You are welcome here.
your burning anxiety
your profound grief
your sacred anger
your deepest fear
and your hidden joy,
All parts of you are welcome.
Hey you are welcome here!
Rebekah Gong, LCSW, she/they/她/TA
Come As You Are
PHILOSOPHY
My clinical work is informed both by my professional training and my lived experience as an Asian queer immigrant/diaspora. My inherent inclination has always been to support people who often find themselves excluded by racism, sexism, xenophobia, heteronormativity, fatphobia, ableism, ageism, or other dominant cultural norms. As a result, I am drawn toward non-pathologizing strength-based perspectives. My clinical philosophy emphasizes empowering the marginalized and hearing the unheard through an anti-oppressive multicultural feminist lens.
APPROACH
Dually licensed in California and China, and trained across Europe, North America, and Asia, I am privileged to be one of the few psychotherapists with extensive educational and clinical experience in both the West and the East. As a multi-specialized therapist, I bring you a unique integrative approach weaving together inner child/parts work (Internal Family System), body-oriented (somatic attachment therapy, sensorimotor psychotherapy), and brain-based (EMDR) interventions, with a trauma-informed focus on attachment and relational dynamics (Emotionally Focused Therapy, Couples Development Model). I've received specialized training in Sex Therapy as well as Gender Sexuality and Relationship Diversity (GSRD) therapy. As for eating disorders treatment, I adhere to the Health-at-Every-Size principles. My practice is informed by the latest research on attachment, trauma, and neuroscience including polyvagal theory. Additionally, I can draw from more traditional methods like ACT, DBT, and CBT as needed.
SPECIALITY
- Trauma (complex, intergenerational, relational, sexual, racial, activism, etc.), attachment wounds, grief and loss
- Sex therapy for individuals and couples/polycules (intimacy issues, unmatched desire, sexual pain and dysfunction, kink/fetish/BDSM, sexuality exploration, sexual performance anxiety, pelvic floor dysfunction, etc.)
- Relationship therapy for individuals and couples/polycules (conflicts, communication, infidelity, life transitions as a family, disconnection, navigating poly/consensual non-monogamy, etc.)
- Marginalized experiences and identity exploration (racial, gender, cultural, etc.)
- Challenges with cross-cultural/between-culture experiences
- Eating disorders (Binge Eating Disorder, Anorexia, Bulimia, OSFED, ARFID), disordered eating, body image issues; perfectionism
You've created a space that feels like a hug.
- Former Client
Highlights of Professional Qualifications
I acknowledge that I benefit from institutional access and privilege that has allowed me to engage in a lifelong pursuit of education.
Credential & Education
License: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) #115405, California
License: Licensed National Psychological Counselor (Advanced), China
Degree: Master of Social Work (Clinical Concentration) /University of California, Berkeley, U.S.
Diploma: Post-Graduate Diploma in Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity (GSRD) Therapy /Pink Therapy, London, UK
Certificate: Sex Therapy /Sexual Health Certificate Program /University of Michigan, U.S.
Advanced Training & Certificate
Internal Family System Level One & Continuity Program (IFS Institute-trained) & Serving as a Program Teaching Assistant
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Anxiety and Trauma Treatment Level One & Level Two & Mindfulness Retreat for EMDR Clinicians (EMDRIA-approved)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma Level One (SPI-trained) & ongoing consultation
Certificate: Somatic Attachment Therapy
Certificate: Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies
Developmental Model of Couples Therapy
Emotionally Focused (Couples) Therapy Externship Training (ICEEFT-approved)
Historical and Transgenerational Trauma Healing (ongoing)
Decolonization in Psychotherapy and Mental Health (ongoing)
Trauma-informed Eating Disorders Treatment (32-month Residency Training of PHP/IOP with TheLotusCollaborative)
Research & Conference Engagement
Advisory Board Member, National Queer Women's Eating Disorders Research Project, University of Minnesota School of Public Health & University of Colorado Denver (2021-present)
Study on Population with Disability Accessing Sexual Health Services in East China, Marie Stopes International
Closed-door Meeting on the Depathologization of Homosexuality in China, World Health Organization (WHO) Beijing Office
Speaking & Teaching Engagement
Stanford University Medical School - Guest Speaker on sexuality of Asian Americans for medical students and physicians
Stanford University Medical School - Guest Speaker on understanding Chinese immigrants' mental health via a culturally informed lens for medical students and physicians
QTIFS - Teaching Assistant of Internal Family System Foundations Course for trans, nonbinary, and queer clinicians
IFS Institute - Program Assistant of Internal Family System Level One Training for BIPOC therapists and practitioners
APISWC, National Association of Social Workers - Workshop Facilitator on introducing Internal Family System for Asian American and Pacific Islander therapists
EDRD Pro - Panelist on understanding body liberation for eating disorders therapists and registered dietitians
San Francisco General Hospital /University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Trauma Recovery Center — Presenter on understanding eating disorders for trauma therapists
Stanford University Women Talk — Panelist on imposter syndrome and women empowerment for international students
Beijing LGBTQ Center — Workshop Facilitator and Presenter on gender, sexuality, and relationship diversity
UC Berkeley, Bixby Center for Population, Health, and Sustainability — Presenter on sexual health and sexual wellness
Oxfam — Workshop Facilitator on gender equity and diversity awareness for non-profit leadership
Beijing Normal University — Guest Speaker and Workshop Facilitator on understanding intimate partner violence for MSW graduate students
Professional Affiliations
Co-chair (2019-2021) and Board Member (current), Asian Pacific Islander Social Work Council (APISWC) of NorCaL, NASW
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
American Psychological Association (APA)
May You Be Rooted, May You Heal, May You Thrive
Born in a riverside town in central China, where citrus, rice, and lotus abound, my upbringing was steeped in the flavors of lotus root soup, tea brewed from lotus seeds, and delicately steamed dishes wrapped in lotus leaves. These memories have stayed with me as I ventured far from my hometown. Navigating life as a queer in China and later an Asian queer immigrant/diaspora in North America, there were countless moments when I felt adrift, rootless, or even "psychologically homeless." I embarked on a journey of healing and empowerment by leading a feminist theatre project that reconnected me with my body. Along the way, therapy, mindfulness, dance, nature, communities, plant medicine, and spirituality have nurtured me. My lifelong self-discovery and growth journey continues to unfold, inspiring me to show up in both personal and professional realms, allowing me to adventure in the world while rooted.
Today, the mission of Dear Rooted Lotus is driven by a deep desire to support you in finding your very own path to feel grounded, flourish, and thrive. Together, let us embark on your transformative journey toward healing and empowerment. We will navigate the intricacies of your inner landscape, unleashing your inherent potential and paving the way for a life of profound fulfillment.
No mud, no lotus.
- Thich Nhat Hanh