Hi, my name is Jaja Chen (she/her)!
Moving around as a third-culture kid (TCK) overseas, I witnessed and experienced the impact that burnout and trauma has on individuals, helping professionals, and non-profit and business leaders. Returning to America for college was a major culture shock and transition in my life – not only as a TCK, but also as a 2nd generation Taiwanese American and person of color in a community that did not have many people that looked like me nor had backgrounds similar to me. Therapy was a pivotal part of that transition and helped me to better make sense of my experiences as an Asian American in a community with less than 2% Asians.
After receiving a Master of Social Work from Baylor University, I began my career in the world of non-profit organizations. It was through my work in the field of trauma that I experienced burnout and secondary trauma (AKA compassion fatigue) and started wondering if I was cut out to be a social worker. Compassion fatigue took a toll on my physical body. I began experiencing vertigo, digestive health issues, tinnitus, hair loss, and other physical symptoms I never had before. From a Western medicine perspective, there were no answers to what I was experiencing.
Self-doubt, fear, anxiety, burnout and trauma can paralyze us. These emotional experiences impact us physically and psychologically and can lead to chronic health concerns. My journey of working through burnout through self-care, community care, and the certification processes in EMDR Therapy – led me to eventually start a private practice.
My joy in private practice now is to support fellow entrepreneurs, helping professionals, parents, and individuals in healing from burnout, trauma, & perinatal mental health concerns. You are not alone and with support, your mind, body, & spirit will begin to move in integration. As a therapist, social worker, and Asian American, I am committed to walk out in cultural humility and empathy and to integrate cross-cultural, multicultural perspectives and practices in therapy.
Outside of the therapy room, you may find me practicing self-care and community care around Waco – for example, through swimming and yoga, small business work, or community advocacy engagement. I also provide EMDR Consultation as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant . My spouse Devin and I are co-owners of Cha Community, our boba tea cafe small business based in downtown Waco and I am a founder of and current Board Chair of the Asian Leaders Network non-profit in Waco.
More about my clinical background and therapy perspective can be found on the page: My Therapy Perspective.
Burnout | Trauma | Perinatal Mental Health 