I was born and raised in California by Vietnamese refugee parents. As typical of model minorities, I worked my ass of in school and ended up at UC Berkeley studying Econ (and Theatre 🙃), in the hopes of working for a giant corporation, saving tons of money for a house, and making my ancestors proud. 

After a quick stint in acting (thanks to the 2008 recession and lack of decent jobs), I continued in the road-often-traveled as young urban professional. Buyer at Gap Inc in San Francisco. Product at Zinio in Saigon. Management consulting at Tillerman.

Of course, being enmeshed in the model minority myth (splashed with a bit of intergenerational trauma and high sensitivity) meant that I burnt out quickly and suffered mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, with virtually no support to be found.

So in 2016, I “took a break” from the capitalist machine and “traveled around Asia.” It’s now 2023, and I’m still hanging out on this side of the Pacific. Living in Asia has given me the opportunity to unplug from the matrix and take a look at life through a different lens. Where did my depression and anxiety come from? Why won’t my inner critic shut up? And why does my body get triggered in totally chill situations? 

Through talk therapy and my deep dive into integrative health, Somatic Experiencing, and psychedelic therapy, I came face-to-face with many my health issues that plagued me throughout my teens and twenties. I still experience the overstimulation and perfectionistic tendencies from time to time, but my ability to tolerate discomfort and savor my happiness has totally changed the course of my life. 

I’m now focused on coaching others to provide an evidenced-based, whole person approach to mental health & emotional well-being, guiding at Mindbloom, and exploring all the noodles Saigon has to offer.