Asian American & API professionals
Work-related stress, personal development and relationship issues — with short-term or long-term therapy.
Hui-Meng Tsai · Licensed Therapist
Culturally attuned, queer-affirming psychotherapy for Asian American, immigrant, bicultural and LGBTQIA+ adults — serving San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland, in person, by video, or by phone.
Who I work with
In many Asian and Asian American families, talking about feelings isn't commonplace — so struggles stay private, and sometimes invisible, even to ourselves. Therapy is a place to finally put them down.
Work-related stress, personal development and relationship issues — with short-term or long-term therapy.
Coming out, gender, identity and relationships — and navigating families and workplaces that don't always see you.
The quiet weight of living between cultures, languages and family expectations.
Noticing when you feel different — like "the other" — in more than one room at once.
What went undigested growing up — and the grief carried down from those who came before us.
Being the token minority, overt and subtle oppression, and the frustrations of corporate and non-profit life.
Individual therapy for adults.
About me
I've always noticed what it feels like to be the other — and the angst of living in between cultures.
As a bicultural kid growing up in Taipei and San Francisco Chinatown, I was surrounded by multicultural diversity from a young age. Since then, I've been interested in — and noticed — the moments when I feel different.
I found psychotherapy to be frequently absent in API culture. In API and Asian American families, talking about feelings is not very commonplace. When personal issues arise, they stay within the individual and become an invisible struggle. Asians are also less likely to seek therapy. Issues that aren't addressed within the family remain dormant and undigested, and eventually need to be processed later in life. The work of psychotherapy can be invaluable for one's health and well-being.
I formerly worked in corporate management at Fortune 50 companies and in small non-profits. As a masculine-presenting queer person of color, I know how hard it is to deal with microaggressions and more overt oppression as a token minority. I understand what it's like to navigate job stress and the frustrations of working in corporate and non-profit organizations.
Services
Sessions are 50 minutes. Meet in the office, or from wherever you feel most private and at ease.
A calm, private office in Berkeley at 2340 Ward Street, Suite 201.
Secure video from home or work — an easy option for clients across San Francisco.
When a camera feels like too much, or you'd rather talk on a walk.
Get in touch
I'll help you think about whether therapy is right for you. In this pressure-free conversation, we can talk about what you're struggling with. I'll answer your questions and I'll have a few of my own. Together we'll discuss your options and figure out the next steps.
Share as much or as little as you like. Everything you send is kept confidential.
Locations