Who is Jeff outside of therapy?

Jeff considers himself to be 1.5 generation Korean-American. He is the son of two Korean immigrant parents and considers himself an introverted extrovert. Jeff has always been a bubbly, fun, goofy, and loyal person ever since grade school, in fact, he still stays in contact with some of his teachers and counselor!

Jeff’s current passions are teaching his pup, Gus, new tricks, running through the hiking trails with Gus in Oregon, playing board games and video games with this friends, trying new coffee beans throughout the Portland area, traveling and learning about different cultures (you should ask where he has been), learning new languages, and playing tennis, volleyball, and golf.

Why did Jeff become a mental health therapist?

Jeff grew up experiencing some tough shit where it felt like life handed him some terrible cards. Jeff did not have access to a therapist and only had his guidance counselor at his high school. Jeff struggled a lot during his teen years and even bailed on the first therapy session he had scheduled in college. He thought he was “fine” and that “there wasn’t a problem”. But Jeff recognized through his grad program, his own therapy journey, and working with a whole lot of people from different backgrounds, that mental health challenges are a very real thing that holds people back.

Jeff wants to provide a similar support system that he got from his therapist to help the clients in his community. He believes that when others have gone through their own healing journey, they can then bring more harmony and empathy into their community and beyond.

On top of that, Jeff really cares about social justice and therapy is a way for him to bring equity to those who don’t feel like they have a voice. He really tries his best to learn and understand where his clients are coming, their history, and even the barriers they face in today’s system.

What is it like working with Jeff?

Jeff is really chill. He doesn’t dress fancy and that’s because he believes that the therapist isn’t a “better”than his clients. He doesn’t want clients to feel like there is an uncomfortable power dynamic. Jeff doesn’t hold judgement, but he tries hard to understand who you are and what your goals are so that he can gently challenge and hold you accountable to change that you’re aligned with.

Jeff does ask that you bring what you want to work on therapy to each session. It’s not just him directing all the sessions. He believes therapy is like a group project where he isn’t the leader telling you what to do. In fact, he believes that that sort of therapy doesn’t work to empower his clients, but rather makes them more dependent on the therapist, thus won’t be able to have agency over their lives. In a nutshell, he ultimately wants to get fired by you because you can now care for yourself :)

If Jeff fits what you’ve been looking for, he would love to chat more over a consultation.

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“It’s never too late to redefine yourself, to change long ingrained habits, and to do the work you’ve always been capable of.”

-Seth Godwin

Credentials

  • M.A. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy awarded by Azusa Pacific University

  • B.A. in Psychology awarded by Azusa Pacific University