We had the good fortune of connecting with Valerie Uy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Valerie, what inspires you?
In the last few years, I have been inspired by humanity. As a psychotherapist, I often see how the bigger picture affects us on a day to day basis. I am constantly in awe and inspired by my clients in all their resilience, despite everything they have been through. I am inspired by loved ones and the community around me, and overall inspired by humanity despite everything we are currently enduring.

In our country, our rights have been attacked on all fronts – from Roe v Wade to the refusal to talk about sex ed or the menstrual cycle to the refusal to teach critical race theory to anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. It furthers systemic oppression and hate rhetoric against marginalized communities like women (or people with uteruses) and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and the LGBTQIA+ community. I have felt many complicated feelings such as rage, grief, loss, hopelessness, and helplessness. Yet, there have been moments filled with hope – when I see the oppressed who continue to be resilient, despite the odds, and find ways to cope and heal and be joyful… When I see activists who are doing everything they can against all the legislation being passed in our country… When I see Gen Z step up and become a new generation of social justice warriors… When I see allies actively unlearn their own implicit biases and create space for those whose voices have been historically silenced…

We have been through a difficult time in our history as we move towards a new ‘normal’ after living through the COVID-19 pandemic and social justice movements in the last few years. I am continuously inspired and moved by the little moments of humans helping and uplifting one another and being in community with one another.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice here in Orange County and provide support to all residents of California. Aside from psychotherapy, I am a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Mental Health Speaker/Consultant and often speak on the impacts of systemic oppression on mental health as it pertains to intersectionality, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Such topics can include breaking generational cycles, coping with transgenerational and racial trauma, understanding racial/cultural identity, impacts of systemic racism on chemical dependency, and recognizing implicit biases.

As a therapist, I offer both couple’s and individual therapy. I support couples and individuals with racial/cultural identity, breaking generational cycles, generational and racial trauma, infidelity and substance/alcohol use. I also encourage all my clients to find their voice and learn how to show up as their authentic, genuine selves in all areas of their lives. I am committed to providing quality, culturally competent, and trauma-informed care to people of all genders, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, body sizes, abilities, spiritual belief systems, and sexual orientations.

As a speaker, I provide speaking engagements and workshops focused on mental health, social justice, intersectionality, generational trauma, racial trauma, and ANHPI/BIPOC related challenges. I have spoken at several conferences and panels, including Asian Mental Health Collective’s ‘TransformASIAN’ Conference, EM Collective’s Asian Mental Health Conference, and ECAASU’s ‘Turning the Tide’ Conference, to discuss mental health and the impacts of coping with transgenerational and racial trauma. I also offer consultations to organizations seeking to be more informed about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and mental health issues.

On this journey, I have done much learning and unlearning as I have grown to understand my own privileges and implicit biases and how systems of oppression function in the world we live in today. Throughout the pandemic and social justice movements, I have become passionate about destigmatizing mental health and creating more awareness around harmful labels and narratives. As a therapist and speaker, I aspire to create spaces of healing, connection, and safety for marginalized communities, and I have a vested interest in supporting BIPOC communities through experiences of racial trauma.

After graduating from my Master’s program, going through a break up, living through the COVID-19 pandemic and social justice movements, building private practice, and building up my speaking experiences all in the last few years, I can say that it has come with its share of ups and downs. I have felt shattered and defeated and it has shaped me to be the person I am today. I will not pretend that life is easy because I am still growing and healing every damn day, and yet, I am proud to say that I’m living a life of authenticity filled with deep, emotional, meaningful relationships.

Since the last time I interviewed with Voyage LA, I was the keynote speaker for California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists’ (OC CAMFT) 14th Annual ‘Celebrate Everything MFT!’ Gala to teach other therapists how to reflect on implicit biases and develop an intersectional lens to provide culturally competent and trauma-informed care for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, disabled, and other marginalized communities. Additionally, I spoke on a panel for parents on ‘ANHPI Youth and Mental Health’ and presented for OC CAMFT’s 3000 Hour Club on treating transgenerational and racial trauma as clinicians. I have also begun a ‘Human 1st, Therapist 2nd’ Consultation Group for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ clinicians, and may open up another consultation group soon. Currently, I am gathering interest for my ‘BIPOC Students Support Group’ in the fall. I have several other projects in the works, and I am looking forward to sharing them as they come to fruition.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
After living in Orange County for years, I have fallen in love with many spots that are a fine blend of foodie delights, nature, shopping, and spots that are nourishing for my inner child. I want to highlight several BIPOC owned business such as Morning Lavender Café in Old Town Tustin – the cutest little café with afternoon tea, assorted desserts and pastries with a hanging wisteria floral wall and has an attached clothing boutique, Cream Pan in Tustin – a Japanese bakery which has the best, flaky strawberry croissants, Belacan Grill in Tustin featuring delicious Malaysian food, Din Tai Fung – watch them make their famous Shanghai-style soup dumplings called Xiao Long Bao and you absolutely need to get the Spicy Pork & Shrimp Wontons, Habana in Costa Mesa or at Irvine Spectrum featuring delicious Cuban food and flan that melts in your mouth… As a former Disneyland annual passholder, Disneyland is a must-visit for any family or adult fulfilling their inner child dreams or any Marvel fans. When you’re here, don’t forget to shop at our beautiful outdoor shopping centers like Fashion Island or Irvine Spectrum or if you need luxury and high end products, feel free to stop by the renowned South Coast Plaza. Or take a moment and drop by Irvine Improv or the Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a range of entertainment via comedy or theater or dance or musicals. If you’re looking for sunny Southern California beaches, look no further than Corona Del Mar Beach in Corona Del Mar or Heisler Park in Laguna Beach or rent a duffy boat in Newport Beach or Long Beach. Take a hike at Peter’s Canyon or take your little ones to Irvine Regional Park. This list is definitely not comprehensive, and I love that Orange County is between Los Angeles and San Diego, which feature the best parts of Southern California, including art and entertainment to nature.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I feel uplifted by my support system who are passionate social justice and mental health warriors, who have stuck through it with me in the last few years moving through the grief of a break up to taking a leap of faith into full time private practice to building up my speaking experiences. To my closest friends and my therapist colleagues who hear me out when I’m struggling or at maximum emotional capacity or who celebrate my accomplishments, both tangible and intangible… To my family and my little nephews whose little milestones remind me of what is truly important in life… To my little pup, Jetson, whose little furry snuggles and happy smiles have brought me such joy… To my graduate school, Alliant International University in Irvine, which aspires to be mindful of diversity and inclusivity in their ethics while guiding students to become culturally competent and trauma-informed clinicians… I am deeply grateful for my mentor, clinical supervisor and previous graduate school professor, Dr. Nicole Sabatini Gutierrez, for her compassionate and gentle nature, for her ability to ask me intuitive questions that challenge me to grow and reflect on my own healing journey, and for her patience with me as I faced many of my own self-limiting beliefs throughout my graduate program to building up private practice and speaking. I am forever grateful for all the love and encouragement from all of you and for believing in me when I struggled to believe in myself.

Website: http://www.valerieuy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@valerieuymft

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-uy/

Other: https://www.valerieuy.com/events https://www.valerieuy.com/resources https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/united-states/fountain-valley/therapy/valerie-uy

Image Credits
Photographer: Jared Garcia Instagram: @jaredgxrcia

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