You spend your days holding the weight for everyone else. Who holds the space for you?

I offer somatic and relational psychotherapy for adults in Oregon who identify as Asian, Asian American, or part of the Asian diaspora. Many of my clients work in healthcare, non-profits, or public service—environments where perfectionism often disguises itself as passion, and self-sacrifice is treated as a job description.

When your daily labor is centered on caring for others, setting boundaries can evoke intense guilt, leaving you feeling structurally exhausted, anxious, and isolated. This space is designed to help you step away from the burden of hyper-responsibility and return to your own unmet needs.

Providing virtual therapy for residents across Oregon.

Answer and Listen for Your “Yes”

If you agree with more than one, this work may be a fit.

  • This reflects the belief that rest, care, play, or emotional needs are somehow undeserved unless you have earned them.

  • This happens when identity has been tied to a role for so long that life after resignation feels confusing or empty.

  • This is about belonging that feels earned instead of natural, where you are welcomed when you perform or agree, but feel on the outside when you rest, need support, or think differently.

  • This is about when the body absorbs what you’re going through, and tightness, pain, or a heavy feeling show up even if you’re trying to stay strong.

  • This is about feeling like you have to set aside your own needs to prove you’re capable and committed, even when it drains you.

Close-up of beige paper with a curved fold and subtle shadows.
Request a consultation

A gentle approach to DEEP work.

Honoring what you’ve carried, and the self that’s always been yours. This is the space you step into here.

Shadow of a sprig with leaves cast on a textured white wall
A woman with short black hair sitting on a gray armchair in a well-lit room. There is a white lamp to the left and a vase with green flowers on the right.

How we might work together.

You’ve done everything you were supposed to, yet something still feels off.

For many Asian and Asian American professionals, working within Oregon’s high-demand healthcare, hospital, and non-profit systems, excelling and adapting can mean code-switching, honoring family obligations, and carrying unspoken expectations rooted in values like filial piety and emotional restraint.

We might explore:

  • Burnout, rage, and soul fatigue, and what your body and mind are trying to tell you when this deep, systemic exhaustion refuses to fade.

  • Anxiety and self-doubt, and the exhausting internal engine that forces you to constantly over-function, perfect, and look invincible while second-guessing your own worth.

  • Cultural and internalized pressure, and the profound cost of carrying inherited expectations and family obligations while shape-shifting to preserve harmony and silencing your own voice.

Therapy can help you live a life that feels as good inside as it looks outside.

Request a consultation
A woman sitting on a red chair, wearing a beige coat over a white shirt, blue pants, and white sneakers, smiling with her arm resting on the chair back, against a plain white wall.

I’m Shirley…

the person who built this practice to support those who hold so much

Many clients arrive after years of pushing through and caring for others more than themselves. Therapy offers space to pause, step out of overdrive, and tend to what’s been neglected.

My approach is relational, culturally attuned, and body-based. Together, we move at a pace that honors your ambition and tenderness, creating a life that feels aligned and alive.

Learn more about me →

WHEN YOU ARE READY, HERE’S WHAT COMES NEXT.

Step 01

Complete a brief screener form so I can assess alignment and your needs.

Step 02

Share your contact details with me.

Step 03

I’ll be in touch within 1–3 business days if it looks like we’re a good fit.

Request a consultation