The Therapist
My name is Nguyễn Hải Nhi. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Texas.
I am a second-generation Vietnamese-American and a native Texan. In Vietnam, the family name comes first followed by the middle name and given name. It has been a rather difficult journey, but I have come to learn to love my name. Our names represent who we are and where we come from. I would love to know what your name means to you.
Therapy is all about finding the right fit. It may help you to know that I am a child of immigrants, am a wife and mother, this is not my first career, and that I lost a parent to cancer. I do not share these things to equate it to your life experiences but rather to inform you that I, too, am human. We all age. We try to understand and make sense of who we are and our purpose in this world. We experience connection and loss. I can not guarantee you change, but I can guarantee you that I will be human with you.
When I am not in session, I enjoy scouting new cafe shops, a cup of milk tea, organizing spaces, perfecting my hot-pot recipe, karaoke and listening to music.
The Approach
My approach to therapy is collaborative. Everyone has a unique story, and I believe everyone is the expert in their own story. I see my role as a clinician in 3 parts—first, I listen. Allow me to enter your world and accompany you in exploring the hurt, or things that make you uncomfortable. Second, I empathize by providing an environment full of warmth and respectful curiosity as you share your story, so I can better understand you—your level of awareness, your window of tolerance for emotional expression, and your nervous system’s pattern of reacting. Third, I use my knowledge of attachment and brain science to foster a safe and supportive setting for you to explore how your life is deficient, challenged, and/or enriched by your community and cultures of belonging. As I model what safety can look like, feel like, and sound like, I hope to help you reform your idea of how to safely interact with the world.
The People I Serve
I offer services to adults, couples, and families. I enjoy working with students, professionals, couples in all stages of a relationship, new mothers, those experiencing life transitions, and those experiencing grief. I am LGBTQIA affirming and sex positive. Additionally, I have a strong interest working with those who struggle with family of origin issues, especially inter-generational conflicts.
The Specializations
Credentials & Professional Affiliations
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Texas License No. 203726
Master of Arts in Counseling, St. Edward’s University
Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin