Rachael Ha

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist|Clinically Supervised

I believe that you are the expert of yourself and that connecting to yourself within the lens of your broader community is integral to healing. Oftentimes, we learn to silence our own inner wisdom because it wasn't safe to speak out or connect to our own needs. I believe that therapy starts with understanding who you are, how what happened to you in your past is a part of your story, and how to move forward with self-compassion and grace and step into a brighter future. I am also attentive to how systems of oppression may be impacting your well-being. Therapy with me centers liberation, an understanding of your identities and how they interact, and highlighting the strengths that you've had all along. Your past is important to discuss, because that is your foundation. The present is also valuable to examine, because what's happening in the world affects you now. I balance both the past and the present as we work to build your future. I believe that therapy is a relationship, an honest conversation, and a safe place to land.

Prioritizing and caring for ourselves can be hard! I think people often struggle to care for themselves in ways that feel uncomfortable but are more rewarding in the long run. American culture sells quick, easy, and pain-free solutions, but therapy is a labor of love that takes time, can be challenging, and may bring up all sorts of feelings that may be uncomfortable at times. However, by committing to therapy, you will be choosing to take care of you and your mental health in a way that will facilitate healing, growth, and connection to yourself and others in ways that are more sustainable than quick fix solutions.

I look for the strengths in each of my clients; this is especially helpful for those with marginalized identities who are carrying trauma. You are not your flaws or your traumas, there is so much more to you than that. When the world tells you you're not good enough, we must disrupt that narrative, and it can start here in therapy. As a therapist, I am passionate about tapping into what makes you, you. I love weaving creativity and meaning into therapy - this can mean integrating art, music, fandoms, gaming, cultural practices, and spirituality in our work together. I am neurodiversity and disability affirming; bring your stim toys or a soft blanket into session; we can't forget the emotional support water bottle. Bring all of you to the table; there is more than enough room.