We were lucky to catch up with Lisa Chen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Let me share the story of a risk I took, a pivotal moment in my life that led to a significant change and helped me to learn valuable lessons on risk-taking.

Several years ago, despite experiencing professional success in my career, I was grappling with a deep crisis of confidence and an overwhelming sense of existential questioning. I found myself constantly switching from one job to another, desperately seeking meaning and fulfillment. From the outside, I looked great, but the truth of the matter was that I was lost.

One day, during my early 40s, I made a bold decision. I took a sabbatical from work, a hiatus that lasted 2 years. This was during a time when I was nearly at the top of my career and making good income. Initially, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that it was the wrong decision. There was no plan, no income, and it was scary. My work had given me so much of my identity for so much of my life. When I hear of other people taking sabbaticals, I hear them describe them as magical.  I have to confess, mine was not.  Every day was tough. There were a lot of failures during that time.

In the end, as I reflect on that imposed incubation period, I realize that it was during those two years of introspection and self-discovery that helped me find my true calling.  That time (and work) was profoundly life-changing.

This experience taught me that taking a risk and stepping off the well-trodden path can lead to an unexpected and fulfilling journey. Cliché, but true. It also reinforced the idea that it’s never too late to change course and pursue your true passion. I changed my career path and became a psychotherapist, a leap into the unknown that ultimately paid off, allowing me to connect with others on a meaningfully deep level and help them navigate their own personal challenges. It’s a testament to the power of taking a step back to reassess, regroup, and ultimately make a life-altering change. And I am so grateful that I took that risk.

Lisa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a Hermosa Beach-based psychotherapist dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate their emotional and psychological well-being. My journey into the field of psychotherapy has been a deeply personal one, rooted in my own experiences and a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Many of my clients, including a significant number of Asian Americans, confront challenges that extend beyond the conventional bounds of success. They struggle with anxiety, stress, burnout, and depression despite their remarkable professional success. Most clients have some type of unrecognized trauma, which can result in perfectionism, people-pleasing, or a harsh inner critic. Through our work together, they come to appreciate that the causes of their issues can be addressed. It’s incredible to witness their transformations through our work together.

I specialize in using cutting-edge techniques like Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) alongside a psychodynamic approach, tailored to each client’s specific needs. EMDR is beneficial for trauma-related issues, while IFS promotes resilience and ease for those grappling with a harsh inner critic. These innovative therapies foster long-term changes that enhance satisfaction.

In addition to individual therapy, I specialize in couples therapy, focusing on resolving communication breakdowns, understanding, emotional connection, and life transitions. Cultivating healthier and more fulfilling dynamics requires patience with both oneself and one’s partner, where even small gestures can have a profound impact on relationships.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Not too long ago, I used to rely heavily on the outcomes of things to feel happy and good about myself, whether it was doing well at work or achieving my personal goals. This way of thinking hit a breaking point during a major work presentation. I had put a lot of effort into it and linked my self-esteem to its success. But when I failed miserably, I felt like a failure, and it really messed with my emotions.

Around the same time, my work with clients led me to discover something important: depending on outcomes can make you feel like you don’t have control over your own life. Many of us are taught to go after our goals mainly for the rewards we’ll get at the end – like success, money, or recognition. While these are good things to aim for, they can make us feel really stressed and unhappy because we end up being obsessed with the results. We can become so focused on what we want to happen that we feel really frustrated and sad when things don’t go the way we hoped.

Now, I see things differently. I try to be more flexible and adaptable. While outcomes still matter, I pay more attention to the effort I put in, not the end results. I’ve learned that success isn’t just about the final goal; it’s also about the strength and skills you gain while working towards it. This change has made my professional and personal life more meaningful, showing me that the journey and the growth along the way are just as important. I’ve discovered that outcome independence is like a cool life hack. It turns out that when my attitude shifted, I was paradoxically able to achieve the outcomes I wanted in the first place.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I wouldn’t change a thing. While I don’t regret the diverse careers and experiences that have shaped my life, I also don’t regret the choice to become a therapist. Age and wisdom have helped me become a good psychotherapist. The privilege of being with my clients during our time together and helping them is immeasurable. What’s perhaps a secret is that I, too, learn and grow from these experiences. My clients affect me in both small and profound ways, and I get to see what human life is. it’s a beautiful journey of mutual transformation. And my life is richer and better as a result.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lisachentherapy.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/lisachentherapy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisachentherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisafchen/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisachentherapy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisachentherapy
• Yelp:  https://www.yelp.com/biz/lisa-chen-therapy-emdr-hermosa-beach
• Other: https://mintleaf.co/therapist/lisa-chen/3562095 https://marriage.com/experts/lisa-chen

Image Credits
Alison Michaela Photography, https://alisonmichaela.photography/