Yao-Szu (Carolyn) Tsou, IFS Therapy in California, Flordia, and Michigan

Professional Background

Education, License & Certifications

Master of Science, Mental Health Counseling, The College at Brockport, Brockport, NY

Bachelor of Science, Clinical Psychology, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California #86019

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Florida #TPMF1172

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Michigan #4101007418

EMDR Certified Therapist

Other Training

IFS Level 3 Training

IFS Level 2 Deepening and Expanding

IFS Level 2 Addiction and Eating Disorders

IFS Level 2 Children and Adolescents

EMDR Trained and Certified

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

Psychodrama Therapy

Solution Focused Brief Therapy

Professional Affiliations

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

Hello, I am Yao-Szu (pronounced as Yow-Sue) or you can call me Carolyn. Pronouns are she/her. I am a first generation Taiwanese American. I live in the Bay Area with my spouse and two lovely children. I speak fluently in Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English.

My Approach

Working in college settings and community behavioral health fields for over 20 years, I enjoy meeting with my clients where they are at (sometimes literally) with a Person-Centered approach. My clients find it easy to connect with me, especially with similar cultural backgrounds and life circumstances. I have worked with clients who are international students or first-generation immigrants to the U.S., and 1.5 or second generations who struggle to communicate with their parents due to the language barriers or the different level of acculturation. My understanding of both cultures often eases their misunderstanding and brings more compassion toward each other.

Being a mother with two children while working at the same time, I share common struggles with my clients as well. In addition to the deep healing work that IFS brings, this non-pathologizing and non-judgmental model has given me and my clients relief and calmness in our lives. I often share with my clients about practicing IFS parenting and Self-led lifestyle so that we can bring the best version of ourselves to our loved ones around us.

I am interested in working with adults for adjustment issues, career exploration, parenting, Self-identity, and mental health issues, ie, anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, co-occurring, and substance use problems. My passion is to provide a gentle yet deep healing work to clients who seek to improve their attachment wounds, adverse childhood experiences, and/or any life events. I work with Mandarin speaking clients, Asian Americans, recent immigrants, and people who struggle with acculturation. I also enjoy working with college, graduate, and PhD students to help them reduce stress, overcome struggles, and fulfill their career paths. 

Like Richard Schwartz’ book of the same name, I believe that “you are the one you’re looking for.” We all have the natural healing capabilities to heal ourselves which in IFS is called your “Self”. Deep healing occurs when we start to embrace our internal systems and the various parts of ourselves. When we are truly “present with” and listen to our own internal world, we create a harmonious balance and become more spacious inside. We can enjoy calmness, clarity, compassion, courage, creativity, curiosity, confidence, and connectedness in our work, school, relationships, and daily life. Change is possible and we can have choices.

My Journey

Born and raised in Taiwan, I did not know much about myself, nor my feelings or inspirations. It was not until I studied Clinical Psychology in college and started to learn about myself that I realized I like to listen to others and to connect with them at a deeper level. After I graduated from college, I worked in university student counseling centers for many years. I really enjoyed helping college and graduate students explore their career paths, social struggles, procrastination, perfectionism, and self-identities, etc. I then came to the U.S. in 2004 and completed my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and worked in community mental health and substance use programs for 15 years. I have lots of love and compassion toward the most vulnerable populations by supporting them and their families. I also strive to bring hope, relief, and care to them, while holding the belief that “they are the experts in their lives.”

Professionally, I developed interests in trauma work over the years, and I believe that learning and helping clients with trauma by using the IFS model is my calling. Personally, I also receive my own IFS therapy. The amount of Self-energy and space I bring to my clients and people in my life has been evident from the feedback of my clients, my co-workers, and my staff. I hope that I have the opportunity to walk alongside this healing journey with you.

About Me

In addition to therapy, I enjoy gardening, traveling, exploring good restaurants/foods, walking, biking, and spending time with my family.

鄒瑤思Carolyn，輔仁大學醫學院心理復健(臨床心理)系畢業，美國紐約州立大學布拉克伯分校心理諮商所碩士畢業，台灣心理諮商師執照諮心字第003087號，美國加州家族與婚姻治療執照(License Marriage and Family Therapist)，美國加州心理諮商師執照(License Professional Clinical Counselor)。 曾於台灣大專院校擔任專任及兼任諮商心理師、格瑞思心理諮商所兼任心理師、美國社區心理諮商中心心理師及督導，現任IFS Telehealth Collective心理師及比佛利山莊兒童與家庭心理諮商中心心理師。

專長：
情緒管理、壓力調適、生涯探索、精神疾患、身心症處理、酒瘾虊瘾問題、悲傷失落議題、心理創傷治療、婚姻與家族治療、親子關係諮詢

Carolyn 相信：「你自己就是你在尋找的那個人。」我們天生就有治癒自己的能力，在內在家族系統治療中所謂的「自我」是擁有療癒力量的。當我們能靜下來好好傾聽我們的內在小孩，了解他們和回應他們的需求，並慢慢尋找內心的平衡，我們就能擁有寛廣的內在世界。改變是可能的，我們是擁有選擇的。Carolyn 希望能和你並肩攜手一起走上療癒的旅程。

如有上述需要，歡迎來電諮詢。