You don’t have to earn rest or prove your worth here.

For high-achievers, overthinkers, and hyper-independent folk ready to break old cycles and stop carrying it all alone

Serving New York & New Jersey

Let's Talk

Claim the space to finally exhale.

On the outside, you look capable, driven, and put together.

You get things done, meet expectations, and carry responsibilities with ease. But inside, your mind rarely stops.

You overthink, second-guess, and find it hard to fully relax.

Slowing down can feel uncomfortable—or even guilt-inducing.

Even when life looks “fine,” your body and nervous system rarely feel at ease.

let's talk

Supporting You Along the Way

A woman with long black hair smiling and wearing a pink top.
Text reading 'Innae Julia Kim, MA, ATR-BC, LCAT, LPAT' in stylized font.

I help you slow down, feel your body, and reconnect with your own needs and emotions. Together, we explore the patterns that keep you stuck—whether in work, relationships, or within yourself—and create space to process difficult emotions safely.

I help teens and adults who feel constantly on edge, weighed down by worry, low mood, or exhaustion. Many carry the lingering impact of difficult childhood experiences or trauma, leaving them hypervigilant, disconnected, or struggling to trust themselves and others. Relationships can feel complicated, over giving, guarded, or leaving you unsure how to set boundaries. Some wrestle with self-doubt, pressure to succeed, or the weight of cultural expectations, especially as Asian Americans navigating identity and belonging.

My work blends trauma-informed care with practical strategies to help you feel grounded, supported, and more connected to yourself and others.

I have 7+ years of clinical experience in various settings:

Including inpatient psychiatric units, transitional living centers, residential treatment facilities, schools, and private practice, where I've had the privilege of working with a diverse range of clients with very different needs.

You don’t need to perform here. I’m simply here as your guide. Holding space for your healing, at your own pace.

A person sitting on rocks by a lake, looking at mountains and a forested landscape in the distance.

What Working With Me Looks Like

let's talk

Working with me is about more than talking—it’s about feeling, noticing, and building real connection with yourself and others. Here’s what you can expect from our work together:

1. Being Seen and Understood
You’ll have a space where your experience is fully acknowledged—without judgment or needing to perform. Many clients say it’s the first time they feel truly heard.

2. Exploring Patterns and Roots
We’ll look at the underlying patterns in your relationships, emotions, and behavior. Together, we’ll uncover how early experiences, cultural pressures, or trauma may be shaping your present.

3. Processing Emotions Safely
Through talk therapy, EMDR, Art Therapy, and body-based approaches, you’ll be guided to process difficult feelings and experiences in a way that feels safe and contained.

4. Reconnecting with Your Body and Nervous System
You’ll learn how to notice and regulate tension, anxiety, or hypervigilance, helping you feel grounded, present, and more at ease in daily life.

5. Building Skills and Choice
We’ll strengthen boundaries, self-compassion, and coping strategies—not to “fix” you, but to expand your ability to respond to life from a place of safety and self-trust.

6. Cultivating Lasting Connection and Confidence
Over time, you’ll gain a deeper sense of self, stronger relationships, and the confidence to navigate life with clarity, presence, and authenticity.

Areas of Specialty

Whether you’re a student, a young professional, or navigating the twists and turns of adult life, you don’t have to face it alone. Here, you’ll find a space to pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself—whatever “being yourself” looks like for you.

let's Talk
Two women engaged in a conversation at a desk, with plants in white pots on a black metal shelf in the background.

  • I don’t just focus on talk therapy—I meet you where you are, with a deep focus on both your mind and your body. My approach blends trauma-informed care, EMDR, Art Therapy, mindfulness, and body-based practices, so healing happens on multiple levels, not just intellectually.

    I prioritize building a strong, trusting relationship with you. Many clients tell me that for the first time, they feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood. Therapy with me becomes a space where you don’t have to perform, over-function, or carry everything on your own.

    I also bring a culturally attuned lens, especially for Asian American clients, and a deep understanding of family expectations, identity pressures, and the weight of being “the reliable one.” You won’t have to over-explain—your experience is recognized and held with compassion.

    Ultimately, working with me is about creating lasting change, not just managing symptoms. Together, we explore patterns, process emotions safely, and build skills to help you feel grounded, confident, and more fully yourself.

  • Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—I’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.

  • No. I welcome all clients but my work is rooted in cultural awareness and the lived realities of Asian American communities. Many who choose to work with me identify as women, men, LGBTQ, heterosexual, single parents, divorcees, students, bi-racial, leaders, professionals, and just about any person who is looking for a more direct and relatable therapist who “gets them.”

  • I don’t accept insurance directly, but many clients get partial reimbursement through their out-of-network benefits. To make it easier, I partner with Mentaya, a service that helps you check your benefits and submit claims. You can find out more about your eligibility here.

    Payment is due at the time of each session. My rates for individual therapy and group therapy can be found here.

  • Sessions are typically 1x weekly to ensure best practices and support meeting your goals to start. If you are needing more support, 2 x weekly sessions can be arranged. One-off emergency sessions can also be offered.

    Once you have become more stable, bi-weekly sessions are also considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are my Credentials?

Innae Julia Kim, MA, ATR-BC, LPAT, LCAT

Credentials:

  • Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) #002518 (New York)

  • Licensed Professional Art Therapist (LPAT)

    #16LP00030400 (New Jersey)

  • Registered Board-Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC) #20-406

Specialties:

  • Teens (12+), College students, Young Professionals, and Adults in their mid 30s - 40s.

Post Graduate Training:

  • Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
    50 hours- Trauma Specialists Training Institute (EMDRIA approved Basic Training) 

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills (DBT skills)
    56 hours - Treatment Implementation Collaborative-Master Class for Core Skills in DBT w/ Annie McCall, MA, LMHC & Dr. Shari Manning, Ph.D

  • The Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA)
    16 hours- The Nurtured Heart Institute

  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
    30 hours - JBFCS Elizabeth Joseph, Psy. D.

IFS (Internal Family Systems) Training —

I am happy to announce that:

I was accepted to begin IFS Training with the IFS Institute, starting March of 2026!

Four people sitting around a table inside, decorating holiday cookies with frosting and sprinkles, with snacks and drinks nearby.

Education:

  • Master’s degree in Art Therapy - New York University, 2018

  • Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts - SUNY Purchase College, 2013

Art Exhibitions:

Prior to starting my solo-practice at Innerelief Creative Arts Therapy, I held clinical internships and post graduate positions such as Primary Therapist, Internship Supervisor, Senior Art Therapist, and Assistant Clinical Director at:

Davenport Creative Arts Therapy

Bronx Psychiatric Center

The Jewish Board of Children and Family Services

The Coalition for Hispanic Family Services

I’ve also served as a consultant & facilitator for corporate wellness clients, including:

—Netflix —Nespresso—New York Presbyterian Hospital—& The Chinese American Planning Council.

In Media: