My name is Charles Chang.
I’m a Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed in California since 2009. One of the main reasons that I became a therapist is because I love listening to people and learning their stories. I love seeing people learn more about who they are and grow in confidence.
I work with kids, teenagers, parents and adults, to help them better manage the stresses and challenges of life. Some common challenges include anxiety and depression. In spite of these challenges, I help people to take steps towards achieving their goals and dreams for themselves and for their families.
It’s an honor and privilege to partner with people on their journey of healing, transformation, and self-discovery. It fills my heart when I see children grow in kindness and become more responsible and mature. I also love seeing adults and parents grow in understanding and empathy for themselves and others.
Growing up, it was difficult for me to figure out who I was, as an Asian American, child of immigrant parents, in the Midwest and East Coast. I experienced conflicting messages and expectations from the culture around me and from my family. Trying to fit in, getting the approval of my family and others, and feeling competent led to stress, anxiety, disappointment and hopelessness at times.
It has taken me time, many mistakes and detours along the way, but with many people supporting me, to learn about who I am and who I want to be. As I learned to better manage my anxiety and stress and the ups and downs of life, I’ve been able to pursue my passions. Hope has helped me to keep moving forward in this journey of life.
For me, parenting has been filled with much joy but also much heartache. I’ve made many mistakes but am slowly learning that taking a deep breath and stopping to self-reflect almost always leads to better outcomes with my children. Frustration, helplessness, and shame are transforming into humility, grace, and love.
My journey has led me to become a therapist, helping people to heal from their past wounds and overcome their anxiety, depression and other life challenges. I’ve been able to work with adults and children of all ages in a community mental health clinic and in schools. I’ve also supervised many clinicians as they work towards becoming licensed therapists.
I treat each person I see with utmost respect. I respect each person’s values and the journey that they are on. In therapy, I focus on building a safe space, with empathy and understanding, with supportiveness and encouragement, and without judgment or shame. This supportive environment helps people to do the hard work of going deep in oneself and learning new ways of being.
I use a variety of therapeutic approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, person centered, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, trauma-informed, strengths-based, psychodynamic, family systems, and play therapy. It’s okay not to know what any of these terms mean, because ultimately, therapy is tailored to each person and family and their particular needs and situation.
My hope is to help people to grow and learn, learn about themselves, understand how their past has influenced their current challenges, and learn new ways of being and new skills they can use. As we find hope and healing, discover ourselves, and build more meaningful relationships, we will be able to pursue our dreams and passions and live our lives to the fullest.
Credentials:
- Licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California since 2009 (License #47841)
- Masters of Science (MS) degree in Clinical Psychology from San Jose State University
- Member of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Contact me to ask any other questions or to schedule a free 20-minute consultation