San-Nhi Pham shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi San-Nhi, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day flow at a mix of paces. I always start with a big glass of ice water (it has to be ice — I love my drinks cold!) followed by a hot cup of coffee. I cherish slow, quiet mornings when it feels like the world is still asleep and it’s just me and my dogs, though they’re usually buzzing with excitement, ready for breakfast!
Once I’ve had my morning drinks, I dive into administrative time: planning social media posts, answering emails, and taking care of any paperwork on my plate. I’ve learned to set time limits here because there will always be one more thing to do, and it’s easy to let it spill into my personal time.
One of my favorite ways to protect that balance is with what I call my “non-negotiable”, walking my dogs. It’s my daily dose of grounding: a chance to move my body, spend time with my pups, and notice all the little things nature is offering that day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m San-Nhi Pham, a Licensed Professional Counselor and the founder of Evergreen Professional Counseling located in Magnolia, Texas. I specialize in working with complex and generational trauma through an approach that honors the whole person – mind, body, and emotions. My role is to walk alongside individuals as a compassionate guide and safe haven, navigating their transformative journeys together. My mission is to empower clients to heal, grow, and cultivate meaningful change, supporting them as they align with the version of themselves they envision and embrace the fulfilling lives they deserve.
What makes Evergreen Professional Counseling unique is the deep commitment to trauma-informed care combined with a profound respect for cultural nuance. I understand how generational trauma and cultural expectations shape emotional experiences and impact mental health in powerful ways. Evergreen provides a sanctuary where clients can safely explore the interwoven layers of trauma, cultural identity, and unspoken burdens.
Evergreen is more than a counseling practice; it’s a healing community dedicated to guiding clients toward meaningful change that aligns with their authentic selves and values. It’s a refuge for Eastern souls navigating Western rhythms, a place where cultural nuances, intergenerational wounds, and the tender work of self-discovery can all coexist safely.
I’m deeply proud that Evergreen offers more than therapy. It’s a place where clients break cycles of trauma and step into resilient, fulfilling lives; lives that honor both their heritage and their unique journey forward.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world whispered who I should be, before the weight of the model minority expectations my parents held and instilled in me took shape, I was unapologetically myself: loud in my laughter, fierce in my curiosity, generous to a fault, and fueled by a fire that came from within.
Growing up, those cultural and familial expectations taught me the importance of quiet strength, achievement, and resilience, but they also came with an unspoken pressure to contain and moderate parts of myself that didn’t always fit that mold.
Now, as an adult, I’m learning to reconnect with that original, authentic version of myself, not out of fear or scarcity, but from a place of fulfillment and self-compassion. This return feels like reclaiming my voice, my curiosity, and my generous spirit in ways that honor my whole story and allow me to show up fully and freely in both my personal life and my work.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell younger Nhi:
You are a bridge between two worlds, a beautiful tapestry woven from the threads of both cultures you carry – Vietnamese and American. It’s okay to hold space for all parts of yourself. Neither side diminishes your worth or makes you less than whole. You are enough, always, whether you stand here, there, or somewhere in between. Let your roots stretch wide and your branches grow free. There is strength in your belonging to both.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies therapy sometimes tells itself is that healing is a linear process and progress moves neatly from broken to whole, step by step. But real healing and growth is often messy, cyclical, and deeply personal. It can’t be rushed or forced.
Another lie is that there’s a one-size-fits-all “right way” to do therapy, as if every client fits into a set mold or every therapist’s approach is universally effective. Healing looks different for each person, and honoring that uniqueness is essential.
Therapy can also mistakenly believe that it’s all about fixing what’s “wrong.” But therapy is about meeting people where they are, holding space without judgment, and walking alongside their journey, not trying to “fix” them.
Lastly, sometimes therapy tells itself it’s separate from culture and context forgetting that cultural identity, systemic factors, and personal history are not just background but core to understanding and healing.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply is that you cannot give your energy, your care, your “fucks,” to everything and everyone without losing yourself. As one of my favorite books, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*, essentially states, trying to care about EVERYTHING means you end up caring about nothing.
The balance navigating between the collectivist values of my culture and the individualistic pressures of the world I live in is incredibly challenging. There’s a constant pull to meet everyone’s expectations while also honoring my own.
But I’ve learned that the greatest liberation comes from aligning with myself, my values, my needs and choosing carefully where to invest my care and attention. It’s not about shutting others out, but about protecting my own wholeness and authenticity.
When I do this, I’m not less connected or less caring; I’m more present, more authentic, and more free.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.evergreenpc.info/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evergreen_pc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evergreenprofessional
Image Credits
Lanza Manage Photography
