Helping you find your way back to yourself.

Psychotherapy for individuals, couples & families in California.

Get In Touch

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You’re more than the story you've been living.

Many of us arrive at adulthood carrying more than we realize: the pressure to achieve, the experience of not quite fitting in, the sense that some part of us has never fully had room to breathe. This is especially true for those who have navigated the distance between cultures, learning to belong in one world without losing a sense of connection to another.

When the pace is fast and the expectations are high, it can be hard to slow down long enough to ask what you actually want—not where you've been, what you've built, or what's expected of you—but where you'd like to go next.

Rebecca Peng, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, offering psychotherapy in English and Mandarin Chinese in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I’m Rebecca.

Raised by Buddhist Chinese parents in a blue-collar community, I often felt different from those around me. My sensitive and introverted nature led me to seek solace in reading, writing, and the arts, which became important sources of meaning, reflection, and self-expression. I immigrated to the United States as a teenager, landing in Silicon Valley without the cultural footing I’d built at home, and surrounded by the spirit of high achievement. Settling into an Asian American identity required navigating the delicate balance between the immigrant family expectations and the pull of Western values. These early experiences nurture my curiosity and compassion for individuals struggling to make sense of themselves and the world around them, and to find a sense of belonging and purpose in their lives.

In my twenties I found my way into social services—working with immigrant communities, inner city youth, survivors of trauma and women in addiction treatment. I was drawn to the diverse healing practices and perspectives on wellness found across cultures and communities. I also discovered psychotherapy, and eventually found my own path to healing and growth. I've been a therapist since 2007 and started my private practice in San Francisco in 2013.

I hold a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from UC Berkeley and an M.S. in Counseling from San Francisco State University. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California (MFT 52829).

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A space to slow down and see yourself clearly.

Every person carries a unique story that goes far beyond your past and your present challenges. My job is to help you understand that story more fully as you learn to move around more freely within it.

Anxiety

Demanding jobs, life transitions, or acculturative stress can all cause anxiety. I work well with clients in the technology, healthcare, and legal sectors, where maintaining a healthy work–life balance is often a significant challenge. I also have a particular passion for supporting clients experiencing social anxiety rooted in self-esteem struggles and the challenges of living with marginalized identities.
Depression

Depression is not always noticeable; many high achieving individuals continue to manage daily responsibilities while experiencing significant emotional distress. I create a space for clients to pause, connect with memories, thoughts, and feelings that brought them to their depression, and find a path forward through self-compassion.
Trauma

One can cultivate resilience and experience growth in the aftermath of trauma. Thriving, not just healing, is possible. I help clients work through impacts of intergenerational family trauma and childhood adversity so they can begin to move toward greater fulfillment, stronger relationships, and lasting well-being.
Relationship

Human brains are wired for connection, yet we are not always taught to build, maintain, repair, or end relationships in healthy ways. I help clients gain insight into their attachment styles and the ways early relationships have shaped their patterns of connection. Together, we explore how to foster inner safety, communicate needs with confidence, set healthy boundaries, and navigate conflict with greater clarity and compassion.
Addiction

Individuals struggling with addiction and their families often carry tremendous shame, grief, frustration, and hopelessness, sometimes losing faith that sustainable change is possible. Recovery is a journey that requires courage, commitment to a lifestyle change, and a strong support system. A therapist can help clients heal the underlying wounds that may have contributed to substance use in the first place.
Supporting Teens

Adolescence is a time of exploration, identity formation, and increasing independence. It is common for teens to question or resist parental guidance as they strive to develop their own skills and critical thinking. I have worked with older teens (13+) for nearly a decade on anxiety and depression, self-esteem, social skills, body image, sexuality and dating, and conflicts with parents or siblings.
Neurodiversity

Living with neurodivergence in a neurotypical world often involves a tremendous amount of masking one’s authentic self and navigating the impact of social stigma. I help clients embrace their unique ways of thinking, feeling, and communicating while finding a balance between meeting the demands of others and honoring their own strengths, needs, and values.

How We Can Work Together

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Individual Therapy

For those who are ready to slow down and look more closely at their lives—at the patterns in their relationships, the pressure they're under, and the parts of themselves that haven't had space to breathe. Therapy offers a space for reflection and personal growth.

Couples Therapy

For couples who want to understand what's gotten in the way—and find a path back to each other. I work with partners from many different backgrounds, including interracial and intercultural couples navigating the particular tensions that come with that.

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Schedule A Free Consultation

Family Therapy

For adults who want to work on a specific relationship within their family—a sibling, a parent, a grown child. Together, we examine the roles, interaction patterns, and boundaries within the family system that may be limiting connection and emotional closeness.

FAQ

I consider myself an eclectic therapist. I tailor theory-based interventions to meet each client’s unique needs. My foundation is psychodynamic, which means I focus on bringing unconscious thoughts and hidden feelings into a person’s conscious awareness. I'm interested in patterns, history, and the parts of yourself that may not yet have language.
I also draw on trauma-informed and polyvagal theory, which brings attention to how the body and nervous system carry experience. Mindfulness and somatic techniques are woven into the therapy to support clients in developing effective skills for regulating and calming both their body and mind.
I offer both virtual and in-person sessions. My office is located at:
2504 Clay St
San Francisco, CA 94115
Yes, I am bilingual / bicultural and can provide psychotherapy in English and Mandarin Chinese.
I accept Zelle, cash or checks.
Limited sliding scale slots are available. Please reach out for more information.
I accept plans from most insurance companies that include out-of-network (OON) coverage. They are commonly known as the PPO/POS plans. I will provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance provider and clients typically get reimbursed 50-70% of the fee.
Additionally, you may qualify for a tax deduction if you claim therapy expenses on your FSA.