In-Person Therapy in Albany, CA • Online Therapy throughout California
Therapy for Estrangement, Difficult Relationships, and the Grief That Follows
especially among Young Adults, Asian Americans, and Caregivers
Does any of this sound familiar?
Feeling disconnected from your family—even if you’re still in contact
Feeling hurt, confused, or unsure of yourself after a friendship changed or ended
Feeling stuck in mixed or unresolved emotions, such as sad, guilty, relieved, etc. after a past relationship ended/faded
Feeling pulled in opposite directions—between your own needs and the needs of others
Feeling unsure of who you are or what comes next, especially if much of your life has been shaped by others
Feeling ambivalent about whether or not to end a relationship or to maintain it (with caveats)
The discomfort that comes with feeling disconnected, hurt, stuck, etc within relationships can be unlike any other. It’s often unbearable not only because of the sting from these relationships themselves, but often, also from all the [unsolicited] advice/reassurances you’re getting from others. You may hear comments like…
“Why can’t you just let it go? Why can’t you just be the bigger person?”
“Don’t let them get to you!”
“They didn’t mean it like that!”
“You’re too sensitive!”
Understandably, after hearing comments like this, you might start to question your own memories, experiences, thoughts, and emotions…you may start to wonder, "maybe I got it all wrong…”
Unintentionally, you might find yourself distancing yourself yourself from others…not just the people you once were close with but others whom you’ve just met/don’t even know. You tell yourself you’re protecting yourself from getting hurt again. That makes sense and at the same time, some part of you knows you can’t do this forever…
What you’re experiencing is what would be expected with estrangement.
Hi, I’m Gina Li (she/her)! I’m an Asian American therapist offering in-person therapy in Albany, CA and online therapy services for adults throughout California.
I work with young adults, Asian Americans, and caregivers in navigating estrangement so that they can feel more supported and loved in their relationships moving forward. At the heart of estrangement is often a deep sense of grief—the loss that can come with growing distant from people you were once close to, or from not having had the relationship you had hoped for in the first place.
Alongside that grief, you might also find yourself navigating self-doubt, shame, anger, or questions about your identity—wondering who you are without the relationships you thought would be there.
Heart In Mind reflects the kind of therapy I’m committed to offering: a space that allows you to keep your “heart in mind.” Within therapy, I’ll support you in being your fullest, most authentic self, even in the presence of social, cultural, and systemic pressures that may have pulled you away from yourself over time.
In our work together, we’ll take a thoughtful, holistic, and collaborative approach—one that considers both your lived experiences and the connection between mind and body. My hope is to support you in reconnecting with yourself and what matters the most to you moving forward.
Navigate distance, conflict, or disconnection from family, friends, and partners—past and present.
Clarify your identity while navigating life transitions, become more independent while staying connected.
Be the most authentic version of yourself. Explore cultural identity, family expectations, and generational differences.
Recover from caregiver burnout, stress, and emotional exhaustion.
1) Schedule a free initial 20 minute consultation call. During this call, we’ll figure out if we’re a good fit. I’ll share more about my therapy practice and you’ll have a chance to ask me any questions you have about working together.
2) Attend weekly therapy sessions.
*I recommend attending weekly therapy sessions for at least 3 months. This is where we will build a strong foundation for doing more in-depth work together to support long-lasting change.
3) Work towards your goals in therapy.
Early on, we’ll collaborate on identifying what you would like to work on in therapy and come up with a plan for how to reach those goals. From there, we’ll work together towards these goals.
Inevitably, the time will come when you and I both sense that you’ve met your goals in therapy. We’ll gradually decrease sessions and collaborate on another plan to ensure that you sustain your progress and feel confident in continuing to move forward.
4) Meet your goals and graduate from therapy!
