Adolescents, Adult, Couple | English & Mandarin | Fee: $165
Hi, I am Joy Bao (she/her)!
I am your compassionate marriage and family therapist for Chinese-speaking folks & Asian Americans, and advocate for mental health awareness in our community.
I became a therapist because I believe in the power of creating a safe space where emotions can be welcomed rather than fixed. Through both personal growth and professional training, I’ve learned that healing begins when we allow ourselves to “sit with the emotions” — to witness them with curiosity instead of judgment. My role is to hold that space with clients so they can feel seen, supported, and empowered to discover new meaning in their experiences.
About Me
I am an introvert.
My favorite colors are white, yellow, anything in neutral tone. Public singing is not my favorite so I don't have a karaoke song list. For movies, I have my top three want to share with you: The Pursuit of Happiness, Toy Story, and Home Alone.
I work with adults, couples, adolescents, and families, supporting clients through challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, acculturation stress, and parenting struggles. My therapeutic approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and solution-focused techniques while always centering empathy, rapport, and curiosity about each person’s unique story.
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Two books that deeply shaped my perspective are The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom, which reminds me of the importance of genuine connection in the therapy room, and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, which expands my understanding of the many ways pain and trauma live in the body and influence our lives.
Outside of therapy, I advocate for mental health awareness within my community and church, sharing psychoeducation and encouraging open conversations about the value of psychotherapy. I’m inspired by Alfred Adler’s words: “Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.” To me, therapy is about discovering those new meanings and finding resilience, healing, and hope in the process.
