My “Why” is to empower you to survive, heal, and thrive
Hi there! I’m Huyen “Kiki” Vo (She/Her).
I’m a licensed psychotherapist, consultant, and speaker based in California. After immigrating to the United States at age 11 with my widowed father, I became a trailblazer as the eldest of five siblings and a first-generation, low-income college graduate.
Growing up as an immigrant, navigating life as a burn survivor, and walking through many systems has taught me something profound: resilience is more than endurance. It is about creating a life that feels gentle, joyful, whole, and authentic. I am here to empower others to heal in ways that honor their own unique story and truth.
I earned my bachelor’s in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley and my Master of Social Work from CSU East Bay. I am a co-author of UndocuAsians (Rutgers University Press, 2026) and a verified provider on Psychology Today. With a justice-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally-affirming approach, I see this work as sacred, personal, and shaped by each person’s life journey.
“Pay it Forward” is a core value of mine. I serve as a Lotus Therapy Fund provider with the Asian Mental Health Collective, a mentor for the UC Berkeley Hope Scholars program, and a board member for the Close the Gap Foundation. I believe deeply that every first-generation and low-income student deserves the support they need to rise, lead, and thrive.
In addition to my private practice, I am a full-time Mental Health Clinician and Clinical Supervisor at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
“I am because we are.”
––The African Philosophy of Ubuntu
Approaches & Values
Trauma-informed
Honoring how traumatic experiences shape the brain and nervous system, and how healing gently restores safety, regulation, and connection.
Cultural Affirming
Honoring cultural identity, heritage, and ancestral wisdom as sacred to every healing journey.
Community Care
People have the capacity to heal people. We are beautifully wired to connect. Our joy, our pain, and our resilience are deeply interdependent.
Authenticity
An invitation to come exactly as you are. All parts of you are welcome here, to be held, honored, supported, and witnessed.
Featured In
Keynote Speaking: “R.I.S.E. Together: Building Emotional Capacity and Resilience After Trauma”
Huyen delivered the keynote address at UNC Health Jaycee Burn Center’s 34th Annual Burn Survivors Reunion, where she shared her story alongside trauma-informed practices for grounding, nervous system regulation, and emotional resilience. She spoke to survivors, families, medical staff, and service providers—inviting everyone in the healing community to recognize that their stories carry wisdom, their bodies hold strength, and their experiences deserve to be met with compassion. Her message was simple and uplifting: you are more powerful than what happened to you, and your journey forward is worth honoring.
