Hi there, I'm Cliff!

Hi there! I'm excited to work with you, especially if you have a desire to rewrite your story and want to see what life is like beyond struggle.

My focus

My ideal clients are those who often feel subjected to forces greater than themselves, whether it be a sense of alienation (race, gender, sexual orientation, etc) or family dynamics that normalize corrosive behaviors.

My approach

My approach can be summed up in two words: agency and curiosity. Mental/emotional ailments (depression, anxiety, etc) are seen through the lens of adaptive functioning rather than "bad things" to simply get rid of.

My communication style

While I find it important to be gentle and inviting, I also think it's crucial that the person in front of me knows exactly how I am feeling and explores a space of open, candid honesty.

My journey to mental healthcare

I became a therapist after realizing the most valuable skills in previous jobs (homelessness case manager, community health social work) involved my ability to deeply connect with individuals who have been betrayed by family or social safety nets at large.

My goals for you

I'm a big proponent of exploring the "why" behind the goals. More often than not, I find that the initial goals I hear about are a subset of a larger issue/aspiration. I'm also a firm believer of our capacity to reach our goals, which entails exploring the client's role in reaching milestones on their own accord.

Our first session

Our first session will look towards the future: "what do you hope life is like if ___ issue is no longer relevant?"

I identify as...

Male
Asian
Atheist, Interfaith, Unitarian Universalism

Expertise

Treatment approaches

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Attachment-based

Object Relations

Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)

+ 4 more

Focus populations

Body Positivity

Single Mother

Vegan

+ 3 more

Therapy types

Individual Therapy

Ages served

Minors
Adults

Practice

Accepted insurance providers

Aetna
Allegiance
Allied
Ambetter
Anthem

+ 29 more

Languages spoken

English

Education

Master of Social Work (MSW) from University of Central Florida.

Sessions

60 minutes

Virtual sessions

In-person sessions

5617 Adams Ave, Austin, TX 78756

View map →

Cliff Chong