Tara, aka Om Sun Hui (OSH), is a Korean adoptee (KAD). < Back Tara Footner Founder Her everyday identity is an English language educator, which she has done for over 20 years in Japan, the U.S., and the U.A.E. to fuel her passion for travel and experiencing the world’s vastness. However, like most, OSH holds a number of other identities including writer. With the dream of writing since she was eight-years-old, OSH has written for April Magazine and contributed to various other online publications over the years. Yet, none have quite satisfied a desire to provide our community with a platform to share our collective experiences, showcase our many talents, and inspire each other to express ourselves openly in an otherwise dominated society. Therefore, OSH’s aim as founder of this online magazine is to offer an open and safe forum for our varied voices to be highlighted and heard. You can also follow Tara’s adventures here .

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We all need a little help sometimes. The resources on this page are meant for support, guidance, and validation. It will continue to be updated as we gather more information. Sometimes we find ourselves not knowing where or who to turn to when things get hard. But we're not alone in our mental health struggles. The Universal Asian has put together these resources that can offer support when needed. Remember that we are an open and safe space, so reach out if you can’t find what you're looking for. We're here to help. And if you’d like to see a resource added to this list, please complete the form at the bottom of this page or email us directly. Organizations: MentalHealth.gov Resources for Immediate Help This webpage provided by the U.S. Dep artment of Health & Human Services provides information on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Live Online Chat SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 ( 726-4727) National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. HelpLine staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained and able to provide guidance. Asian Mental Health Collective Asian Mental Health Collective seeks to raise awareness about the importance of mental health care, promote emotional well-being, and challenge the stigma concerning mental illness amongst Asian communities worldwide. Their goal is to build a community for Asian mental health support. Korean American Mental Health A website with a mission to make psychotherapy culturally appropriate for Korean Americans. They hope to show the world what challenges Korean Americans endure in their daily lives. MentalHealthPH #MentalHealthPH is an organization that champions and builds mentally healthier communities around the Philippines. They believe that mental health is a fundamental human right and aim to make mental health support more accessible for you—from stories and resources that inspire and educate, to professional services, facilities, and more! Active Minds Active Minds is a nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults that is dedicated to saving lives and to building stronger families and communities. The site offers an immense variety of resources, ranging from statistics, up-to-date news, and tips regarding mental health, many of which can be found by clicking “Resources.” Seeking Counsel: An Expert Panel in Mental Health Shares Wisdom This is a general guide offered by I AM ADOPTEE on how to find counseling as an adoptee. Beyond Words Psychological Services Adoptee-Therapist Directory This directory provided by Beyond Words Psychological Services includes licensed U.S. mental health professionals who identify as adoptees & work with adoptees/adoptive families in a variety of public & private settings. Only providers who have voluntarily submitted their information have been listed. The Recovery Village The Recovery Village is a free web resource that provides information about addiction, eating disorders, and mental health issues. The Adoptee Group’s KAD Village KAD Village is a community that showcases businesses, art, music, podcasts, multimedia, books, research, and other projects that are led by Korean adoptees. The village also lists adoptee support groups that are effective for the unique journey of adoptees. Directory: The following is a list of mental health profess ionals, counselors, and life coaches. Laure Badufle Korean-French adoptee, Laure is a certified kundalini yoga teacher, transformational coach and the founder of RAJAVTAR. she helps Adoptees to heal and empower through yoga classes and individual support, both online and in-person. her offerings focus on reconnecting with the body, building self-esteem, befriending emotions and manifesting life mission. Jeannie Celestial, Ph.D. **Currently serving clients at capacity & am not taking new individual clients at this time. Feel free to message for waitlist or group workshop options.** Dr. Celestial is a psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience in supporting people through personal and collective healing and transformation. She integrates EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), CBT, ACT, and other evidence-based practices with a culturally responsive, holistic, and social justice-oriented care approach. It’s her honor to bear witness to and facilitate healing from trauma and stress. Vivi Wei-Chun Hua, Psy.D. Dr. Hua is a Clinical Psychologist & International Student Success Coach. Originally from Taiwan, she obtained her Doctor of Psychology degree from Yeshiva University in New York. Dr. Hua serves a diverse population, with a focus on first and second generation immigrants, Asian families, intercultural couples, and international students. Services are available in both English and Mandarin Chinese. Dr. Hua provides a brief free consultation call for individuals interested in working with her. Sun Mee Martin Sun Mee is a Korean/German adoptee, holistic coach, and founder of Numaru, an international community and safe space for transcultural adoptees to explore the meaning of identity, belonging, and holistic healing. Sun Mee’s own healing path has led to her mission to help fellow adoptees find clarity, compassion, and emotional courage in their adoptee journey. She offers virtual 1:1 and group support, in-person retreats, creative and mindfulness workshops, and monthly community circles to connect, be heard, and feel seen. You can connect with her @numaru.truebelonging. Kyla Mitsunaga Kyla Mitsunaga is a Depression Overcomer/Subconscious Mind Expert who works WITH women millionaires to help get their lives and their businesses out of depression using a growthspirational toolkit that helped me do the same. Kyla coaches clients globally in masterminds and 1:1 sessions on zoom. “Feel free to schedule a FREE consult WITH me — Can’t wait to meet you and work WITH you and your subconscious mind!” Kate Powers Kate Powers is a life coach who specializes in helping people use their potential and purpose. She focuses on career coaching helping people make a career transition. Kate has a holistic and comprehensive integrated perspective from previous work in mental health counseling and as a massage therapist and yoga teacher as well as corporate Human Resources and recruiting. Kate can be found on Instagram @itskatepowers and @mysuperpowerssay Cam Lee Small Cam Lee Small, MS, LPCC provides resources on this webpage, including information on an Adult BIPOC Adoptee Support Group. You can follow him on Instagram @therapyredeemed. Angel a Wu Angela Wu is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Empowerment Coach who is passionate about de-stigmatizing mental health in the AAPI community as well as helping women of color reclaim and raise their voices in order to embody their empowered authentic selves! In her therapy practice, she helps individuals find healing from trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief, as well as navigate acculturation and intergenerational issues, difficult life transitions, and relationship issues. Her approach to therapy is strength-based, culturally affirming, and anti-oppressive. In her coaching practice, Angela helps Asian American women break free from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and imposter syndrome in order to reclaim and embody their true selves. Angela offers free consultations with those interested in working with her. You can follow her on Instagram @thesassyasiantherapist. Disclaimer: The information provided by The Universal Asian on our website is for general informational purposes only. All information on our website is provided in good faith; however, we make no representation or guarantee of any kind—express or implied—regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of the provided information. Resource Suggestion Box Submit Thanks for submitting!

Tara Footner Founder Tara, aka Om Sun Hui (OSH), is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Kath Pacao Administrative Specialist Kath was born in Manila and currently lives in Tokyo. Read More Cynthia Landesburg Contributor Cynthia is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Heath Hyun Houghton Contributor Heath is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Lauren Burke Contributor Lauren is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Samantha Der Contributor Samantha is a #hyphenatedAsian. Read More Ella Wu Managing Editor Ella is a Chinese adoptee. Read More A.D. Herzel Contributor A.D. is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Erika Fisher Contributor Erika is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Heather Lewis Contributor Heather is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Lauren Kofalt Contributor Lauren is a Chinese adoptee. Read More Stephanie Fung Contributor Stephanie is a #hyphenatedAsian. Read More Jon Oaks Web Specialist Jon is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Ana Suli Clancey Contributor Ana is a Chinese adoptee. Read More Haiku Kwon Contributor Laura is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Kara Bos Contributor Kara is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Lilly Schmaltz Contributor Lilly is a Chinese adoptee. Read More

< Back Heath Hyun Houghton Contributor A Korean American adoptee who grew up in rural Michigan and is currently based in Portland, OR. Heath Hyun Houghton is an actor, writer, and director. He holds an MFA in creative writing with a focus in playwriting from Goddard College and a B.A. in theatre with a focus in performance from Humboldt State University. He also studied Korean dance and performance styles in Jinju, South Korea, with USD Modern Dance. Poems and essays have been published in Spring Time Magazine and The Pitkin Review. Heath’s work has appeared online in Pif Magazine, MiGoZine, and Korea4Expats. He has also contributed lyrics to albums released by Ultraviolet Hippopotamus (“One Eye Shut,” Stop Watch Time Drop ) and The Turnips (“Move Your Ass,” Background Music ). His plays have been seen as staged readings in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, and in the U.S. in California, Michigan, and Oregon. He is currently an Ensemble Member with Theatre Vertigo and Linestorm Playwrights. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and USA Gymnastics.

< Back A.D. Herzel Contributor A.D. Herzel is an #importedAsian from Korea. She is a Visual Artist, writer, and educator. A.D. has exhibited work nationally for the past 20 years. She trained as a painter and printmaker at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and went on to receive her Master of Eduaction (M.Ed.) in art education at the Tyler School of Art in 2000. Her digital work has been published in the Manifest International Drawing Annual , INDA 8, and she has won several awards of recognition for her drawings. In addition to exhibiting work in numerous juried shows, she has been recognized by curators from the Amon Carter Museum of American Art , The Kimbell Museum of Fine Arts in Texas, and The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. She has been represented by galleries in Fort Worth, TX, Nashville, TN and Philadelphia, PA. A.D. Herzel is an Asian-American artist and writer who has shared her work nationally and internationally. You may learn more about her and her work by following her on social media and visiting her website. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pseudopompou FB: https://www.facebook.com/PseudoPompous Website: https://www.pseudopompous.com Medium: https://medium.com/@pseudopompous Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/adherzel

< Back Lauren Burke Contributor Lauren (정미나) is an #importedAsian from Korea to the U.S. Her professional background is in financial analysis and management, but when the world paused in 2020, she was able to pick up her passion for writing again. She enjoys the practice of free-writing, in addition to writing song lyrics, and now, as a contributor for The Universal Asian . You can find Lauren engaged most often with the adoptee community, opening up about life as a Korean adoptee in the U.S., and what it’s like experiencing a birth family search process. She is also a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certified instructor and hopes to use that knowledge by returning to Korea someday, even if only for a chapter of her life. Lauren loves to connect and communicate with people, and hopes to use writing as a means to help others share their story. You can find her talking about adoption, BTS, and Korean food by following her on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjungmeena FB: https://www.facebook.com/itsjungmeena

< Back Jon Oaks Web Specialist Jon, aka 백승찬 (Baik Seung Chan), is a KAD currently living in the Detroit area. He is an award-winning professor of mathematics with over 17 years of teaching and tutoring experience. He values equity and believes that learning should be equitable for everyone. He is passionate about what he does, and his goal is to make sure every student knows that he cares about them. On a tour of Seoul in 2018 during his first trip back to Korea since being adopted, one of his friends gave him the nickname Prof. Seung Chan. The name has stuck with him as a reminder that he should be proud of who he is—past and present. He now uses the name Prof. Seung Chan on his weekly podcast with his friend Nick Ha. His hobbies include going to Detroit Pistons games, eating tacos, and drinking the occasional bottle of soju. One of his goals is to eventually visit every MLB Stadium and go to Paris when he retires.

< Back Haiku Kwon Contributor Haiku Kwon, aka Laura Kruis, is a Korean American #importedAsian, writer, and wanderluster, who loves dogs, weightlifting, food, and connecting with others. Through her contributions to The Universal Asian , she hopes to demonstrate the importance of storytelling and sharing one’s personal truth to build community. Haiku has held many varied roles throughout her life and travels as much as possible, which has taught her that “home” isn’t always a place. Sometimes, it’s a moment. Blog: https://haiku-kwon.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haiku_kwon/

< Back Tara Footner Founder Her everyday identity is an English language educator, which she has done for over 20 years in Japan, the U.S., and the U.A.E. to fuel her passion for travel and experiencing the world’s vastness. However, like most, OSH holds a number of other identities including writer. With the dream of writing since she was eight-years-old, OSH has written for April Magazine and contributed to various other online publications over the years. Yet, none have quite satisfied a desire to provide our community with a platform to share our collective experiences, showcase our many talents, and inspire each other to express ourselves openly in an otherwise dominated society. Therefore, OSH’s aim as founder of this online magazine is to offer an open and safe forum for our varied voices to be highlighted and heard. You can also follow Tara’s adventures here .

Tara Footner Founder Tara, aka Om Sun Hui (OSH), is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Kath Pacao Administrative Specialist Kath was born in Manila and currently lives in Tokyo. Read More Cynthia Landesburg Contributor Cynthia is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Heath Hyun Houghton Contributor Heath is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Lauren Burke Contributor Lauren is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Samantha Der Contributor Samantha is a #hyphenatedAsian. Read More Ella Wu Managing Editor Ella is a Chinese adoptee. Read More A.D. Herzel Contributor A.D. is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Erika Fisher Contributor Erika is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Heather Lewis Contributor Heather is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Lauren Kofalt Contributor Lauren is a Chinese adoptee. Read More Stephanie Fung Contributor Stephanie is a #hyphenatedAsian. Read More Jon Oaks Web Specialist Jon is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Ana Suli Clancey Contributor Ana is a Chinese adoptee. Read More Haiku Kwon Contributor Laura is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Kara Bos Contributor Kara is a Korean adoptee (KAD). Read More Lilly Schmaltz Contributor Lilly is a Chinese adoptee. Read More

< Back Ana Suli Clancey Contributor Ana Suli Clancey is a Chinese #importedAsian. She was adopted from Yueyang, Hunan at 18 months old and is passionate about traveling, eating, and connecting with nature. Ana is also an advocate for mental health. She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and strives to raise awareness, especially for communities of color and adoptees. Also, when her mother passed away as a child, she buried her emotions for eight years. She found that being vulnerable, although painful, was the way to reclaim her power. Ana's goal is to fight systemic racism by sharing her story and creating equitable solutions. She strives for a future where leadership is representative of all backgrounds, and the voices of underrepresented folks are amplified instead of being taught to remain quiet.

< Back Kath Pacao Administrative Specialist Her weekday life revolves around being an administrative professional and communication expertise from staff to presidential levels. She has a demonstrated history of working in various financial institutions and organizations. As her weekday might seem tedious, Kath’s weekend revolves around cosplay as a hobby. For more than 10 years, she’s been traveling around the world doing cosplay photoshoots, meeting new friends, and trying world cuisines. Kath’s goal is to connect with people on various platforms and do small actions to make the world a better place.

< Back Lauren Kofalt Contributor Lauren Kofalt is an #importedAsian. She was adopted from China at age one and is currently in the United States. Lauren has taken back her birth name of Zhu Ling Jin as of the past few months, and has been writing poetry since she was little and has always had a passion for it. She is currently attending Penn State University and is happy to share her poetry with our Universal Asian community!

< Back Erika Fisher Contributor Erika Fisher is an #importedAsian from Korea; born in Seoul and raised in the U.S. While her professional background is in international education, she’s also worked as a freelance writer, editor, and writing instructor for nearly 20 years. Erika currently lives in London with her husband and two children, and has previously lived in Kenya, Thailand, and the U.A.E. You can find her at www.erika-fisher.com .