Christopher Lum

Christopher Lum is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who draws on mindfulness and practical therapy methods to help people manage grief, addiction, depression, and feelings of isolation. He writes plainly and meets people where they are, aiming to make therapy feel steady and understandable for those under stress.

He grew up navigating life between cultures, balancing Chinese family expectations with fitting in at school. That experience shaped his focus on identity, belonging, and the pressure many people feel to meet others' standards. It also led him to study AAPI Studies and psychology and later to social work.

Christopher has 15 years of experience in community and medical settings. He has worked with veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and clients in inpatient psychiatric care. Currently he works as a medical social worker in emergency and outpatient settings at the VA and Kaiser in California, and he has supported geriatric clients facing dialysis, end-of-life decisions, caregiving strain, and hospice-related concerns.

His personal journey through depression, addiction, social anxiety, and cultural conflict informs his approach. He uses mindfulness and loving-kindness practices to help people soften self-criticism, alongside cognitive behavioral techniques and acceptance-based methods. Cultural humility is central to his work with BIPOC and AAPI individuals.

In sessions he focuses on clear goals, honest conversation, and practical steps people can try between meetings. He encourages exploration of family expectations, multicultural identity, guilt, shame, and self-compassion while helping clients navigate life changes and recover a sense of connection.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Mindfulness and loving-kindness practices help people notice stressful thoughts and offer a gentler internal tone. In sessions this looks like short guided exercises, simple breath work, and practice in turning toward self-kindness during hard moments. These techniques can be especially helpful for easing isolation and chronic self-criticism.

Cognitive behavioral methods focus on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and trying small behavioral experiments. The therapist and client map specific thoughts, test different responses, and track what changes between meetings. This approach is often useful for depression, anxiety, and adjusting to life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick methods that fit their goals and preferences, adjusting over time as needed. That means trying strategies together, checking what helps, and shifting direction when something isn’t working.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the session formats offered before booking since the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, shorten travel time, and allow for brief check-ins when a full session isn’t possible. It can also let people practice skills in the settings where they live and relate, which helps transfer what they learn into everyday life.