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Abstract Background

MINJI YANG, PH.D. (she/her)

Licensed Psychologist (PSY30069)

Speaks Korean

Dr. Minji Yang (see pronunciation here) pursued her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Maryland at College Park where she trained to be a researcher and therapist to understand the role of culture in people's lives and how to help people manage life challenges. She graduated with a focus on college/graduate student mental health, Asian/Asian American 1st, 1.5, and 2nd generation immigrant stress and coping, international student mental health, and racial minority mental health. She pursued these areas further while attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for her APA-accredited doctoral internship and worked as a Staff Psychologist for 2 years at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor's Counseling and Psychological Services. She then transitioned to San Jose State University's Counseling & Psychological Services where she currently work as a tenured Counselor Faculty and Internship Training Coordinator.

"Seeking therapy can be a daunting and exciting experience. It can be scary to think of talking about personal experiences that you are struggling with and energizing to think about getting support to get through issues with a professional. I always think back to the time when I learned about what therapy meant and continue to marvel at the power of two people (therapist and client) joining hearts and efforts to help the client truly start to understand their deeper selves. I applaud you for seeking this service and welcome you to work with me together to co-create a safe space where we can help you achieve your therapeutic goals. I use a warm, collaborative, and integrative approach and pull from psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and emotion-focused theories while attending to systemic and cultural factors. I will work to help you understand who you are today based on your multicultural factors, familial backgrounds, and younger experiences and work to help you cultivate who you want to be in the future. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!" - Dr. Yang

Dr. Minji Yang.jpg

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy

(Counseling Psychology, School Psychology

& Counselor Education)

University of Maryland

Master of Arts

(Counseling Psychology, School Psychology

& Counselor Education)
University of Maryland

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)

Mount Holyoke College

EXPERTISE

Self-criticism

Perfectionism

Career burnout

Family trauma and conflicts

Identity explorations

(minority stress related to immigration, transnational, sexual orientation/gender, and racial/ethnic identities)

PUBLICATIONS

Yang, M., Perez-Rojas, A. & Miller, M. J. (2024). The interplay of friendship stress, social
support, and optimism on psychological distress in college students. Counselling
Psychology Quarterly.

Link

Perez-Rojas, A. E., Choi, N., Yang, M., Bartholomew, T. T., & Perez, G. (2021). Suicide
ideation among international students: The role of cultural, academic, and interpersonal
factors. The Counseling Psychologist, 49(5), 673-700.

Link

Miller, M. J., Yang, M., Hui, K., Choi, N., & Lim, R. H. (2011). Acculturation, Enculturation,
and Asian American college students’ mental health and attitudes toward seeking
professional psychological help. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(3), 346-357.

Link

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