Brenda Xu

My name is Brenda Xu (she/her) and I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate in Washington state. I’m a queer Chinese-American woman, and grew up in a multigenerational household with first-generation immigrant parents and relatives, speaking Mandarin and English, which allowed me to understand the challenges of navigating various cultural worlds. I was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 10, a chronic illness that has affected me to varying degrees throughout my life, which has given me a sense of humility and deep gratitude about my mental, emotional, and physical capabilities. Before I entered the therapy field, I was a full-time singer/songwriter. Having first-hand knowledge of the unique emotional challenges and complex social dynamics of being a working musician has helped me to connect easily with other artists who are struggling with the creative process, imposter syndrome, work/life balance, and navigating various roles while pursuing a career in the arts. My personal and educational experiences have shaped my values as a trauma-informed, anti-oppression, and social justice-oriented clinician. I integrate several theoretical orientations into my work as a counselor, including narrative, psychodynamic, client-centered, neurobiological, attachment, and mindfulness-based somatic approaches. I believe that you are the expert of your own story and honor your process by allowing it to guide the skills and training that I draw from. I work collaboratively with you to establish goals that you’d like to achieve in therapy, and check in periodically to obtain your feedback about our progress together. I explore how past and present experiences contribute to thinking and behavioral patterns, such as the establishment of core beliefs, emotional triggers, and attachment styles. I also recognize the significant connection between the mind and body and seek to integrate somatic techniques to improve emotional regulation, when appropriate. In addition, I take into account the impact of racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of systemic discrimination and oppression on your health and well-being. We may also explore how these power dynamics show up in our therapeutic relationship.