About Me

All Are Welcome Here!

Hello

I’m Dr. Jean Jho

Jho as in “Joe” | She/Her | #PSY30433

I am Asian-American – 2nd generation Korean born from immigrant parents

I am an ally to LGBTQ+ and POC

I think “flaws” are deep, complex, and beautiful in their own way

I also like to curse, a little…a lot

Welcome! All are welcome here and I am glad that you are here! Allow me to introduce myself.

Sometimes it is hard not to feel shame when aspects of yourself that feel overly reactive, illogical, and sometimes even out of control emerge in your relationships with both yourself and others. It may feel as if your own feelings are your worst enemy and you work hard to make them disappear, trying to exercise whatever control you can have over your emotions. Rationality feels safe. Emotions do not. You master the art of appearing put together, calm, and even unshaken by hard situations. However, what other people do not see is the part of you that feels so much that your internal world feels chaotic. You desperately do not want that part of yourself to be seen. You truly believe that nobody will accept you if you show them what is underneath.

I find each and every person I work with to be complex, layered, and valuable in their uniqueness and the ways they have come to adapt to the world they were born into. Rather than looking at situations from a “good” or “bad” lens, I try to be curious with my clients about why certain reactions, feelings, and reactions have emerged and have continued to persist over time. This may come in the form of identifying past traumas or experiences that have shaped beliefs as well as identify patterns that have emerged in various parts of your life. My desire is to help folks access appreciation and and empathy towards their humanness. Emotions start to feel less like enemies and flaws, but more a helpful tool that alerts them to their needs.

I believe that collaborative work and mutual curiosity allows individuals to feel more grounded as they develop insight into themselves as well as identify their deeper needs. I value being able to embrace our humanness, flaws and all. Therapy IS vulnerable and difficult as well as gratifying and healing. I prioritize creating a space that is safe and nonjudgmental so that you can come as you are, just as you are.

Outside of being a therapist– I am a parent to 4 fur babies – 2 dachshund puppies and 2 cats. Yep…sometimes I ask myself why I did this to myself. Their cuteness is their saving grace. My cats may make appearances every now and again during sessions, especially when it is an hour before dinner time (why do they do this????). I love food, laughter, tattoos, and good shows to binge on.

Get Started

My Approach

Starting therapy can be intimidating. The prospect of delving into your pain or other vulnerable aspects of your life with a complete stranger can be a bit overwhelming. You may have have absolutely no idea on how to get started, which is most often times the most difficult part. Breaking down the process and knowing what to expect can help ease anxiety. Here is what starting therapy would look like with me:

1. I typically start by scheduling a brief 15-20 minute phone consulation for us to get an initial feel for one another.
  - I will ask about what you’re wanting to work on and what you’re looking for in a therapist.
  - You will also have the opportunity to ask me questions.
  - From there, I will ask if you’d like to schedule an intake for us to further get a sense of fit or if you’d like some time to think about it or explore other options. There is NO PRESSURE to start if you are not ready.
2. Once we schedule an intake, I’ll send over some documents for you to sign before the appointment. These can be accessed in your client portal.
3. You’ll receive a link to the appointment via email or text reminders.
4. On the day of the intake, I will go over some logisitical items. I will be asking questions to get a more detailed picture of what you’re currently dealing with and to gather some background information. You will get a chance to get a feel for our interaction. I will ask you to pay attention to your gut to see if you feel safe, comfortable, and understood. I will check in with you at the end of session to see how you felt about the session
  - - If you do not feel it is a right fit, let me know. I know that can put you in an uncomfortable situation, but I am a huge believer of fit because research shows that the most significant factor of change in therapy comes from the therapeutic relationship. I would be more than happy to provide you with referrals to someone who I think would be a better fit for you!
5. If you are wanting to continue, we’ll schedule sessions from there. I typically let my clients start future sessions depending on what comes up for them. However, I am willing to help with the process on the days you’re struggling to pinpoint something in particular.