfortably. Some thoughts and feelings can appear threatening yet are necessary to discuss, and I make a point of helping make room for them. I listen carefully to your words, attending to both their literal meanings and the thoughts and emotions that may underlie them, and I strive to respond in ways that show empathy and acceptance while promoting self-understanding and change. The therapy relationship has fundamental differences from everyday relationships but also inevitably mimics them in some ways. I present my authentic self during the sessions, and I am willing to answer your questions or share my thoughts and feelings to the extent that I believe is in your best interest — but my focus is always on you, your thoughts, feelings, and concerns! Our interactions are not only a source of information for me to understand you and other parties in your relationships more deeply, and to form conceptualizations of when, with whom, and why your relationships may work or not work; but they also provide a safe laboratory for you to experiment with new behaviors and fresh ways of relating to others before applying them in broader and more uncertain social space, and to gain potentially healing emotional experiences that are different from the ones you once believed were the only possible outcomes.

The eminent psychotherapist, Irvin Yalom, wrote in his book, The Gift of Therapy, “It has always struck me as an extraordinary privilege to belong to the venerable and honorable guild of healers.” Another renowned psychotherapist, Jonathan Shedler, wrote, “Therapists … consider it a deep privilege to share so intimately in the inner, private life of another person.” I too share these sentiments and regard it as a tremendous honor to earn your trust, listen to your stories, and be a fellow traveler on your journey to a better life.

I look forward to meeting you!

No one is an island. As social animals, we humans are profoundly influenced by the social contexts in which we live. It would be a grave mistake for me to focus only on you while ignoring your social environment, cultural background, and the systemic forces around you. As a Chinese international student, both my education and lived experiences have taught me to respect people with diverse identities and to be attentive to the issues they may encounter, such as economic, racial, LGBTQ+, and gender equity issues. As a therapist, I remain culturally humble and greatly appreciate feedback on any mistakes, biases, or false assumptions I may make regarding cultures.

In the fall semester, I am co-facilitating Success, Not Excess, a support group at the University of Iowa that focuses on harm reduction related to alcohol and drug use.