Welcome
Hey there fellow human being, life is hard, isn't it? Sometimes it's cruel and unfair. Especially when the world wasn't designed for you. Rather, society, culture, and authority tries to fit us into their rigid boxes so we can be normal (whatever that means) according to their worldview. That's a pretty depressing and lonely way to exist. Fortunately, you're not alone. I know firsthand what it's like to wander in the margins, constantly feeling like an outsider. Whereas most areas of our lives involve masking who we are to survive, I believe therapy offers a chance to heal by offering a space to be yourself.
Therapy isn't like seeing your doctor. It's more of an art that involves building a relationship rather than providing a service to fix an issue. Our goal is to have a conversation and focus on the process of what you bring to session rather than applying a particular approach to produce outcomes. That's where change can happen.
Finding the right therapist matters because sometimes you vibe with people and sometimes you don't. Generally, I work best with creatives (e.g. artists, writers, musicians), marginalized identities (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, ND), and young adults (Millennials, Gen Z). Pretty much if you've found yourself "othered" throughout your life.
How Does Therapy Work?
I'm not here to tell you how to live your life. While I can offer "advice," and "tools," my primary focus is creating a space for deeper exploration and lasting change. After all, given your unique experiences and intersecting identities, you're the expert of your own life.
There is no one-sized-fits-all approach to therapy and the type of therapy used isn't as important as the relationship between the therapist and client. That's why it's important to make sure we vibe, so you can get a worthwhile experience!
My approach to therapy stems from my view of life being inevitably filled with pain and suffering, especially when you don't fit neatly (or at all) into society's expectations. That's why Existential Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) make the most sense for me. I find that they can help us accept unchangeable parts of the human condition, so we can find meaning and peace. If having deep, exploratory conversations is your sort of thing, let's chat!
Justin Hoo, MAEd, LMHC, NCC
Hey, I'm Justin. Why did I become a Mental Health Counselor, you ask? I've always felt like an outsider, so people and relationships always fascinated me. My interest in Psychology began in Honors European Studies class sophomore year of high school. I found an AP Psych textbook discarded by one of the seniors and read it for fun. Inevitably, I majored in Psychology at UW. and after a quarter-life crisis, where I abandoned the idea of earning a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, I began pursuing my creative interests in writing and music. It led me to the artsy side of the field: counseling and psychotherapy where I earned my Masters of Arts in Education in Community Counseling at Seattle U.
Outside of the virtual therapy room, I spend my time reading (mostly horror and contemporary fiction), writing stories, playing piano, and indulging in spooky interests all year-round.
Education and Credentials
-
Master of Arts in Education, Community Counseling, Seattle University, 2018
-
Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Washington, 2013
-
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (#LH61481853)
-
National Certified Counselor, accredited by the National Board for Certified Counselors
-
Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA), Member
What Are Your Areas of Focus?
My practice's areas of focus draw from my personal lived experience as a creative and outsider (if you'd like to know more about me, feel free to ask). My clients are often artists, and some type of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or neurodivergent person. They often tend to be Millennials and Gen Z adults (although there are outliers!).
If you're feeling stuck and trying to figure out what to do with this difficult thing we call life, I'm here to offer support.
To sum it up for the people who'd rather read a list:
-
Artists/Creatives
-
People of Color, Queer/Trans, Neurodivergent Issues
-
Career and life direction
In addition, I often encounter these other common issues:
-
Depression
-
Anxiety
-
Trauma
-
Adjustment issues and life changes
-
Grief and loss
-
Loneliness
-
Interpersonal relationship struggles
-
Existential and ontological issues (e.g. finding meaning and purpose, being-in-the-world, identity, existential loneliness)
PHONE
425-780-5058
ADDRESS
401 Olympia Ave NE
Mailbox 66
Renton, WA 98056
If you are interested in potentially working together, the best way to reach me is via email. From there, we can schedule a free 15-20 minute phone consultation to explore what brings you to counseling and to address questions you may have. If I determine we may be a good fit, we can schedule a first session.
I try to respond to messages within 24 hours. Please be aware that e-mail cannot be guaranteed to be confidential, so if you have clinical information to convey, it's preferable to share that via phone or through the secure client portal.
If you are currently in crisis, please call 911, or the 24-hour King County Crisis Line, at 1-866-427-4747.
Have more questions? See the FAQs.