We were lucky to catch up with Trina Chan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Trina , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
It took practice and a shift in perspective to become more optimistic. I was always quite a worrier. It felt safer and more in control perhaps to prepare for disappointment, but I realized this didn’t necessary soften the blow if disappointment did occur, and in fact, this mindset only affected my ability to fully enjoy and celebrate achievements. Over the years, I’ve been working on using my energy to believe, rather than to worry. Though we can’t always control the situations that we’re faced with, we can control how we react to them, and where we focus our thoughts and attention hugely impacts our reality. Incorporating gratitude as a daily practice has really impacted my general outlook as well. Despite what we’re going through, there can always be something that we can be grateful for. When disappointment hits, finding the valuable lessons, not attaching failure to my identity/self-worth, and seeing it more as redirection and part of the process towards growth and discovery, has been life-changing. Of course this is an ongoing practice, but incorporating these tools and shifting perspectives can help.
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’ve always been passionate about understanding human behavior, and contributing to society in meaningful ways.
My background is in the arts, education and psychology. I received my BA and MA in English, Drama and Education at the University of Cambridge, UK, completed a 1 year program at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, LA, and obtained my MA in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University, CA. I’ve also received additional training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis and the New Center for Psychoanalysis in LA, and I’m a certified life coach.
I felt a calling towards psychotherapy work in order to better understand myself and have the tools to help others. I have been practicing for over 9 years now. As a licensed therapist, I help people work through difficult and complex experiences and emotions that are keeping them stuck, in order to empower them to embrace their full selves and live more freely and authentically. I work mainly with teens and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues and use an integrative approach to treatment that’s mainly psychodynamic and relational. Sessions are collaborative, and we may explore and process difficult feelings, experiences, and relationship patterns, analyze dreams and look at other conscious and unconscious processes that might be affecting one in the present. Through our work together, clients gain a deep understanding about their complex inner lives and possible root causes of their symptoms, as well as helpful tools to make positive and long lasting changes.
This work has been truly rewarding. I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, hear their stories, and be a part of their healing journey. Mental health issues are so prevalent nationally and worldwide, and I hope to continue to be a source of support to as many people as possible through psychotherapy work and the arts, as both have the immense power to heal, enable people to feel seen and heard, and provoke meaningful change.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Firstly, it’s important to prioritize our mental and physical health to build a strong foundation to set yourself up for success. Listen to your body, be kind to yourself and know that we have the power to change any thoughts and limiting beliefs that are holding us back from our goals.
When we begin to adopt an observant mindset, and notice our thoughts and feelings in different moments rather than being fused with them, we can challenge and reframe them when they aren’t accurate or helpful. Often it’s the limiting beliefs and subconscious patterns that hold us back from fulfilling our potential and achieving our goals, so being aware of this and looking after our minds and bodies is vitally important.
Secondly, take action- progress over perfection! I’ve always been quite a perfectionist. Though this often helped in terms of achievements, I would often apply a lot of pressure on myself, and at times, it felt more paralyzing than helpful. Sometimes, we’ve got to just take action towards the path that feels like the best option at the time and see what we learn from it or where it takes us. Even if you realize that the path you originally chose isn’t right for you, knowing what you don’t want can be just as valuable as knowing what you do want.
I also recommend the power of subtraction and focusing on one thing at a time. This doesn’t have to mean letting go of other goals or dreams forever. Just like the domino effect, one thing can lead to another, and there will be opportunities to build and fulfil other dreams, but focus is key.
Finally, I’d say choose courage over comfort, as growth happens when we push beyond our comfort zones and take those healthy risks that may feel scary and vulnerable, but are exciting and aligned with our truth, goals and values.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed, I find it helpful to use techniques to calm the nervous system, and to feel more grounded. I’d usually start by taking deep breaths to calm my nervous system, and to enable me to think with greater clarity. Reminding myself to pause and notice how I’m feeling and what thoughts I’m having, helps experiences feel less overwhelming. Studies have shown that by just naming the feeling, there’s a shift in the brain and a reduction of activity in the amygdala (the part of the brain that’s responsible for detecting fear, and activating biological responses that protect us from danger). Allowing myself to feel my feelings without judgment, investigating why I might be feeling a certain way, and being gentle with myself throughout the process, certainly helps. Going for a walk or doing a short meditation for example to feel more grounded in my body, also provides the space to feel calmer and start seeing situations from a different perspective. These are also tips that I share with clients, to help with managing difficult emotions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.talktotrina.com
- Instagram: @talktotrina
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trina-chan-a4176357/
