Background & training
- Graduate of the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California
- Training in mindfulness-based Gestalt Therapy, Hakomi Somatic Therapy, Somatic Couple Therapy, and the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT)
About
Hi, I’m Ziqiu, a licensed marriage and family therapist. I see adults, couples, teens, and families, by video in California and in person at our office in San Francisco. I’ve also volunteered as a therapist for children who have lost someone they love.
In my own journey as a therapist, I’ve explored how family of origin, society, culture, religion, race, gender, and the search for spiritual truth intersect. This has deepened my understanding of life and mental health, and it helps me support you in meeting inner conflict with clarity, self-empathy, and self-compassion. I see myself as a culturally sensitive therapist, and I welcome people of every background.
How I work
My approach brings together mindfulness, somatic awareness, and neurobiological perspectives. In individual therapy, we’ll uncover unconscious patterns and limiting beliefs and explore how they show up in your body and your relationships, so that change can last. I’m especially passionate about working with multicultural couples: understanding your dynamics, navigating cultural differences and identity, breaking out of stuck cycles, and building communication, emotional safety, and intimacy.
- Mindfulness-based Gestalt Therapy
- Hakomi Somatic Therapy
- Somatic Couple Therapy
- Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT)
My own practices, yoga, Vipassana meditation, T-group (Stanford’s “Touchy-Feely”), and time in nature, help me stay grounded and present with you. For me, therapy isn’t only about relieving symptoms. It’s about exploring vulnerability, deepening your connection with yourself, and finding the courage to live fully. “When we are connected to ourselves, we can connect more deeply with others.”
What we can work on
- Romantic relationships and marriage
- Multicultural couples
- Anxiety and depression
- Family-of-origin trauma
- Trauma and grief
- Work-related challenges and career changes
- Breakups and other life transitions
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
