Ting Qin, LMFT #137557
It's my honor and privilege to be on this therapy journey with you. -- Ting
Who Am I? Another Human.
I'm a bi-lingual (Mandarin), and bi-cultural (Collectivism & Individualism) Asian-American woman living in Orange County, CA. I identify as a member of queer and BIPOC community. I used to be a business woman. Becoming a therapist is not just my second career, but more like my second life.
In my first life, I was not really happy. Outside I strived to "checked all the boxes". But inside I felt depressed, struggling with loneliness and shame. Never knew who I was and felt no self-worthiness.
Finally, after a major breakup, I went to see an Emotionally Focused Therapist, who supported me with relentless empathy. At my last session, I saw a door open, with golden lights inside. I heard my heart say, "Go in there. This could be your chance to change your life, and maybe even others."
I was very lucky to get into a perfect program for me — Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program at Chapman University, where I received solid training in relationship therapy, mindfulness and self compassion. I dived in, and here I am. So happy to be alive and healthy. So grateful to meet & connect with other loving souls through couple therapy and individual therapy.
In this picture, the character is part of my Chinese name, meaning pavilion, and pronouncing like "listen" in Mandarin. I'd like to think this implies my calling -- providing a safe space, & listen to couples and individuals with my heart in couples counseling .
What Kind of Therapist Am I
I graduated from Chapman University in Orange, CA with a master degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. From 2018 to 2020, I had the privilege to provide couple therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy for a variety of clients at different settings. Since 2021, I've been mainly providing couples counseling, substance abuse recovery and trauma healing.
Client-Centered
Rooted in Carl Rogers' client-centered therapy, I strive to provide a supportive and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I hold a safe space for my clients in couple therapy or individual therapy & facilitate this process with empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard. Clients are the experts of their reality. I love meeting them where they are & walking the journey with them as their relationship counselor.
Trauma-Informed
I was deeply drawn to trauma work when I decoded the trauma in my life, my family, and my community. I understand that the mind and body of a person with unhealed trauma can be easily triggered to feel too much emotional intensity or shut down and unable to feel. My first task is to create safety rather than re-traumatize my clients.
I collaborate with my clients on the pace and style of therapy when we gently and gradually explore the widespread impact of trauma on their life experience and relationships. We work together to recognize trauma's role in the person's life -- how trauma has shaped a person's emotional and behavioral patterns, how the coping mechanism this person developed to survive trauma yet at some point becomes rigid and unhelpful.
As a trauma-informed therapist, I teach my clients new, effective coping strategies to rewire the traumatized part of brain, and at the same time focus on healing the trauma at the deepest level to make the change long lasting.
Emotionally-Focused
My journey into the world of Emotionally Focused Therapy began with a deep curiosity about the intricacies of human emotions and the profound impact they have on our bonds with others. Over the years, I have honed my skills and expertise in this transformative approach, which has enabled me to witness the healing and growth of countless couples. I firmly believe that every relationship is unique, and as an Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist, I am here to provide tailored guidance and support to address the specific challenges you face. Together, we will embark on a journey toward building a stronger, more resilient, and deeply fulfilling connection.
Attachment Style
We all have pursuing or avoiding attachment strategies depending on the situation or the person we are dealing with. The problem arises when those strategies become so rigid that we are not able to open up to hear different voices. Couple therapy is a great place to learn about your attachment style and learn how to securely attached.
Culturally-Responsive
When it comes to culture, I keep three words on my mind: curiosity, respect, and humanity. In my view, culture could mean the uniqueness of a region, a community, or a family.
I work with a very diversified clientele. I feel fascinated when I learned something new about their culture and feel moved when we recognize the common humanity under the different appearances. I assist my clients with curiosity and respect to discover how their culture shape their worldview and sense of self.
Mindfulness & Self Compassion
The practice of mindful self compassion is another thing that has changed my and many of my clients' lives. I have been sharing this tool with my clients and thrilled to watch them rise from the dark hole of self critics to blossom in self compassion.
Connecting Body-Mind-Spirit
Human beings are complex. Bio-psycho-social-spiritual model guides me to find out how a problem is formed by biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors, and how to heal.
Our Collaborators
