Haley Cha, M.A.

How I decided to be a therapist

The greatest scenario under the sun for me is to have the privilege to play a part in the stories of another individual. For me, nothing is more rewarding than being able to intently listen to another person’s narratives of perseverance and have the honor to join in to assist each person engage in their delicate work of uncovering their unique worthiness. It breaks my heart to witness the tremendous number of individuals suffering in silence, stigmatized, and disconnected from themselves. I am determined to fulfill my mission to cultivate an inclusive space where individuals can celebrate themselves for who they are and collaboratively target fruitful goals of growth and self-actualization.

How I would like to help clients as a therapist

I cherish meeting each person where they are in the present moment. The space that I offer is a safe zone where children, individuals, and families can feel comfortable to simply be themselves and not feel as though they need to be molded into becoming something they are not meant for. I strive to work with clients from a strengths-based and culturally sensitive perspective, where their resilience is validated and nurtured through a healthy client-therapist relationship, strong psychoeducation, and personalized experiences. Through the ongoing relational attunement, clients can feel accepted, heard, and authentic to who they are truly inside. By activating their own inner guidance system, clients can break old patterns that no longer serve them and become intentional about creating a meaningful life that promotes true change.

What my theoretical orientation is as a therapist

My therapeutic practice is grounded in the foundational pillars of the Bottom-up approaches to guide children and adults tend to their whole selves – mind, body, and spirit. I use a naturalistic framework that delves into exploration of the physiological sensations and states of our nervous system prior to addressing the layers of emotions, thoughts, and executive functions. Our mere presence and breath may unleash boundless potential in fetching us invaluable insights into our internal world. By meeting each person where they are in the present moment, I gently guide each person to access their stored away memories within their nervous system to raise internal awareness, establish felt sense of physiological safety, and expand the capacity to safely discharge the stuck points. I effectively blend Somatic Stress Release techniques, Inner Child Work, Sand Tray Therapy, and Person-Centered Play Therapy. Once physiological connections are rekindled, I assist clients to adopt proactive methods in shifting their emotional states, cognitive patterns, and core beliefs through integrating the following evidence-based Top-down approaches - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT), Prolonged-Exposure Therapy, Executive Function Coaching, and Parent Coaching.