Our services
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a one-on-one process where you meet with a licensed therapist in a safe, confidential space to talk through what you’re experiencing. Sessions are guided by your needs, allowing you to explore thoughts, emotions, and life challenges at your own pace while gaining insight and support.
The benefits of individual therapy include improved self-awareness, better coping skills, and a deeper understanding of patterns that may be holding you back. It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, strengthen relationships, and build confidence—ultimately supporting you in creating a more balanced and meaningful life.
Approaches to Care
Cognitive Behavioral ThERAPY
A structured, goal-oriented form of therapy that focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
It works by helping individuals identify unhelpful or negative thinking patterns and replace them with more balanced, realistic thoughts. As thinking shifts, emotions and behaviors tend to improve as well.
CBT is commonly used to:
*Reduce anxiety, depression, and stress
*Improve coping skills
*Change unhealthy behavior patterns
*Build problem-solving and emotional regulation skills
Rather than focusing heavily on the past, CBT is typically present-focused and practical, teaching skills that can be applied in everyday life to create lasting change.
eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (emdr)
A structured form of psychotherapy designed to help individuals process and heal from distressing experiences, especially trauma.
It works on the idea that painful memories can become “stuck” in the brain, causing ongoing emotional distress, anxiety, or negative beliefs about oneself. During EMDR sessions, a therapist guides the client to briefly focus on these memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation—typically side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or sounds.
This process helps the brain reprocess the memory in a way that reduces its emotional intensity.
Client centered therapy
A humanistic approach to therapy that focuses on creating a safe, supportive environment where individuals can explore their thoughts and feelings freely.
This approach is based on the belief that people have a natural ability to grow, heal, and find their own solutions when given the right conditions.
Client-Centered Therapy helps individuals:
*Gain better self-understanding
*Build self-acceptance and confidence
*Process emotions in a safe space
*Move toward personal growth and meaningful change
This approach is typically non-directive, meaning the client leads the conversation and focuses on what feels most important in the present moment.
Chin Thao, MSW, LICSW
Hello, and welcome to True Essence Counseling. My name is Chin Thao and I’ve been working as a therapist for the past 10 years, and I recently opened my own practice in December 2025 to create a space that feels more personal, real, and supportive. My approach is calm, relaxed, and unstructured—I believe therapy doesn’t have to feel rigid or overwhelming. Instead, I offer a space where you can show up as you are and talk about whatever is on your mind in the moment.
Many of the people I work with are used to handling things on their own and don’t always have a place to slow down and process what they’re feeling. My role is to help you make sense of those thoughts and emotions, at your own pace, without pressure or judgment.
I’m also certified in EMDR, which allows me to support individuals in working through past experiences and trauma in a way that feels safe and manageable.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just need a space to think and breathe, I’m here to walk alongside you through it.