About

A close up photo of Irene sitting down on a concrete slab. In the background is some green bushes and grass. Irene has short brown hair. They are wearing a beige button up shirt and wearing brown and gold glasses. They have a silver septum piercing. They have a slight grin..

Photo by Sunkissed Productions

Who I Am

I am a proud non-binary, polyamorous, 2nd generation Vietnamese American born and raised in San José/Tamien Land of the Ohlone people. I go by they/them pronouns.

Along with my therapy hat, I am an artist, community facilitator/trainer, and activist. I grew up in a household that navigated war and refugee trauma and resettlement in the U.S. I also grew up in a community that was grounded in strong cultural practices, art and music, and activism within the Bay Area.

These first hand experiences have led me to my passion for therapy, specifically through healing from intergenerational trauma, and through art and activism. I am passionate about working with those who have felt most marginalized (people of color, queer and trans people, activists, polyamorous/non-monogamous people), those who do not often find a person who reflects their shared identities, and those who have felt silenced and unheard.

My approach is trauma-informed and grounded in liberatory practice and social justice.

Let me help you find your grounding. Your voice. The tools for healing that have always existed within you, your lineage, and your community.

Professional Background and Qualifications

I earned my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis on Drama Therapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies. I earned my Bachelor's degree at UC Berkeley in Ethnic Studies and a minor in Education. Before becoming a therapist, I worked as an education coordinator and counselor to low-income first generation college students in the Bay Area. After CIIS, I worked as a bilingual Vietnamese mental health therapist to youth and families at a community based agency in the South Bay. I became the lead facilitator for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at their agency and became the Regional Director of Training.

I was also a previous adjunct professor at CIIS in the summer 2023 course of "Drama Therapy and Social Change".

I am licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT127828).

Community Experience

I am an active member of the LGBTQ community, particularly in the Vietnamese community. It is through this group that I have learned the importance of intergenerational healing through art, food, and community. I also have a background in activism and community organizing, particularly with other Vietnamese Left organizers.

I am passionate about facilitating workshops for the community. I have led workshops on anti-Blackness and homophobia in the Asian community, gender justice, and intergenerational trauma. As a polyamorous person for over a decade, I also lead a group for polyamorous QTBIPOC people and am part of a collective currently examining how we can incorporate healing and trauma-informed practices into activism.

All these experiences have led me to a healing approach that is trauma-informed, culturally centered and grounded in social justice.

Publications

Volkas, Van & Wheat, (2021). Society as the Client: Healing the Wounds of History through Drama Therapy. In D. Johnson & R. Emunah (Eds.), Current Approaches in Drama Therapy - 3rd edition. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

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