A Bit about ME

I'm Yeji. I came to the U.S. from Pohang, a coastal city in South Korea, in 2016. I came to study the mind, and to learn how to help people who never had the space to be heard.

Moving here changed how I understood myself. I went from majority to minority, from citizen to visitor, from native speaker to someone still searching for the right words. That shift taught me something I now carry into every session: our identities shape how we experience the world, and how the world experiences us.

I know what it looks like to achieve everything you were supposed to, and still feel empty. I know what it's like to feel too much, and to wonder if there's something wrong with how deeply things land.

I work with people navigating complex trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, and the weight of living between cultures. Many of my clients are immigrants, international professionals, or first-generation adults trying to make sense of where they came from and where they're going.

I became a therapist because I know what it's like to feel unheard. And I believe, deeply, that you are worthy to be heard.

Yeji Son, PhD (she/they)

Licensed Counseling Psychologist

Learn more

  • My style is warm, direct, and honest. I believe the relationship between us matters more than any technique. Without trust, it's hard to share the things that actually need to be heard.

    You don't have to rush. You don't have to perform. But I also won't let you stay comfortable forever. Growth happens when we gently push against the edges, and I'll be with you when it feels scary.

  • For individuals, I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gestalt therapy, and trauma-informed care. We work with mind, body, and the stories you carry, not just symptoms.

    For couples, my approach is attachment-based and informed by Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I help partners slow down, understand the patterns underneath their conflicts, and find new ways to reach each other.

  • University of Iowa
    PhD in Counseling Psychology (2024)

    MA in Educational Measurement and Statistics (2024)

    University of Denver
    MA in Counseling Psychology (2018)

    Handong Global University
    Dual Degree in Psychology and Korean Law (2016)

  • 2024–2025 Interconnection Healing Center, Seattle — Psychologist

    2023–2024 CAPS, California State University Long Beach — Pre-doctoral Intern

    2022–2023 Student Health and Wellness Center, Grinnell College — Practicum Counselor

    2021–2022 Women's Resource & Action Center, University of Iowa — Practicum Counselor

    2020–2021 Pomerantz Career Center, University of Iowa — Practicum Counselor

    2019–2020 University Counseling Service, University of Iowa — Practicum Counselor

    2018–2020 Project H.O.P.E, University of Iowa — Graduate Assistant

    2017–2018 Salvation Army Harbor Light, Denver — Intern Counselor

    2017 Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Denver — Practicum Counselor

    2014–2015 Coaching Company Paul & Mark, Seoul — Facilitator

    2013–2014 Simei Rehabilitation Care Centre, Singapore — Intern Counselor

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship — scheduled June 2026

    EMDR Basic Training 1 — 2026

Contact

If you're curious about working together, I offer a free 15-minute consultation. No pressure, just a chance to see if we're a good fit. You can share what's bringing you to therapy, and I'll answer any questions you have.