Jane Kim, LCSW

I am a child of working class immigrants from South Korea and was brought up with values and resources in my own family that were vastly different than that of those around us. We often call this experience as "third culture" as we are a combination of the two, often clashing, cultures. It took me a long time of blaming myself and feeling inadequate and masking and "chameleoning" in fear of being found out as an imposter. Inevitably, I had to do my own internal work to understand my racial identity (not being Korean enough or American) and where it overlaps with my class upbringing and the pressures and confusion that brings. I bring a social justice perspective to my understanding of how larger systemic inequalities impact every individual and I would love to help you on your journey of understanding why you react to certain things the way you do and feel the way that you do. My style is lovingly straightforward and conversational. Above all else, I continuously work to provide a space that is free of judgment and full of compassion. If you feel confused about your identify or burdened by your family or feel guilt about any negative feelings/thoughts you have, I want to work with you! Perhaps you feel guilty about having a better life than the rest of your family or feel resentful towards them for what they couldn't provide. Perhaps you feel grief over leaving your people behind or burdened by being a financial and/or emotional support. You might be the first to graduate from college or graduate school, first to have a professional "middle class" career, or maybe even the first to emigrate to the United States. If this is you, I will hold space for you while we untangle these experiences together and find how it impacts you in your life and relationships. I use the Polyvagal theory perspective (fight, flight, freeze responses) to understand the body, the Internal Family Systems (IFS) framework to organize the complex parts of us, and depending on the situation, we might even use Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) to target specific issues. Contact me now for a free consultation if the above description resonates with you. I want to help you understand and deal with the difficult thoughts and feelings, so you can understand yourself better and be able to enjoy your life fully!