Silicon Valley Clinic Offers Support Sessions For AAPI Community

PALO ALTO, CA — Alpha Medical, a Palo Alto-based health clinic, is partnering with the Yellow Chair Collective, a psychotherapist group, to offer group support sessions in the wake of the recent rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

According to a news release, the group sessions will be led by licensed therapists who will discuss topics such as the Asian American experience, racism and diversity, in addition to general mental health topics like anxiety and depression. There are six sessions offered at a cost of $180, in group sizes ranging from six to 12 people. The sessions will start in June.

Gloria Lau, CEO and Founder of Alpha Medical and an immigrant from Hong Kong, said in an email interview with Patch that she’s worked in the Palo Alto area for 10 years and has heard her fair share of “go back to where you are from” comments.

“I was taught to avoid conflict so I would try to not let these comments get to me, but I realized I shouldn’t become more tolerant of these comments, it was time to make a change,” Lau said.

Lau formed Alpha Medical with the goal of providing access for undeserved and undertreated medical needs, specifically in women’s health-care. Lau said she felt a calling to help when she heard about more and more incidents this past year.

“You fear for your friends, family, elders and you can’t help but think this could happen to any of us,” Lau said. “Knowing that Alpha is a resource that could provide mental health services to so many people, the decision was an easy one for me.”

Lau said she heard about Yellow Chair Collective’s work, which focuses on providing a community and healing space for Asian American young adults, and learned that “their resources were limited, but the demand for mental services were high.”

“Much like when I founded Alpha Medical — to address the monumental healthcare challenges in this country — I knew I needed to use my platform to provide support for my community,” Lau said.

Lau hopes that providing the therapy sessions will help the Asian American Pacific Islander community heal.

“I hope that the AAPI community can take time to reflect on this pain, discuss challenges we face, and turn our suffering into power,” she said.

Click here to view Alpha Medical’s Wellness Workshops.