My Story
How it started...
In the midst of my personal and professional journey, I've been inspired by the stories of others and my own experiences. I've always dreamed of doing more for the communities I serve, my colleagues in the helping professions, future generations, and myself. But there were moments when self-doubt crept in, whispering, "Who do you think you are? A woman, a person of color, an immigrant? Forget about it!"
Despite these doubts, I couldn't help but dream and share my vision with others. Something magical happened when I did—I became more energized, inspired, and motivated. I thought maybe, just maybe, I could make it all happen when I turned 40 and successfully graduated from my doctoral program. In the meantime, I planned to live in my RAV4, traveling around and continuing my private practice online.
Then, one fateful day while enjoying lunch on Ocean Ave in San Francisco, I spotted a sign that read "For Rent." It was right next to a psychic fortune-telling practice—a place of guidance and healing. It felt like a calling, though I was uncertain about the whole thing. But somehow, everything fell into place smoothly, as if it were fate intervening. I couldn't help but think, "Well, I guess I won't be traveling around in my car for a while."
How it's going...
My why, hope, and vision come together to create something extraordinary. As the founder, I am driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to make a meaningful impact on people's lives.
My hope is to bring together various modalities—psychotherapy, medication consultation, alternative medicine, holistic healing, and health and mental health education—all under one roof. By integrating these elements, I aim to provide a comprehensive approach that enhances well-being and nurtures the mind, body, and spirit.
But my vision extends beyond individual well-being. I dream of creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for helping professionals from different disciplines. It's a place where we can come together, share our knowledge, and learn from one another. Here, we have the freedom to grow in our own unique ways, serving and supporting the communities that hold a special place in our hearts.
Supporting future licensed clinicians is a crucial part of my mission. I offer comprehensive clinical training, administrative learning, and opportunities to develop their specialties. By empowering them with confidence and skills, I aim to strengthen job satisfaction, team morale, and personal and professional growth. I want my future staff to know that we are not just building a business, but a loving and thriving community. And when they move on, I hope they carry this supportive culture with them, extending it wherever they go.
At Present Moment Wellness, my vision is a win-win situation. But it doesn't stop there—with a sense of togetherness, we can achieve a win-win-win. Together, we can create a space that transforms lives, uplifts communities, and fosters a deeper connection to the present moment.
Join me on this journey of healing, growth, and community. Together, we can make a difference. 💓
Why "Present Moment Wellness"?
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 this logo to be chosen?
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 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.