Asian American Therapy in New York City
Find clarity, connection, and confidence with culturally responsive therapy tailored for Asian American experiences.
You Are Tired of Feeling Misunderstood or Not Good Enough
As an Asian American living in New York City, you have likely carried the weight of expectations, cultural tensions, and unspoken emotions for years.
Maybe you are...
Constantly overthinking every decision or interaction
Feeling anxious or "not enough" despite your achievements
Struggling with self-doubt, perfectionism, or burnout
Trying to meet family expectations while craving freedom to be yourself
Wrestling with cultural identity and feeling like you do not fully fit
Navigating complex dynamics in dating, friendships, or family life
Feeling emotionally distant from others and unsure how to open up
You might have learned early on to put others first, suppress your emotions, or stay silent to keep the peace. But now, that silence feels isolating and not self-honoring.
You are ready for something different.
What Is Asian American Therapy?
Asian American therapy is a form of mental health counseling specifically designed to address layered experiences: navigating multiple cultural worlds, carrying intergenerational expectations, and finding your own sense of self in the middle of it all. Unlike general therapy, culturally responsive care for Asian American individuals integrates an understanding of collectivist family structures, immigration and acculturation stress, the model minority myth, and the cultural stigma that can make seeking support feel like a betrayal of self-sufficiency.
Who You Will Work With
At Resonance Psychology, Dr. Angela Gwak, MFT, PhD, and Ms. Esther Eng, MHC-LP, are Asian American clinicians who understand these experiences personally as well as professionally. We work with Asian American adults in New York City, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Filipino, Thai and South Asian Americans, through the very challenges you may be facing: rediscovering your voice, feeling more empowered, and reimagining your relationships while honoring your family and cultural background. You will not need to spend sessions explaining why your family's expectations feel non-negotiable, or why asking for help feels complicated. That context is already part of how we work.
How to Get Started
Many people first reach out to Dr. Angela Gwak. Depending on availability and what you are looking for, she may introduce you to Ms. Esther Eng, MHC-LP, who works under her direct supervision and sees adults for individual and couples therapy in New York. Dr. Angela Gwak also offers sessions in Korean.
Sessions are available in person at our office at 125 East 23rd Street in Flatiron and Gramercy, or online.
We are an out-of-network practice, and we provide a superbill after each paid session so you can seek partial reimbursement from your insurance. Either way, you start with a free 15 to 20 minute consultation.
Resonance Psychology Approach to Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Therapy at Resonance is relational, compassionate, and built around your full identity. We explore how your family, culture, and society have shaped your mental health and relationships. We honor your story while helping you define your own path. No assumptions. No judgment. Real conversations that reflect your lived reality.
We draw from these therapeutic modalities in our work:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Identifying and reshaping the thought patterns and behaviors that fuel anxiety, self-criticism, and overwhelm, so you can respond to life's pressures with greater clarity.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Building on your existing strengths and resources to move toward the life you want, rather than dwelling exclusively on problems.
Multicultural and Systems Therapy
Understanding your experience within the larger cultural, familial, and social systems that have shaped who you are, and what it means to move forward within and beyond them.
Psychodynamic and Attachment-Based Therapy
Exploring how early relationships and unconscious patterns influence your present-day sense of self, connection, and worth.
Relational and Intergenerational Trauma-Informed Therapy
Working through the ways that unspoken family histories and inherited cultural wounds show up in your current relationships and emotional life.
Evidence-Based and Flexible
No single approach fits every person. We adapt our methods to your specific needs, background, and goals, always grounding the work in what the evidence shows to be effective.
This kind of healing is possible. We are here to provide culturally attuned support tailored to your unique identities and experiences.
Common Reasons Asian Americans Begin Therapy
At Resonance Psychology, clients seek therapy for many personal, relational, and cultural reasons. You do not have to be in crisis to reach out.
Chronic Anxiety and Overthinking
Racing thoughts, constant second-guessing, and the persistent feeling that you are not doing enough.
Cultural Identity and Belonging
Feeling caught between cultural worlds and uncertain about where you truly belong or what you actually want.
Low Self-Worth and Self-Criticism
Chronic self-doubt, perfectionism, and the belief that your value is tied to your achievements or your compliance.
Family Pressure and Intergenerational Conflict
Navigating obligations to parents and elders while carving out space for your own identity and choices.
Burnout and Caretaking Roles
Exhaustion from years of high-achieving, people-pleasing, or being the emotional anchor for everyone around you.
Grief, Trauma, and Relationship Struggles
Complex childhood experiences, loss, loneliness, or patterns in relationships that feel impossible to break on your own.
You are not "too sensitive" or "too much." Your experiences are valid. And therapy can be a space where you feel genuinely supported to move toward a more meaningful and joy-filled life.
Ready to Feel More Empowered?
If you are tired of navigating everything alone and ready to feel more connected, confident, and calmer, reach out to us. We can connect and talk about what you are going through and how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asian American Therapy in New York City
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While this page is focused on Asian American therapy, we welcome clients of all backgrounds. At Resonance, we specialize in working with Asian American clients but also work with individuals from diverse cultural, racial, and identity backgrounds who value evidence-based and relational therapy.
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That is completely okay and actually very common. Many of our clients are exploring therapy for the first time. We will go at your pace, and we will guide you through what to expect so that you feel supported and comfortable.
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If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, or simply not yourself, therapy can help. You do not have to be in crisis to benefit. If you are thinking about it, it is worth exploring.
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The model minority myth is the false assumption that all Asian Americans are uniformly high-achieving and emotionally resilient, and therefore do not need mental health support. This stereotype can make it harder for Asian Americans to seek help, because their struggles may be dismissed or minimized by others, and sometimes by themselves. A therapist who understands this dynamic provides care that does not require you to justify why you need support.
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Filial piety is the deep cultural value of respect and obligation toward parents and elders, common across many Asian cultures. In therapy, this value often surfaces as tension between your own needs and your family's expectations, around career, relationships, or the decision to seek mental health care at all. A therapist who is familiar with this dynamic understands it without needing you to explain it from the beginning.
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Culturally responsive therapy means your therapist does not require you to spend a lot of session time educating them about your cultural context. Intergenerational dynamics, achievement pressure, family obligations, and experiences of discrimination are already understood as part of the work, not as background information to get through before the real therapy begins.
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Yes. Ms. Esther Eng sees clients online and in person across New York. Dr. Angela Gwak sees clients in-person and online in New York, and via telehealth only for New Jersey and Florida residents. Online sessions offer the same warmth and care as in-person work.
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We are an out-of-network provider, which means you pay for sessions upfront and we can provide a superbill for possible reimbursement through your insurance. Many clients receive partial reimbursement depending on their plan.
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Simply book a free 15 to 20 minute consultation. We will talk about what you are going through, what you are hoping for, and whether we would be a good fit.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out for immediate support. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. The content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care.