About Joshua Kim
Who I am
As a 2nd generation Korean American and Southern California native, I bring a unique perspective and understanding to my work as a licensed clinical social worker. I received my B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine, in 2011 and my M.S.W. degree from California State University, Long Beach in 2016.
With over 8 years of experience in the mental health field, I have worked extensively with children, teens, families, and adults in community-based nonprofit agencies and outpatient mental health settings. My practice currently focuses on serving adults through individual online telehealth therapy services.
My approach to therapy is centered on creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I believe that everyone has the innate capacity to heal and is the expert of their own lives. As your therapist, I will help you reconnect with your authentic self and develop better ways to handle the challenges that are standing in the way of your ideal life.
My encounter with the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model came during a time when I was going through my own therapy and low point in life. I had tried several different modalities of therapy but found myself feeling stuck and unable to move beyond an intellectualizing place. Feeling frustrated with my lack of progress, I came across IFS through a podcast that featured the founder, Richard Schwartz in 2021. The concept of a natural multiplicity of the mind and having parts that can differ or share views, emotions, or urges sounded intriguing and also made intuitive sense to me. I began seeing an IFS therapist and eventually signed up for my level 1 training with the IFS Institute later that year. Currently, I am level 2 IFS trained and am currently working through the process of becoming IFS certified.
To this day I am still passionate about IFS and continue to utilize it as one of the many ways to take care of myself. As I’ve learned to become more connected, compassionate, and curious about my own experiences and self, I’ve noticed a greater ability to be present with life as well as show up more fully for the relationships of those whom I care about. Fostering a relationship with my parts hasn’t made me invulnerable to low moments, anxiety, or overwhelm as I am still human. However, I’ve gained an increasing capacity to hold complexity, uncertainty, and discomfort without losing myself in addition to a real sense of connection with others.
When I'm not working, I enjoy staying active through working out, doing yoga, playing pickleball, and going on hikes. I'm also a foodie who loves to cook and try new restaurants with my wife and friends, and I'm always on the lookout for new travel adventures. And of course, I'm a passionate fan of my favorite sports teams – go Lakers and Ravens!
Taking the steps to seek support can feel daunting. There may be many different feelings that come up with asking for help such as anger, shame, or worry. Perhaps there are even some positive emotions such as excitement or intrigue about the prospect of trying a different way.
If you’d like to explore whether we’d be a good fit to work together, get in touch today for a free 15 minute phone consultation.