Hanh Dang, LCSW, EMDRIA Certified Therapist

Being a Queer, First gen Asian American therapist, I am familiar with the cultural barriers and challenges QTBIPOC folx face 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 of our communities are struggling from as oppressive, discriminating policies and hateful rhetoric are widespread all around us. My hope is to be able to offer a refuge where that pain/anger/fear can be witnessed, shared, and when appropriate, turned into an energizing force to stand up and take up space once more. With over 15 years of experience in the fields of human services and psychotherapy, I have had the privilege of working with folx from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of needs AND strengths. 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 our protective system plays in healing, 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. I 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. However, no healing can take place unless one can feel safe and trust in the therapeutic relationship. I truly believe that the most effective therapeutic progress stems from a collaborative, mutually respectful process between two authentic human beings. 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. In my personal time, I enjoy quality time with loved ones, camping, road trips, kayaking, and playing/cuddling with my dogs.