Justin Yip, LMSW

Growing up as a second-generation Asian American, I always felt like caring about my own mental health wasn’t something I was supposed to do. My household was open-minded and emotionally healthy, but the cultural messaging ran deeper than that. It didn’t feel right to prioritize my own wellbeing, let alone consider making a career out of helping other people with theirs.

I’m Justin, and when I was younger and I didn’t know how to help myself my older sister stepped in and carried me through it. She showed up for me consistently while managing her own busy life, and I leaned on her without ever questioning what that might be costing her. Years later, I found out she’d been struggling in her own way the entire time but nobody was helping her the way she showed up for me. That realization is what pushed me into this field. I wanted to be the person she was for me, for anyone who didn’t have someone in their life.

My father taught me the concept of balance at a young age, and it applies to everything I do. In therapy, balance means giving you space to feel what you’re feeling while also being honest when it’s time to move forward. It means recognizing that progress isn’t linear and that a bad week doesn’t erase months of growth. The concept is simple but staying consistent with it takes practice.

Clients have described me as someone who is supportive of them but doesn’t mince words or beat around the bush. My role isn’t to make you feel like you’re always right, so I won’t just agree with everything you tell me. I want to help you see yourself and your situations more clearly, and sometimes that means addressing patterns you might not have noticed or asking questions you weren’t expecting.

I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, low self-esteem, and stress.

I’m especially comfortable with clients dealing with complex or chronic mental health concerns because I’ve seen firsthand how a strong therapeutic relationship can create real progress regardless of the diagnosis.

I try to practice what I preach outside of sessions too. I lift weights, stay connected with friends and family, read comics, and make time for the things that keep me grounded. I do all of this because I believe in living the same balance I encourage my clients to build for themselves.

One of the most powerful moments in this work comes when a client is ready to move on. Termination sessions are emotional for both of us. Saying goodbye to someone you’ve walked alongside through some of the hardest parts of their life isn’t easy, but it’s the clearest sign that the work did what it was supposed to do. I want nothing but the best for every client who leaves my office, and knowing they’re equipped to keep going on their own is the greatest reward I could ask for.

Everybody has to start somewhere and taking the first step is usually the hardest part.

Therapy isn’t easy or glamorous, but giving yourself the chance to try is always better than wondering what would have happened if you had.