Dr. Cindy Kao (she/her)

Oftentimes it is hard to reach out when you are "supposed" to be the one that holds everyone else's emotional energy. Beyond just our clients and patients, friends and family reach out to you for support - leaving you isolated and alone. The field has cost us our empathy, support systems, and energy. I will hold the space for you to be heard, to be validated, and to be seen.

Our emotional and psychological health are intrinsically linked to our physical bodies. How can we harness our nervous systems so we can become more intentional and mindful in our daily lives? I frequently utilize diaphragmatic deep breathing as well as progressive muscle relaxation as initial steps to activate our "calm down" response of the parasympathetic nervous system. We can't learn something new without being in a state of mind to do so.

Often, it feels like we go through life - an event occurring only to lead to an emotional response that comes out of nowhere and with seemingly no control on our part. What if we could learn a new way to function? To harness the power of our thoughts and beliefs which in turn, impact the way we feel? I will often utilize techniques to tackle the facts of the here and now in order to bring down fears and anxiety in a way that is more manageable.

As humans, we learn by what we see. And those early interactions (e.g. childhood, formative relationships) can lay the groundwork for how we make sense of the world as we know it today. If we grow up in an environment where it is inconsistent - in turn, we grow weary of trust and lack confidence in what others say or do.

Life brings with it various crossroads. Some we look forward to with great expectation and delight. Others we face with dread. During these phases, we often incur more stress than we typically do but lack the awareness of how to manage that newfound stress in an effective manner. I will empower you with tools to manage your life transitions with greater ease, as well as methods to better gauge your ability to manage your daily tasks.

Anxiety originally existed as an emotion that favored the prepared. If you bring sharp sticks when hunting, it will increase your chance of surviving. Or, be wary of any and all berries, since Joe Doe dropped dead after having one. However, as time has moved on, the energy that sustained the need to prepare has evolved into a never-ending cycle that masquerades as productivity. Let us utilize tools of mindfulness, cognitive strategies, and coping strategies to take charge of your life.