Today we’d like to introduce you to San-Nhi Pham.
Hi San-Nhi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I remember always being in tune with and aware of my thoughts and emotions as a child and, at the same time, self-conscious about it because it was not something that was talked about in my family. I can vividly remember being inside the nurse’s office in elementary school staring at an emotions chart and being enamored by the array of emotions one person could experience. I was raised in a traditional Vietnamese household by immigrant parents, which meant I was only allowed to be two things when I grew up; A doctor or a lawyer. To be anything else would equate to being a failure, or at least that was the message I perceived from the many teachings and lectures from my parents. I held on tightly to my parent’s expectations and learned to suppress my own wants, needs, and, ultimately voice because disappointing them would be far worse than any punishment.
I chose and pursued the path to becoming a doctor, neonatal to be exact, but that path was short-lived and came to what felt like an abrupt end. That pivotal moment gave me the opportunity to verbalize a nagging feeling I felt from the start – it was not my calling. A domino effect of changes took place, resulting in an identity/existential crisis that put me on the journey to finding my passion and purpose while on this Earth. What I knew in my heart was that I wanted to help people heal.
After graduating with my bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston – Downtown, I worked as a Parole Officer supervising clients that were on the monitor. I met some of the most amazing and influential human beings during that time. I witnessed clients who had been incarcerated for decades integrate back into society with such zest for life, not allowing the stigma of having been incarcerated prevent them from personal achievements and growth. Hearing their stories and adverse life experiences, for some, starting as early as childhood, changed the trajectory of my career.
I graduated from Lamar University with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and spent time working for community mental health agencies. Though it provided opportunities to serve various populations and an abundance of experience, those experiences left me feeling limited on how much I was able to help. Taking a leap of faith, I reached out to one of the many mentors along my journey, Jamie Williams, who graciously took me under her wings once again! It has been such a blessing to be a part of the Prosperity Counseling team, and so fulfilling to be able to work with brave and courageous individuals who allow me to walk alongside them as they face the truest, innermost version of themselves.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m convinced there are no roads on this journey of life that are smooth, but it is also the struggles and obstacles that have built and molded me into the person I am today. Along the way, I found my body forcing me to face all the years of me I suppressed and neglected. I was experiencing frequent panic attacks and struggled with severe anxiety when I began my own healing journey. Through my own experience, I learned how awkward and uncomfortable therapy and being vulnerable can be, and make an effort to normalize that for the clients I work with.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have the honor and privilege of working with people in different walks of life from early childhood to elderly seniors, all carrying a wide range of struggles, including anger, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, emotional dysregulation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, grief and loss, adjustment, and various forms of trauma. One thing I have gathered, professionally and personally, is that we are all battling countless adversities in life.
I believe people hold within themselves the insight and ability to overcome the barriers in their life with the help of a non-biased and professionally trained therapist. My work allows me to walk alongside clients and be their safe space as they go through their healing and meaningful self-discovery journey. Together we learn to understand their individual thoughts and emotional patterns as we navigate and process through their life, their experiences, and, most importantly, them. At times it is uncomfortable and challenging, but in the end, clients find therapy to be a remarkably empowering experience.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I can be reached and contacted through Prosperity Counseling main website and phone number!
Pricing:
- Individual Therapy $150/session
- Couples/Family Therapy $175/session
- Group Therapy $50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://prosperitycounseling.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prosperitycounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prosperitycounselingservices
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieWi54368027
Image Credits
Lanza Manage Photography
