Kieu “Q” Balthasar, MSW, LCSW 76413

My name is Kieu “Q” Balthasar and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice at Cal Poly Pomona. I went on to earn my Master’s Degree in Social Work from USC. My 20 plus years of working in various settings in the field and a great privilege working with various individuals and families have helped me gain deeper insights into the lives of my clients, the inner strengths and frailties we all share, and the infinite potentials we all possess, waiting to be discovered and excavated.

Carl Bard once said “Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” Life is a journey indeed, and each of us has an odyssey of our own. The journey of life is unique and personal for each of us, filled with beauty, wonderment and joy, but also with unexpected complications and challenges, crises, loss and grief, and at times paralyzing circumstances and unbearable pains. We find ourselves feeling completely overwhelmed, vulnerable and beyond the threshold of being able to confront and cope with the enormity of the situation. A safe, respectful, supportive space where one’s challenges and pain is held by compassionate listening, understanding and empathy, and genuine care can create a context for the true therapeutic relationship where the therapist and client together find a path to healing, acceptance, courage, personal freedom, and wholeness again.

We will work together on enhancing our emotional and relational intelligence and improving our personal and professional relationships with others. My ultimate desire and goal as a therapist would be to help support my clients to gain new skill sets and confidence in navigating through life’s constantly changing environment and work toward mastery in the art of living with purpose and possibilities.

My professional experiences span over a wide range of settings from the schools, community based mental health, inpatient as well as outpatient specialty clinics of a medical center. I’ve had privileges working with remarkably courageous children and families coping with chronic illnesses, depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and genetic and other Neuro-developmental disorders as well as children impacted by their parents’ divorce, and the issues arising from a blended family. Many of my clients also presented with couple relationship issues, post traumatic stress disorders, and some facing juvenile delinquency and children and family protective services, perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, and infertility and adoption. As an Asian American myself, I have years of experience providing culturally competent services to diverse Asian-American/Pacific Islander on such issues related to adjustment and acculturation of immigrants, intergenerational issues, and trauma of displacement and loss and grief from their experiences of war.

My central philosophy of therapy is strength based, humanistic and client-centered, and often an integrative and holistic approach to the complex issues my clients present. I am well versed in trauma informed care, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and am a Certified Family Consultant. There is no one size fits all paradigm, therefore it is important that the therapist and client work together to develop a treatment goal that is personalized to the individual client’s needs.

I would feel privileged that I am trusted to journey together with you through your challenging times, however long or short it may be, and I will be honored to work alongside with you towards your path to healing and wellness.

When I am not at work, I enjoy cooking, floral arrangement, playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with my precious daughter, family and friends.