The Power of Courage in Therapy for Asian Americans
Courage is one of the most powerful qualities a person can embody in the healing process. It’s what allows us to face emotional pain, grief, or trauma—not by escaping or numbing, but by pausing, staying present, and feeling.
In my journey as a trauma-informed therapist, I’ve learned that real power doesn’t lie in quick solutions or emotional avoidance. It emerges when we can sustain the discomfort of our emptiness without rushing to fill the void with distractions.
The Void We Try to Escape
That emptiness is often disguised by:
A prestigious career
Financial security
Social status or appearances
Idealized romantic relationships
Busyness, perfectionism, or performance
Even a well-curated sense of integrity
Yet, in the still, quiet moments—when we are left alone with ourselves—we may hear the inner cries of unmet emotional needs, longings for connection, and the ache of parts of ourselves we’ve ignored or pushed away.
These moments, though painful, are sacred. Because it’s there that authentic transformation begins.
Therapy for Emotional Pain, Emptiness, and Deep Inner Work
At Oak & Stone Therapy, our team of Asian American therapists works with individuals, couples, and families who feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in cycles of avoidance. Many of our clients come to us navigating:
Anxiety and existential emptiness
Unmet childhood needs and attachment wounds
Grief, depression, and emotional numbness
Pressure to perform, succeed, or appear "put together"
A longing for deeper meaning and connection
Therapy isn’t about fixing you—it’s about walking with you through the discomfort, so you can uncover the truth of who you are, what you need, and what you desire most.
Healing Begins with Courage, Not Certainty
True emotional strength is not in how quickly we “bounce back,” but in how deeply we’re willing to sit with our emotions without bypassing them. This is how healing begins—when we stop filling the void with substitutes and start listening to what our soul is trying to say.
There is hope on the other side of pain. There is healing on the other side of avoidance. There is transformation waiting in the stillness.
If you feel alone, if you're longing for something more meaningful, or if you're ready to finally address the deeper layers of your pain—therapy can help.
About the Author
Hatty J. Lee, LMFT #53772 (she/her) is an Asian American marriage and family therapist, Brainspotting practitioner, and founder of Oak and Stone Therapy. With over 15 years of experience in community mental health, schools, and private practice, she specializes in Asian American mental health and understands the nuances of how our relationship with money, first-generation wealth, and intergenerational wealth impact our mental health. Hatty provides therapy at the Los Angeles office, Pasadena office, and virtually throughout California and Seoul, South Korea. You can learn more about her insights on her Instagram and her book The Indwell Guide, a visual storytelling and mental health guide that offers practical tools to support healing and self-discovery.
