About • Heart In Mind • Gina Li • Bay Area • California • Online
In short, I am…
The founder of the therapy practice, “Heart In Mind”
A therapist for young adults, Asian Americans, and caregivers.
A therapist for trauma cycle breakers aka individuals who’ve been greatly hurt by overwhelming, unforeseen circumstances and are longing to not inadvertently pass on the same to others.
A music lover and former music performer.
A fellow human-being whose heart has ached and broken from painful life experiences.
A person who believes in the healing power of genuine social connections and deep/unfiltered understandings of oneself.
"I prefer to think of my patients and myself as fellow travelers, a term that abolishes distinctions between 'them' (the afflicted) and 'us' (the healers). We are all in this together, and there is no therapist and no person immune to the inherent tragedies of existence."
~ Irvin Yalom, Psychiatrist
My Story
My journey towards becoming a mental health therapist has been prompted by my own painful life experiences. These experiences had me questioning what I had done to “deserve” such hurtful treatment from others; they had me questioning if life was even worth it.
These experiences are also what led to my increased propensity to think (and overthink to be perfectly honest) about the “whys” and “hows” to things. I honestly feel like it is this propensity that helped me do well in school, as I studied psychology and clinical social work, in search of answers to the human experience, including my own.
As I continue to live this human experience though, I’ve learned the hard lesson that healing from pain…from trauma…from anything, requires more than just thinking differently; it requires more than just an academic understanding.
To truly heal requires attending to all of the impacts of your experiences—painful and not. It requires attuning to your lingering felt experiences—not just the intellectual. It requires attending to all facets of your identity…of who you are.
As a mental health therapist, I integrate this and all the other lessons I’ve learned as a fellow human-being, into my work with you. Together, we’ll work on addressing your stressors from multiple angles.* We’ll unearth and strengthen aspects of your life that help you feel whole, as well as address patterns that have left you feeling stuck, without control, and disconnected from yourself and others.
You deserve to see and engage with possibilities again.
I would welcome the opportunity to work with you in making this a reality.
From a fellow traveler,
Gina
* “Addressing your stressors from multiple angles” means that we will not only address present-day, individual factors that are contributing to your suffering/hardships, but we will also attend to external factors, including but not restricted to your personal history, your family’s/ancestors’ history, the multiple layers that make up your social/cultural identity, sociocultural norms/expectations of you, and systemic/institutional factors that serve as the crucial background for the struggles at your forefront.
The “Formal Stuff”
(i.e. My Professional Background)
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker (License Number: 105460), 2021
Board of Behavioral Sciences, CaliforniaMasters in Clinical Social Work, 2018
Specialization in Integrated Behavioral Health
Boston UniversityDomestic Violence Peer Counselor Certification, 2012
Women Organized to Make Abuse Non-Existent
(W.O.M.A.N., Inc)
San Francisco, CABachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior, 2010
Minor in Education
University of California, Irvine
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Clinical Supervisor, Almaden Valley Counseling Services,
2024-Present
San Jose, CALicensed Mental Health Therapist, Foresight Mental Health,
2022-Present
Berkeley, CALicensed Mental Health Therapist, Northeast Medical Services,
2020-2022
San Francisco, CAAssociate Mental Health Therapist, Asian Health Services,
2018-2020
Oakland, CAClinical Social Work Intern, Bay Cove Human Services,
2017-2018
Boston, MAClinical Social Work Intern, Excel Academy Charter Schools,
2016-2017
Boston, MAPeer Counselor, Richmond Area Multi-Services,
2015-2016
San Francisco, CACrisis Line Peer Counselor, W.O.M.A.N. Inc.,
2012-2015
San Francisco, CA
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Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment Certification
Somatic Experiencing:
Beginning 1
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I am informed by the following therapy approaches/orientations. Below are brief explanations of each.
I hope they offer greater clarity in how I work.Trauma-Informed
Considering and adapting treatment with the understanding of the effects of trauma (trauma being explained as “too much, too fast” from Somatic Experiencing therapy) on the mind and body’s resources.Parts Work (Specifically, Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment/“TIST”)
Using a mindfulness lens, looking at one’s problems as a conflict between different parts of one’s whole self; each with their own motivations/drives, protective responses, and worries.Attachment-based
Considering the influence of early childhood relationships with caregivers or “attachment figures” on people’s present life, especially on people’s present relationships.Liberation Psychology
Considering the interplay between our individual personalities and circumstances, cultural factors (i.e. racism, sexism, classism, ageism), and larger systems/institutions on one’s mental health struggles and goals.Person-Centered
Creating a safe, non-judgmental, empathetic space for people to take a lead in therapy and consequently, strengthening people’s trust in their own voice.Narrative
Views problems as being necessarily separate from people and helps empower people to tap into existing skills, beliefs, values, and abilities to reduce the influence of the problem on them.
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English
Conversational Cantonese
*I am committed to ongoing trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, anti-racist trainings as much as I can afford. I will be updating this section accordingly to reflect this for transparency.
Curious to learn a bit more about me as a person?
Here are a few quick facts.
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One of the reasons I’m drawn to singing is also the reason I’m drawn to being a therapist. Within both, I have a medium through which I can support someone in attuning to their deeply-felt emotions and self.
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not just one’s formal educational experiences. I think each hold their unique value and I try to incorporate each of my clients’ unique knowledge base into sessions.
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I think swearing allows for a type of expression that has no substitute. Plus, I grew up in a swearing-friendly household so it’s normal to me :)
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How this shows up in sessions with me can look like: me letting you know when I’m confused, me apologizing to you when I’ve made a mistake, me laughing with you (if relevant), and me truly believing that you have the wisdom and strengths that are unique to you and essential in your mental health/healing journey.
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I deeply empathize with the awkwardness and skepticism related to therapists and am intentional about earning your trust.
