Haley Cha (she/her)

Associate Therapist

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

English, Korean

Rates

Intake Session ₩105,000

Therapy Session ₩85,000

Hello! My name is Haley Seung Cha, and I’m a supportive clinician who is deeply committed to creating a confidential and nurturing space where you can simply be, heal, and eventually thrive. I was born in South Korea and my family has immigrated to Iraq, Indonesia, Australia, and the United States since I was 4 years old. I knew from an early age that I found instant gratification from helping others. As a 2nd generation myself, I am well aware of what it is like to be caught between different cultures and not being able to call a place home. The complex feeling of being in a constant transition zone is difficult to fathom at times. Living abroad can bring upon an exhilarating experience that allows individuals to broaden their horizons and develop invaluable perspectives. Simultaneously, struggles of adapting to an entirely new culture and living far from your home country can lead to feelings of isolation that puts a strain your welfare. During times of challenge, reclaiming your own inner truth is at the core of planting a sense of identity and belonging in the world, along with embracing your uniqueness, strengths, and story. Together, I believe we can arrive at a place of integration – where the client can feel wholesome and empowered. 

CLINICAL APPROACH

I cherish meeting each person where they are in the present moment. The space that I offer is a safe zone where children, individuals, and families can feel comfortable to simply be themselves and not feel as though they need to be molded into becoming something they are not meant for. I strive to work with clients from a strengths-based and culturally sensitive perspective, where their resilience is validated and nurtured through a healthy client-therapist relationship, strong psychoeducation, and personalized experiences. Through the ongoing relational attunement, clients can feel accepted, heard, and authentic to who they truly are inside. By activating their own inner guidance system, clients can break old patterns that no longer serve them and become intentional about creating a meaningful life that promotes true change.

“Play is the child’s symbolic language of self-expression.” –Gary Landreth.

I’m especially passionate about providing inclusive and neurodivergent-affirming therapeutic care to support neurodivergent children and adolescents through integrative evidence-based approaches - FirstPlay® Therapy, AutPlay® Therapy, Child-Centered Play Therapy, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) – tailored to each child’s unique needs. I’m a huge believer in celebrating the marvelous variation in the way human brains operate and creating a world that embraces the incredible strengths of the neurodivergent population. Through the natural language of play, children and teens are supported to develop skills in primary areas including emotional regulation, social functioning, and connection. Parents and families develop confidence in their parenting approaches and children/teens feel safe to improve their emotional well-being, attention span, level of engagement with decreased challenging behaviors!

My therapeutic practice is grounded in the foundational pillars of the Bottom-up approaches to guide children and adults to tend to their whole selves – mind, body, and spirit. I use a naturalistic framework that delves into exploration of the physiological sensations and states of our nervous system prior to addressing the layers of emotions, thoughts, and executive functions. Our mere presence and breath may unleash boundless potential in giving us invaluable insights into our internal world. By meeting each person where they are in the present moment, I gently guide them to access their stored away memories within their nervous system to raise internal awareness, establish a felt sense of physiological safety, and expand the capacity to safely discharge the stuck points. I effectively blend Somatic Stress Release techniques, Inner Child Work, Sand Tray Therapy, and Person-Centered Play Therapy. Once physiological connections are rekindled, I assist clients to adopt proactive methods in shifting their emotional states, cognitive patterns, and core beliefs through integrating the following evidence-based Top-down approaches - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT), Prolonged-Exposure Therapy, Executive Function Coaching, and Parent Coaching.

• Education

  MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA (2021)

  BA in Sociology - University of Maryland College Park, Maryland, USA (2015)

• Certification

  U.S. Licensed Professional Counseling Associate (LPCA –Connecticut #20332521)

  Korean Certified Counselor (Tier 1 License - Korea Psychology Education Institute)

• Special Training

  Gottman Institute Couples Therapist (Level 1 – Gottman Institute)

  Clinical Military Counselor (Telehealth Certification Institute)

  Certified AutPlay® Provider (AutPlay® Therapy - expected August 2024)

  Child-Centered Play Therapist with Neuro-relational Emphasis (Play Strong Institute – In Training)

  Parent Child Interaction Therapist (PCIT) (PCIT - In Training)

  Somatic Stress Release™ Practitioner (The Embody Lab - In Training)

INTERESTS, HOBBIES, & FUN FACTS

During my spare time, I find immense joy and comfort in spending time with my husband and seven googly and mushy rescue dogs at home. As a dog lover, one of the first things I noticed when I relocated to Korea in 2022 was the number of abandoned and chained dogs. The best decision I’ve ever made was to adopt these beautiful souls to my home. Changing their life transformed my whole world. I also love engaging in self-care activities that rejuvenates my well-being including singing, dancing, relaxing at Jjimjilbang (traditional Korean sauna), going on walks, and enjoying my chamomile tea.