Vivian “V” Pham, AMFT
V (Vivian) Pham is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with a focus in Expressive Arts Therapy. V’s style is relational, playful, and honest, incorporating the arts to allow for a multi-modal, creative process of curiosity and healing. This can include drawing, painting, collaging, journaling, poetry, movement, listening to or making music, and more. This approach can be especially useful for youth and teens less comfortable with verbal self-expression.
V received a M.A. in Counseling Psychology, concentration in Expressive Arts Therapy, at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. V participated in a pre-practicum placement with the GLIDE After School Program in the San Francisco Tenderloin, utilizing arts and crafts for socio-emotional regulation to youth ages 8-11. V went on to complete practicum placement with Bay Area Community Resources (BACR), providing individual, group, and family therapy to teens at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, and later at Helms Middle School in San Pablo. V also founded and led LGBTQ groups at both school sites.
Working with youth and teens, V draws from frameworks of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Expressive Arts, Somatics, Mindfulness, and Internal Family Systems/Parts Work. V works from a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive and responsive lens. V’s approach combines evidence-based practices with expressive modalities to support clients with gaining agency with their thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors, while simultaneously cultivating their unique strengths and self-expression. V has experience working with the following: depression, self-harm, suicidality, ADHD, anxiety, perfectionism, low self-esteem, emotional dysregulation, grief and loss, divorce, complex trauma and abuse, disordered eating, sleep issues, and identity development. V has a particular passion and specialty working with LGBTQ+ youth and creative/gifted children.
Aside from therapy, V enjoys singing and playing the guitar and ukulele, making up songs every day. V can also be found going for hikes, watching the birds, and enjoying the sunset.