Dr. Amy Chu, Ph.D.

Dr. Amy Chu, Ph.D.

Licensed Counselor

This therapist has over 14 years of experience. 

Adolescents, Adults
English, Korean, Bilingual

Biography

Amy Chu, Ph.D. is a licensed counselor in Korea.

She studied Psychology at Tufts University and continued pursuing the interest in mental health while studying counseling and coaching at Yonsei University in Korea. With this academic background, she has held various roles to promote mental health, primarily focusing on supporting international students, expats, and multicultural families.

She worked as a counselor for international students at Yonsei University, Seoul National University, and Minerva University. She also met with international community by working with Global Diaspora, an NGO dedicated to the welfare of international community in Korea. She also worked as a Coaching Operations Manager for Ami (now Hupo), an international EAP coaching company, allowing her to coach employees from diverse cultural background across the world.

Her research and publications include themes on the mental well-being of international students and topics such as spiritual intelligence and mindfulness.

In addition to counseling and researching, she has shared her expertise as a professor at Yonsei University and Hanyang University. She is also dedicated to community outreach, regularly organizing and leading workshops on essential topics like mental health awareness and suicide prevention at universities and global companies.

Therapy Approach

My therapy approach is integrative, combining aspects of Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and positive psychology, within the framework of cultural awareness.

The Psychodynamic approach provides foundations for delving into understanding your wants, personality, and relationship patterns, offering valuable insights to support your counseling goals.

CBT provides practical tools to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns to help you cope with distress and foster your wellbeing.

Also, I integrate principles of positive psychology emphasizing not only healing process but also building resilience and strengths while pursuing counseling goals. Recognizing the impact of culture on one’s life, I employ cultural awareness framework. This helps me to pursue a more accurate understanding of your unique cultural context, fostering a respectful therapeutic environment; we can also address culture-specific challenges and tailor interventions.

I often use the metaphor of life as a journey of self-discovery. And every life experience can propel us toward becoming a more complete and authentic version of ourselves. As your counselor, I see my role as a companion of your life’s journey. In counseling, we begin the journey by identifying your core ‘wants’. To reach these goals, I will accompany you for support and help employ a variety of strategies to achieve your goals.

Availability

Seoul
Pyeongtaek
Online

Speciality

  • Adjustment Stress
  • Anxiety / Panic Attacks
  • Bipolar Disorders
  • Career Counseling
  • Depression
  • OCD
  • Self Esteem
  • Social Skills & Peer Relationships
  • Suicidality

Location

  • Seoul (Sinsa)
  • Online

Fun Facts

I enjoy taking a walk with Cookie, a golden retriever. I also love reading and journaling during my free time.

Education

  • PhD: Yonsei University (Counseling & Coaching)
  • MA: Yonsei University (Counseling & Coaching)
  • BA: Tufts University (Psychology)

Certifications

  • Youth Counselor, Ministry of Gender and Family (청소년 상담사, 여성가족부)
  • Family Counselor, Korean Family Culture Counseling Association (가족상담사, 한국 가족문화상담협회)
  • Professional Counselor, Korean Association of Christian Counseling & Psychology (전문상담사, 한국 기독교상담심리학회)

Publications

Journal Publications

  • Sung, K.J., Kim, R.W., Kim, J.C., Chu, H.Y. (2018). Spiritual intelligence assessment for adolescents’ resource development in counseling setting: An exploratory case study. Korean Journal of Christian Counseling, 29(2), 131-161.
  • Chu, H.Y. (2015). Grief counseling to help children’s adjustment following parental divorce. Yonsei Journal of Counseling and Coaching, 3, 265-286.

Chapters in Books

  • Qualitative research methods: An ethnography of Sewol Ferry Square. Seoul: Pakyoung Story. (2019)
  • Manual for counseling international students. Seoul: Korea College Counseling Association. (2017)
Kenya & Ethiopia Certified Psychologist
U.S. Registered Psychologist
U.S. Licensed Clinical Social Worker
U.S. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & U.S. Registered Play Therapist
U.S. Licensed Psychologist
U.S. Licensed Counselor
Clinical Psychologist
Ivy Booth
Certified Counselor
U.S. Licensed Counselor
U.S. Licensed Mental Health Counselor; National Certified Counselor

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