Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sally Chung. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sally, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from my mother. Our family immigrated from Hong Kong when I was three and my parents worked so hard to give my siblings and I opportunities they never had. My mother didn’t have opportunities for secondary education or English learning classes, but still kept our family afloat with multiple jobs and homemade dinners every night. I watched her persevere through difficult times to ensure that her family was taken care of and it made me work harder to not be a burden on her or another thing she had to worry about. My parents worked really hard but, in doing so, were not always available to help us navigate this new culture in which we were raised- a culture they didn’t really understand or were interested in. As my mother sought to create stability for our family, I learned that the next step was on me. I learned to navigate (and help my parents navigate) social and educational systems, speak English, achieve academically, and process my cultural identity. I don’t think I’ll ever face the kind of challenges my parents experienced through their immigration journey, although mine will be difficult in other ways. Seeing my mother thrive reminds me that we have the same blood flowing in our veins and that I can face anything because she has conquered everything.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I own a private practice in Bellevue, WA and am licensed in Washington, Hawaii, and New York. I specialize in treating Asian Americans explore their cultural identity and their relationships in childhood, and how those experiences impact their current relationships with themselves, others, and the world. I also do couples therapy and psychological assessment, and particularly enjoy assessing and working with couples and individuals of the global majority. I love offering several services in my practice because it allows me to stretch different mental muscles and skills. Being an Asian American psychologist in private practice allows to be a visible representation of someone of the Asian diaspora who not only fights against mental health stigma in the AAPI community but works in the field with those in the community. My patients can find and choose me because of my racial identity and experiences as well as professional qualifications, and research has shown that having a therapist that is similar in racial or cultural identity leads to staying in treatment longer and having better treatment outcomes. I like mixing things up, so future plans include California licensure, PsyPact credentialing, and doing Hold Me Tight couples workshops. I’d also love to do more public speaking on AAPI mental health, figure out how to integrate psych with creative pursuits/interests, and maybe even write a book someday.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Curiosity- desire to learn and grow 2. Perseverance- keep going in spite of failures and disappointment
3. Lean into your strengths- trust the things you gravitate towards to guide you
Looking back, there are certainly things that were impactful for me but I also saw areas that I wish were stronger. I would encourage folks early in their journey to speak to people who are living their dreams- in the programs they want to attend, the jobs they want, the companies they want to work for, the lifestyle they desire- to learn more about the pros and cons of those goals. I’d also encourage them to be flexible and adaptable because things don’t always work out and your best may not get you to your goals in the short-term, but that doesn’t mean they can’t reach their goals eventually or dream new dreams. And on dreaming new dreams, I want folks to know that they can always change their minds and do something different if whatever they’re doing doesn’t serve them or align with their values.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to meet more folks to collaborate with. I am in a season of my practice where I want to expand that types of offerings I have beyond traditional talk therapy and assessment to help others in the AAPI community through incorporating mental health and psychology with food, poetry, art, and cultural expression. Whether it is events, workshops, or speaking engagements, I’d love to collaborate with folks to take psychoeducation and nurturing mental health beyond the couch.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drsallychung.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsallychung
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drsallychung
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-chung-psyd-abpp-759b6a8/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrSallyChung
Image Credits
The headshots with the tan background are by Jaimié Birtel. The rest of them are by Milli Agency.
