introduction to me
Hello and welcome! I am so excited to introduce myself as the owner and therapist at LV Counseling. I know that starting therapy and trusting basically a stranger with your struggles, vulnerabilities, and fears can be hard (and I know because I have been through it myself). So, I wanted to provide some information about myself and what therapy will look like with me.
My name is Linh-ly Vinh, MA, LPC Associate (don’t worry, we will go through what all the letters mean). The MA means that I have received my Master’s of the Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from NYU in May 2023. Every therapist is required to get a Master’s degree (during which they have an internship experience) before applying for their license, which are the next letters. LPC Associate stands for Licensed Professional Counselor Associate. This means I have taken and passed an exam and applied for my license through my state board to counsel or do therapy with people. Associate means that I have a supervisor who supervises and oversees my clients and the work I’m doing to ensure I am providing the best care I can. It’s almost like getting two therapists for one.
“In my early professional years I was asking the question: How can I treat, or cure, or change this person? Now I would phrase the question in this way: How can I provide a relationship which this person may use for his own personal growth?”
I provide therapy services for teenagers and adults struggling with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, daily life stressors, life transitions, self-esteem issues, family conflict, disordered eating, body image issues, and other issues. I have a special focus on working with clients who struggle specifically with life transitions, disordered eating, and with the Asian American community. [Life Transitions] I know that change is hard from high school to college to changing jobs or entering a new chapter of your life; even when you are excited for the change, it can be daunting. Feeling nervous, overwhelmed, or even unprepared are normal. In therapy, I offer safe space for you to voice these fears, process them, and help you find the courage and strength you already have within you to overcome them. [Disordered eating] In my teenage years, I was training pre-professionally as a ballet dancer and if you know anything about ballet, it’s that there are a lot of issues with eating and body image. I struggled with lots of restrictive eating habits and constant worry about how my body looked and how much I weighed to the point of it changing what and how much I ate. The work around eating habits and body image is so important and can be quite difficult. I come from a place of compassion and understanding when working with clients who are struggling with wanting to improve their eating habits and body image issues as well as their self-esteem issues. [Asian American community] Identifying as a Vietnamese Asian American, I understand that working with someone who has a similar background can be validating and helpful. Having somewhat of an understanding of the cultural values and family dynamics that can be present in a person’s life allows me to have greater insight about a person and their background, which clients have shared is meaningful and beneficial in the therapy room. While I recognize the potential importance of having someone with a similar background, I also recognize that our backgrounds can be different and that is why I always come from a place of openness and curiosity when working with clients.
I believe that therapy can be helpful for anyone, but therapy is most helpful when it’s catered for the client. That is why I use an eclectic approach (which means drawing from multiple approaches) when it comes to therapy with my clients. I want to make sure that you are receiving the best care I can offer, which means working collaboratively with you, the client, and utilizing multiple different techniques and approaches. Not every technique, approach, or exercise will work for everyone and that’s okay. One thing I prioritize is checking in with you to see if something is working or not; I ask that you give an exercise or technique a wholehearted try and if it still doesn’t work, then we will try something else. Some of the approaches and techniques I pull from are (prepare yourself, more letters) CBT, DBT, mindfulness, person-centered, multicultural, narrative, and motivational interviewing.
CBT stands for Cognitive Behavior Therapy. CBT focuses on how our thoughts are connected to our behaviors and our actions.
DBT is Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which focuses on accepting one’s current behaviors that are not the healthiest and wanting to change the behaviors to be healthier.
Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the current moment; this can be helpful for those who struggle with anxiety and other mental health issues.
Person-centered therapy, which is also referred to as Rogerian therapy, is what it sounds like; it is focused on the person or the client. Using a person-centered approach, I as the therapist will prioritize listening non-judgmentally, being empathetic, being genuine, fully acknowledging your experiences, and being encouraging and supporting you.
Multicultural means that I value not being biased toward my clients and practicing cultural humility, which means understanding that I do not know everything about one’s culture and being open and nonjudgemental.
Narrative therapy is like storytelling and looks at how the words we use to describe our experiences affects our beliefs about those experiences.
Motivational interviewing is using techniques like asking specific types of questions, expressing empathy, and reflecting, to help you find the motivation internally.
If you’ve reached this far into the blog, thank you for taking to time to learn more about me and therapy. I hope it was helpful and informative for you. Taking the initiative to explore the possibilities of therapy is a significant step, and I commend your commitment to your well-being.
Remember, this space is not just about therapy; it's about empowerment, growth, and resilience. Whether you're seeking support for specific challenges or simply looking to enhance your overall quality of life, I am here to walk alongside you.
If you have any questions or are ready to start your therapy journey, don't hesitate to reach out. Your story is unique, and I am eager to be a part of the chapter that focuses on your personal growth.