Natalie Hsieh, MA, MA, MS, PhD, AMFT
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
#AMFT142591
Phone: 619-858-3105 x 136
Telehealth Sessions
I recognize the courage it takes to invite a professional to partner with you in finding your way through a season of life that feels painful, discouraging, or overwhelming. I offer a personalized space where you can feel seen, heard, and respected as we explore what concerns you, at your pace. I position myself as someone who is in your corner, enlarging your hope and guiding you to experience greater relational and emotional well-being and flourishing.
Therapy Experience and Approach
I see clients for individual, couples, parent, family, and group therapy, using a personalized approach that honors the strengths and needs of each client. I consider you and your concerns within a framework that integrates body-mind-sociocultural-spiritual systems at work in your life. My therapy experience includes working with adolescents and parents/families and collaborating with staff in school-based settings, as well as working with individuals, couples, families, and groups in community outpatient settings. My life experiences as a 2nd generation bicultural Chinese American, pastor’s spouse, seminary graduate in Christian theology, and mother of a child with complex medical needs, also shape my worldview and clinical sensitivity. I bring an increased capacity to help clients notice and process the influence of race/ethnicity, family and culture of origin, Christian spirituality, and health/medical journeys, in therapy.
My Therapeutic Approach / Core Values:
Building a collaborative therapeutic relationship of personalized and dignifying care
Drawing out your hopes, strengths, resources, vision, and values
Integrating body-mind-sociocultural-spiritual well-being in yourself and your relationships
Helping you discover meaningful insights from your life journey and relational contexts
Sensitively processing grief, shame, and traumatic stress and helping you grow your resilience
Areas of Additional Experience:
PREPARE-ENRICH pre-marital counseling (can be tailored to honor a couple's values and goals)
Faith-integrated counseling and exploring spiritual concerns
Cultural journeys and exploring cross-cultural or bicultural identity complexities
Seasons of life adjustment or role/identity challenges, complexities, conflict
Ongoing health/medical needs and navigating healthcare, school, and community resources
Providing education on mental health, trauma, and strengthening family and community relationships and resilience
Education and Specialized Training
PhD in Systems, Families, and Couples, Loma Linda University
MS in Marital and Family Therapy, Loma Linda University
MA in Theological Studies, Bethel Seminary
MA in Psychology, Stanford University
BA in Psychology, Stanford University
Certification, PREPARE-ENRICH Facilitator
Certification, House of Ruth 40-hr Domestic Violence Training
Certification, 4-Day Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship
Professional Teaching, Research, Writing, and Speaking:
I am a lifelong learner and enjoy contributing to collective wisdom shared in academic/professional and community settings. Beginning in Fall 2024, I will teach future counselors/therapists as full-time faculty in the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program at Pt. Loma Nazarene University. My teaching interests include the integration of Christian theology/spirituality and counseling, MFT/counseling theories, nurturing the self of the therapist/researcher/educator, contextual intersections of identity, and medical family therapy. I also enjoy providing workshops on mental health, cultural/social context, and whole-person care for churches and other faith-based communities.
I am also energized by advocacy and community action research that mobilizes partnerships between professionals and community organizations to address shared concerns. I have previously worked with research teams examining the extent and need concerning human trafficking in San Diego County (National Institute of Justice - Grant 2012-R2-CX-0028) and the impact of professional partnerships and health education in church congregations for chronic disease prevention and wellness promotion in Dallas, TX (National Institute of Health - Grant R01 HL087768). My current research and advocacy interests include promoting Asian American well-being in families and churches, encouraging scholars and practitioners of color to contribute local wisdom on health and healing to the counseling profession, and strengthening integrated care and resilience for families with ongoing health and medical needs.
Selected publications:
Hsieh, N. & ChenFeng, J. (in process). Constructing Shame Resilience as Asian Americans: Face, Race, and Bicultural Identity. In ChenFeng, J. & Kim, L. (Eds.) Asian American Identities, Relationships, and Cultural Legacies: Reflections from Marriage and Family Therapists. New York, NY: Routledge.
Hsieh, N. (2021). Constructing Bicultural Identity and Shame Resilience in Chinese* Americans (Doctoral dissertation, Loma Linda University).
Quek, K. M.-T., Hsieh, N. W-M., & Eppler, C. (2021). Collectivist Discourses in Relational Intersectionality: Insights from Chinese American Christian Couples. Journal of Family Issues, 42(11), 2487–2508.
Selected presentations:
Hsieh, N., Cafferky, B., Williams-Reade, J., Ing, K., ChenFeng, J., Lister, Z. (2021, Nov). Bicultural Identity Negotiation and Shame Resilience in Chinese Americans. Presentation at the Theory Construction and Research Methodology workshop, National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) virtual annual conference.
Hsieh, N., Quek, K., Eppler, C (2021, June). Relational Intersectionality with Collectivist Couples. Presentation at the American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) virtual conference.
Hsieh, N., ChenFeng, J., Lister, Z., & Banjoko, S. (2019, June). Bicultural Shame Resiliency in Chinese Americans. Presentation at the American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) conference, Oakland, CA.
Hsieh, N., Lister, Z., & Smith, J.D. (2019, May). Cultivating Spiritual Home and Hospitality. Presentation at School of Behavioral Health Spiritual Integration Luncheon, Loma Linda, CA.
Professional Affiliations:
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA)
Contact:
Please contact me at 619-858-3105 x 136 to discuss how we might work together. I currently see clients through teletherapy. In-person sessions may become available in Fall 2024.
Supervised by Donald W. Welch, PhD, MS, LMFT License #LMFT50129