A (wo)man with outward courage dares to die; a (wo)man with inward courage dares to live.

—Lao Tzu

Dr. Vickie Chang on the California coast

ABOUT ME

I am honored by the opportunity to meet with others, to come together at this particular point in each of our journeys, to strengthen one another. Service is a way to pay tribute to the teachings I have received and to celebrate the steady heartbeat of community.

The daughter of Chinese immigrants, I was born and raised in the SF Bay Area. My healing journey began in college through the doorway of therapy. As someone who has a rich and powerful emotional life, it was a relief to have support in putting my experience into words and narratives, rather than simply swallowing the ones handed to me given the identities I hold. Since then, my experience of healing has broadened to include collective liberation. Freedom at its core is about connection— the capacity to live with 心 胸 寬 大 (xīn xiōng kuān dà), with a big heart, a vast heart that includes loving our human and nonhuman family, known and unknown.

I am a UCLA-trained clinical psychologist and pursued postdoctoral training at Stanford University and UCSF in positive psychology, mindfulness meditation, and depression/eating disorder prevention. I was enriched by the Spirit Rock Dedicated Practitioner’s Program, training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and the SFCP Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy program.

I am deeply influenced by my Chinese ancestral lineage including Buddhism, Taoism, and Qigong. I am grateful to the indigenous teachings I’ve received from West African (Dagara) elder Dr. Malidoma Somé, Jicarilla Apache elder Dr. Eduardo Duran, Brazilian educator Vanessa Machado de Oliveira Andreotti, the Begays (Navajo/Diné), and so many others. My being is forever changed by the people, culture, and land of the Divine Buddha Temple in Taiwan; the holy hill Aranachala in Tiruvannamalia; and the Sangre de Cristo mountains, first settled by the Pueblo peoples, the Ute, the Jicarilla Apache, and known by the Navajo/Diné.

I am passionate about supporting social/climate justice organizations. I was a core team member at East Point Peace Academy, am a member of the national climate justice group, Fierce Vulnerability Network, and offered wellness practices at the Chinese Progressive Association.

I offer individual, couple, and family therapy; facilitate groups and teach workshops; and consult with movement organizations.