"As you start to walk on the way, the way appears."
— Rumi
Meet Stephanie
Hi, I'm Stephanie Nguyen. I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), spiritual seeker, and traveler. But beyond these identities, I am simply another human on the path of returning home.
Where It Started
Growing up, I learned to use perfectionism, people-pleasing, and defensiveness as a mask to hide away the parts of myself that I felt were unloveable. I was afraid that if people looked too closely at me, they would see all my ugly and reject me for it. This fear shaped my entire personality for years and years and years.
I mastered the art of being loved for the mask I wore, but inside I felt deeply disconnected from myself and the world around me. I projected an image of confidence but inside I was swimming in shame and self-criticism.
What Shifted
My own healing journey started as an effort to fix and rid myself of all the qualities I deemed unloveable so that I could finally feel enough. However, the deeper I journeyed, the more I realized that I never needed to change myself in order to be enough. I only needed to create enough inner spaciousness for all parts of me to co-exist without judgement. Rather than shunning these parts of myself away, I learned how to invite them in for tea. This started a radical journey of reclaiming self.
"The only path that can carry me home is the path of self-compassion."
— Tara Brach
How I Live Now
I’m no longer in the business of perfection. I’m in the business of living truthfully, authentically, and compassionately. This is my sacred work that I lovingly share with all that I am blessed enough to cross paths with.
Who Guides Me
Along my path, I found spiritual teachers whose wisdom guides the work I do. My teachers are Ram Dass, Thich Nhat Hanh, Tara Brach, and Richard Schwartz. If any of these teachers resonate with you, you are in the right place. And if they don’t, your path is still honored here.
Where It Started
Growing up, I learned to use perfectionism, people-pleasing, and defensiveness as a mask to hide away the parts of myself that I felt were unloveable. I was afraid that if people looked too closely at me, they would see all my ugly and reject me for it. This fear shaped my entire personality for years and years and years.
I mastered the art of being loved for the mask I wore, but inside I felt deeply disconnected from myself and the world around me. I projected an image of confidence but inside I was swimming in shame and self-criticism.
What Shifted
My own healing journey started as an effort to fix and rid myself of all the qualities I deemed unloveable so that I could finally feel enough. However, the deeper I journeyed, the more I realized that I never needed to change myself in order to be enough. I only needed to create enough inner spaciousness for all parts of me to co-exist without judgement. Rather than shunning these parts of myself away, I learned how to invite them in for tea. This started a radical journey of reclaiming self.
"The only path that can carry me home is the path of self-compassion."
— Tara Brach
How I Live Now
I’m no longer in the business of perfection. I’m in the business of living truthfully, authentically, and compassionately. This is my sacred work that I lovingly share with all that I am blessed enough to cross paths with.
Who Guides Me
Along my path, I found spiritual teachers whose wisdom guides the work I do. My teachers are Ram Dass, Thich Nhat Hanh, Tara Brach, and Richard Schwartz. If any of these spiritual teachers resonate with you, you are in the right place. And if they don’t, your path is still honored here.
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