Holly Chuang, LPC candidate

Holly is one of Agave Studio's professional counselors and a trauma therapist, training to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Somatic Experiencing works to heal trauma through accessing the nervous system and allowing the body to complete physiological responses that got stuck in the body during a traumatic event, or over time, as is the case for racial and childhood trauma.

Holly works with immigrant parents and children of immigrants navigating family conflicts. She is sensitive to both traditional values and modern realities. Mandarin-speaking clients are welcome to speak Mandarin in session while Holly responds in English. Holly is also very comfortable with clients seeking to integrate spirituality into their therapeutic work. Her experiences have convinced her that denial, grief, and ambiguous loss are all part of growth toward more mature psychological and spiritual stages.

Holly treats from an attachment-based, psychodynamic, and Rogerian perspective. Rogerian, meaning that she cannot imagine therapy without unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathy. Psychodynamic, meaning that she uses the past to help make sense of the present. And attachment-based, meaning that she connects romantic relationship patterns to secure or insecure attachment styles from early childhood. Holly is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Master of Arts in Counseling, during which she completed clinical work at Turning Point Behavioral Healthcare Center, The Family Institute, and Urban Balance. Now at Agave Studio, she sees adult individuals, individuals hoping for their relationship with their parents to change, their future to be less lonely, or their anxiety to quiet down. Holly is honored to journey alongside people who want to grow, allowing what must be deconstructed to be reconstructed. Dismantled to be replaced. Die to be resurrected.

Holly specializes in racial identity development. In May 2021, she presented on Racial Microaggressions and Protective Measures for Asian Americans at Northwestern University's Counseling Capstone Project Conference. In undergrad, she studied race and gender at the University of Michigan and graduated from the Ford School of Public Policy with a focus on social inequality. Holly is also skilled at integrating spirituality into therapy sessions when requested. Her theological training has ranged from Biblical Studies at Moody Theological Seminary to discourse within the Progressive Asian American Christian (PAAC) community. She worked in full-time support-based ministry before entering the field of mental health. Clients who are seeking to heal from burnout and loneliness in ministry, disillusionment in racial conciliation, or division in their religious community are particularly encouraged to set an appointment. Therapy can be a space to process the betrayal of narcissistic leadership and the shame that protects its secrecy.

Young Professionals' Mental Health Support Group

This group serves as a space for young professionals living alone or feeling lonely to build social supports and connect over the shared experience of feeling stuck in their job or in meeting new people. Every group begins with check-ins for people to share about their week. Then, there is time for one or two members to process something with the group. Holly provides psychoeducation as requested and relevant to group needs. Group can be covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO or private-pay $25/session.

Group Meets Online
Every Monday
7:00pm - 7:50pm

Office locations

Holly currently holds all sessions online.

Agave Studio for Psychotherapy

2950 W Chicago Ave, Suite 202
Chicago, IL 60622

Website: https://www.agavechicago.com/our-therapists

Email: holly@agavechicago.com

Phone: (734) 489-1940

Areas of Practice

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Complex Trauma

• Forensic Asylum Evaluations

• Organizational Theory and Practice

• Group and Team Dynamics

Languages Spoken

• English

• Limited Mandarin

Insurance Plans Accepted

Blue Cross Blue Shield