Faye Chao Sofaer, MSW, LCSW
Licensed Therapist
She/Her
Specializations
15+ year old
Postpartum/Parental/ Fertility
BIPOC/AAPI
Work life balance
Third Culture
LGBTQIA+ Support
Relationship/Couples
Open Relationship/Non-Monogamy
Mandarin Speaking
Brainspotting (Phase 1)
About Faye
I believe that therapy offers a way for us to examine our narratives and their meanings. I work with people who are transitioning in all realms. People experiencing racism, grief/loss, those living with depression and anxiety, PTSD, and chronic burnout. I see individuals and couples across generations and milestones with various identifiers: Third Culture, BIPOC, LGBTQ, and non-binary.
As a therapist, I am interested in your subjective experience and the context, framework, and systemic dynamics that shape it. I see you as a whole person and aim to avoid reductionist and pathological interpretations. I work experientially and within the transference. The relational dynamics we enact in therapy can be a variation of existing or prior relational dynamics.
I am direct and compassionate in my communication style. I strive to cultivate a safe, inclusive, non-judgmental space. I invite clients to know their strengths, self-worth, intrinsic values, and capacity for growth. Within the practice there is space for shame, disgust, guilt, blame, anger, cognitive distortions, and negative self-talk, as we move towards ambivalence, self-compassion, authenticity, accountability, and humility.
I have worked in the field of mental health for over twenty years. I have a Master’s in Social Work from New York University. I completed my clinical hours in San Francisco. I have worked in emergency departments, inpatient psychiatry, and outpatient mental health clinics. My theoretical framework is eclectic & holistic, drawing on evidence-based theories to existential/humanistic theories. I am fluent in Mandarin and conversational Spanish.
I Love Reno! Other places I have lived are San Francisco, Amsterdam, Taipei, Buenos Aires, Manhattan, Los Angeles, and Madrid. Beyond the Collective, I enjoy Friday night dinners with friends and family, boxing, art, cultural happenings, hiking, hot springs, bike rides, literature, podcasts, and jaunts with my three not-chill children.