My Story

My why, hope, and vision came together to create something extraordinary. As the founder, I was driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to make a meaningful impact on people's lives.

My hope was to bring together various modalities—psychotherapy, alternative medicine, holistic healing, and health and mental health education—all under one roof. By integrating these elements, I aimed to provide a comprehensive approach that enhanced well-being and nurtured the mind, body, and spirit.

My vision extended beyond individual well-being. I dreamed of creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment that fostered collaboration among professionals from diverse disciplines. It's a place where we could come together, share our knowledge, and learn from one another. In such space, we had the freedom to grow in our own unique ways, serving and supporting the communities that held a special place in our hearts.

Supporting helping professionals and future licensed clinicians was a crucial part of my mission. I wanted to provide comprehensive clinical education and consultation to help them act on their values and develop their specialties. By empowering them with confidence and skills, I hoped to strengthen their well-being and personal and professional growth. I wish consultees and collaborators who come into my path knew that we were not just doing work together, but building a loving and thriving community. And when they moved on,  they carried this supportive culture with them, extending it wherever they went.

At Present Moment Wellness, my vision was a win-win situation. But it didn't stop there—with a sense of togetherness, we could create a space that transformed lives, uplifted communities, and fostered a deeper connection to the present moment.

I was so very proud of this journey of healing, growth, and community. Together, we made a difference. 💓

Why “Present Moment Wellness”? 

I see “wellness” as a term representing both inclusion and journey. 

I will leave it like that for us to explore our own interpretation 😊 That’s it! That’s right. Whatever comes to you for “inclusion” and “journey” on the topic of “wellness” is perfect because wellness is individualized.

I’m a believer in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (thanks to my friend and mentor, Phillip Cha, for introducing it to me). Borrowing its concept, I would like us to become more aware of the impacts of time traveling (that we spend so much time in our mind living in the past and future, suffering and worrying), the cost of missing out on the right now right here, and the importance of our current values. Thus, “Present Moment.” By knowing what matters to us now, we can take action to get closer to the person we want to become and the life we want to build in the future. 

What inspired the choice of this initial logo? 

念 is a Chinese character with multiple definitions, such as thoughts/thinking and missing/thinking of someone or something. This character can also be separated into two characters, 今 and 心. 今 can be referred to as “now.” 心 means “heart.” Thus, I see it as “What is in your thoughts— ‘念’? And what’s truly in your heart now— ’今心‘?” Isn’t it perfect with “Present Moment”? 

The design of the 念 uses art to highlight the shape of the “human” and “heart.” The dots surrounding the word represents external elements, meaning that we, as human beings, are not only impacted by internal experiences but also external factors. The colors of these dots align with chakra colors, representing healing and human energy. 

How about the choice of the initial Chinese name “曦念康樂坊”? 

I have shared the meaning of “念” above, so I will continue with the rest of the Chinese name. One of the meanings of “曦” is the light of sunrise. I would like to consider that as “when we are recognizing the importance of the present moment (right here, right now and values), that is a new start for us.” 康樂坊 means “a place for health and happiness,” I interpret it as “a community and place to build a healthy and rich life.” The 康 (health) includes physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual health. The 樂 here comes from “知足常樂”-being able to hold a sense of gratitude consistently when seeing/recognizing what we already have or what’s going well in life. I want to help people explore the possibility of finding happiness, which is not necessarily the chase of things or people we desire to have, don’t have, or don’t have the power to have, but the development of a rich and meaningful life based on our values. 

How about the choice of the new Chinese name “沁念療癒”? 

As my work continues to grow and evolve, I wanted the name of my practice to reflect more fully the heart of what I hope to offer: a space where people can reconnect with themselves, tend to their emotional wounds, and move toward meaningful healing.

For this reason, I chose the Chinese name 沁念療癒.

This change is not simply a translation of Present Moment Wellness. It is an expression of the same core philosophy through the beauty and depth of the Chinese language. The name carries meanings related to presence, emotional nourishment, self-awareness, and healing from within.

The character 沁 is often associated with something fresh, gentle, and deeply penetrating—like clear water slowly entering the heart, or a soothing fragrance quietly touching the senses.

In the context of healing, 沁 represents a process that is soft but profound. Meaningful change does not always happen through force or urgency. Sometimes healing begins through a gentle experience of safety, understanding, and emotional nourishment.

It also evokes the image of water: fluid, adaptable, cleansing, and life-giving. Water moves around obstacles without losing its nature. In the same way, healing can help us become more flexible and resilient while remaining connected to who we truly are.

The character 念 can refer to thoughts, awareness, remembrance, care, and what we hold in the heart.

It contains the idea of the present heart—what the heart is experiencing in this moment. This closely reflects the philosophy of present-moment awareness: pausing long enough to notice our thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, needs, and inner experiences without immediately judging or rejecting them.

念 also represents care and intentionality. Healing begins when we are willing to turn toward ourselves with curiosity and compassion rather than criticism.

Together, 沁念 conveys the image of something gentle and restorative flowing into our awareness and heart. It suggests being emotionally touched, nourished, and gradually brought back into connection with ourselves.

療癒 means healing, but it is not limited to the disappearance of symptoms. It represents an ongoing process of restoring connection, balance, vitality, and wholeness.

Healing may involve understanding the past, regulating the nervous system, processing grief or trauma, developing healthier relationships, reconnecting with the body, and learning to live with greater authenticity and self-compassion.

The name 沁念療癒 therefore represents a form of healing that begins gently, reaches deeply, and honors the whole person.