Victoria Wee

Victoria Wee, Ph.D., (she/her):  As a first-generation college student and child of immigrants, I became a psychologist because I’m passionate about accessible and culturally sensitive mental health care. I believe that therapy can empower individuals to embrace both their most vulnerable and fullest selves, and that we can navigate that (exciting, confusing, messy, gentle) process together.

I enjoy working with individuals navigating anxiety, questions of identity and belonging, relationship concerns, and diverse forms of trauma, including developmental and complex trauma, relational trauma, racial and discrimination-based trauma, and military sexual trauma. I also enjoy supporting clients navigating ADHD, life transitions, stress, and insomnia.

I view each client within the constellation of their upbringing, identities, hopes, and values, and I strive to bring my full self to the therapy space. I believe trust in a clinician is earned; therefore, I meet each client with genuineness, curiosity, humor, and radical acceptance. Therapist fit matters and is important – I want you to feel like you can make an informed decision about our potential in working together – and I’m happy to learn alongside you.

I think of my therapy “style” like a tree. At my core (in the roots and tree trunk), I use a feminist and humanistic lens – I view each individual within the context of their whole selves, with their different social identities and life experiences. I believe that many of the “problems” individuals seek therapy for are often responses to living within oppressive systems and our efforts to survive them. The branches of my therapy-tree are the various therapeutic tools and approaches that I draw from, based on your unique goals, strengths, and how you feel safest.

Education and Credentials

• PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• B.A. in Psychology, Northwestern University

What do you like to do when you are not working? What do you do for fun?

I love to go rock climbing (just indoors for now!), followed by a sweet treat, and spending time with my loved ones. I enjoy listening to an audiobook while doing arts and crafts, watering my plants, or going on a color walk. I’m excited to get re-acquainted with Chicago after being gone for graduate school – currently on the hunt for the best black sesame latte in the city!

What are you excited about? What is your passion? What do you want to learn more about?

I’m passionate about accessible and culturally responsive mental health care. These were the values that motivated me to pursue a career in psychology and I’m especially passionate about working with individuals from marginalized communities, such as people of color, immigrants and refugees, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and first-generational college students. I’m looking forward to learning from and alongside my clients and colleagues at CTC.

Please list any links to articles, blog posts, podcast interviews, publications that you would like listed on your bio, if applicable.

Dissertation:  “Medical Language Brokering Among Chinese American Adults”    https://www.proquest.com/docview/3376404415

Summary:  According to the Pew Research Center (2022), nearly half of Asian immigrants in the U.S. have limited English proficiency. This language difference can make it difficult to navigate life in the U.S., especially when it comes to accessing healthcare services. In such situations, Asian immigrant parents often enlist their children to serve as language brokers to assist with translating documents or verbal communication, making appointments, advocacy, and more. This study explored the current experiences of 25 adult Chinese Americans who served in this role for their parents and families. The findings provide increased knowledge about how Chinese immigrant families navigate barriers to culturally sensitive medical care, and how they employ various strengths and resources (e.g., familial, personal, community) to address that gap.