Victoria Wu (she/they)

I believe it's necessary to understand my clients' identities, cultures, and belief systems to better incorporate them into therapy. I consider interactions with dominant cultures within society, systematic oppression, individual prejudices, and microaggressions. I also consider the individual strengths clients gain from their identities, cultures, and belief systems.

I aim to understand client identities, cultures, and belief systems to incorporate them into therapy. I consider the impact of systematic oppression, individual prejudices, and microaggressions as well as strengths. My doctoral program areas of emphasis were LGBTQ Psychology and Diversity & Community Mental Health and had training and clinical experience. I've also had training and clinical experience with diverse clients.

I combine and selectively apply different approaches to best fit a client'sneeds. Evidence based treatment only means most participants in studies showed improvement, which means there are multiple effective techniques but does not necessarily mean those treatments will work for you, that you will be comfortable with them, or believe they are helpful. Because of that I am flexible and am open to your feedback to make adjustments when necessary.

I combine and selectively apply different approaches to best fit a client's needs. Evidence based treatment only means most participants in studies showed improvement, which means there are multiple effective techniques but does not necessarily mean those treatments will work for you, that you will be comfortable with them, or believe they are helpful. Because of that I am flexible and am open to your feedback to make adjustments when necessary.

My primary theoretical orientation is psychodynamic which means I think about a client from that perspective. Our experiences shape the way we think, the beliefs we have, and how we behave. Sometimes those work in the unconscious and being able to identify and understand the unconscious can provide insight into past experiences to improve future experiences. Sometimes we are aware of our thoughts and beliefs but analyzing them can improve understanding and shape change.

I've had academic and clinical training that emphasizes understanding identities, cultures, and belief systems to better incorporate them into therapy. I'm aware of and account for interactions with dominant cultures within society, systematic oppression, individual prejudices, and microaggressions. I also consider the individual strengths clients gain from their identities, cultures, and belief systems. I take a collaborative approach with clients try to balance power between me and my clients.

I've had a lot of clinical experience with depression as the primary problem or adjacent to other problems such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, suicidal thoughts, minority stress, and family and relationship issues. I also have lived experience with depression.

I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ people and issues they face. I've had academic and clinical training and clinical experience with diverse gender identities, sexualities, romantic relationship configurations, and the sociopolitical issues that impact them. Personally, I'm pansexual and gender nonconforming.