Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Judy Tran. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Judy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I started my creative journey with dance when I was 6 years old, but I learned more about my identities and boundaries as I was balancing with caregiving, school, work, and other responsibilities. Openness, kindness, and collaboration with my body were something I loved through dance and my clinical work. A message I would give to my younger self is to explore my self-doubt, enjoy my mistakes, and grow without putting so much pressure on myself. I don’t necessarily wish I had started my creative side sooner or later; I just wish I had trusted myself earlier to be confident in myself and in my decisions. Because once I did, everything started to feel more aligned, more intentional, and honestly, more fulfilling.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a multidisciplinary creative and a mental health professional, and at the core of everything I do is connection—whether that’s through movement, storytelling, or working directly with people in therapeutic spaces. My journey into this work hasn’t been linear. I’ve always been drawn to creativity, especially dance and performance. Still, for a long time, I was also deeply invested in my training as a Clinical Psychologist and professional development in my community work. Over time, I realized I didn’t have to choose between the two; I could build a schedule that integrates both.

I got into dance performance, teaching, and choreographing as a way to express parts of myself that words couldn’t fully capture. What started as a passion grew into leadership opportunities, choreography, and building community spaces where people can feel seen, confident, and empowered. At the same time, my work in mental and behavioral health, through assessment and psychotherapy, has shaped how I understand people, identity, and healing. These two worlds constantly inform each other.

Through my creative work, I provide performances, choreography, and community-based dance opportunities that center on confidence, storytelling, and collective energy. Whether it’s K-pop dance, stage performances, competition, or organizing teams and events, I aim to create spaces where people can step into a stronger version of themselves. In my clinical work, I focus on helping individuals better understand themselves, navigate challenges, and build meaningful, sustainable behavioral change.

The problems I try to address across both spaces are disconnection, self-doubt, and the pressure to fit into rigid expectations. A lot of people don’t feel like they fully belong or don’t feel confident showing up as themselves. Through both movement and mental health work, I help create environments where people can explore who they are, build confidence, and feel a sense of belonging and autonomy.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just approach creativity or mental health from one lens; I bring both together. I’m deeply grounded in evidence-based practices, but I also value expression and culture. I care a lot about cultural humility and making spaces inclusive, especially for people whose identities are often underrepresented or under-resourced. I’m also very intentional and authentic about how I show up, whether that’s through clear communication, professionalism, or creating a warm and supportive environment.

What I’m most proud of is the community I’ve been able to build and be part of. Seeing people grow in confidence, take risks, perform on stage, see growth through goals, or open up in ways they haven’t before, that’s the most meaningful part of my work. It’s not just about the final performance or outcome, but the transformation that happens along the way.

What I want people to know about me and my work is that it’s rooted in authenticity, growth, and care. Whether you’re working with me in a clinical setting or dancing alongside me, my goal is for you to feel supported, challenged in the best way, work together with me, and be more connected to yourself. I’m not here to create perfection. I’m here to create spaces where people can evolve, express, and step into who they’re becoming.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most defining parts of my journey has been balancing my role as a caregiver while continuing to pursue my clinical work, dance, and leadership. There was a period in my life where my days were structured around someone else’s needs, emotionally, physically, and logistically, and it required a level of presence and responsibility that often left very little space for myself.

I remember times when I would move between roles within the same day, showing up as a caregiver, then shifting into being a student, teacher, a clinician-in-training, or a performer. There were moments of exhaustion and feeling burnt out, where I questioned whether I could sustain all of it. But what grounded me was a deep sense of purpose, passion, and commitment, not only to the person I was caring for, but also to the life I was building for myself.

That experience taught me resilience in a very real way. I learned how to be flexible, how to prioritize what truly matters, and how to keep going even when things felt uncertain or overwhelming. It also deepened my empathy. Being in a caregiving role gave me a more intimate understanding of what it means to support someone through vulnerability, and that perspective continues to shape how I show up in both my clinical work and dance.

Looking back, I’m proud of how I navigated that time, not because I’ve accomplished a lot of goals, but because I stayed committed, adaptable, and grounded in my values. It reminded me that resilience isn’t about pushing through without struggle; it’s about continuing to show up with care and grow even when things are hard.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

At the core of my journey, whether it’s through dance or clinical work, is the same mission: helping people feel seen, understood, and empowered to be themselves.

When I first connected with K-pop and performance, I was drawn to the confidence and discipline from their music videos, clothes, singing, and choreography. There’s something powerful about stepping on stage and expressing emotion, identity, and energy through movement. It gave me a sense of belonging and a way to access parts of who I am that I couldn’t always put into words. In many ways, that “K-pop idol” version of me represents expression, visibility, and courage.

As I grew, I realized I wanted to understand people on a deeper level, not just how we express ourselves, but why. That’s what led me into clinical work based on my medical, clinical, and research experiences. Becoming a clinician allowed me to support people in making sense of their experiences, working through challenges, learning and implementing coping skills, and building more intentional lives. I don’t see it as a shift away from one identity to another, but more as an expansion. The performer in me understands vulnerability, pressure, and identity. The clinician in me holds space for those experiences with care, structure, and evidence-based support. They allow me to connect with people in a way that feels both human and grounded.

My goal is to bridge those worlds by creating spaces where expression and healing can coexist. Whether someone is dancing on stage or sitting in a therapy room, I want them to feel safe enough to explore who they are and strong enough to grow into who they’re becoming. So my mission hasn’t really changed; it’s just become clearer. It’s about connection, authenticity, and transformation, in whatever direction and pace that takes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bio.site/judytran?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnVp2Ikxh6pqOmMIPIyxtH_RJrFwbGYs7H_abjics6cbIbGiPENkFNmLokv8s_aem_V45NhLgnIwl58_HHBQ41Yw
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tran_judy/

Image Credits

EVQ Dance Studio
Grecia Valladares, Ella Studios