*Empathie was previously a mental health app, which has now closed down. This is our free public good for anyone to use.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bZZdGDJBKI
Around the age of 10, I became an orphaned survivor of both sexual and emotional abuse. This affected my trust in people; my journey to building healthy relationships has been far from easy. It wasn’t until I read a psychology book on how people, including myself, might communicate their feelings of love and warmth that I understood why the criticism I received growing up was connected to what my needs are today. The data and anecdotal stories from this educational resource helped me feel like I wasn’t alone. The quick advice was filled with actionable steps on how I could apply my new skills to my relationships. I learned how to better articulate my needs and the reasons behind them — helping me form stronger bonds with others.
However, the book was not as helpful in helping me communicate more productively with my other Asian family members. The book did not account for cultural reasons for why my Asian family members express their love in the way that they do, and so I didn’t learn how to see past generational differences. How both parties would misinterpret what the other party meant would often lead to stress.
Though wellness education has empowered me to implement wellness strategies self-sufficiently, it has only been partially integral to my life because of the missing consideration of my cultural roots. This gap in wellness resources inspired me to create Empathie as a way to make health care more supportive towards racial minorities, who lack representation. This gap inspired me to create another avenue to receive support — a more accessible one — outside of traditional therapy.
— Jennifer Wong, Founder @ Empathie
Jennifer Wong (Co-founder and CEO)
I discovered the power of my past experiences when I volunteered as a camp counselor for underserved kids (predominantly racial minorities) during my second year at UCLA. One night after dinner, my cabin exchanged stories of personal struggles as a way to connect with each other. A young Asian American high school girl shared about the loss of her mother. She approached me after the group activity and shared that she had lost her mother as well. As they connected about the hardships they both faced, such as the expectation of holding in emotions in Asian culture, she suddenly embraced me. Everybody had always sympathized with her, but for the first time, she found someone who could relate to her. She wasn’t alone in what she felt, and this was a connection she couldn’t previously find. After having held her tears in for seven years, she finally cried and accepted her past. This connection showed me that my turbulent upbringing is a tool for understanding others and helps me transform them into more empowered people
Leonna Luc (Co-founder and COO)
I am a passionate and impact-driven Consultant and Coach with a focus on bridging the gap for access to opportunities for underrepresented groups. With my background in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), I support organizations and individuals with creating spaces that foster authenticity and understanding, guiding others in recognizing their full potential, and building and refining infrastructure and programs for more equitable practices. As an advocate for mental health & wellness, I leverage these values to dispel the stigma of this topic and empower others with resources that allow for more individualized self-care. I believe in the power of empathy, self-awareness, open-mindedness, and community and leverage these values in all parts of my work.
Lisa Wang (Co-founder and CTO)
I, Lisa Wang, have personally tried therapy solutions but struggled to find the right fit. I’m passionate about finding more accessible ways of receiving support outside of traditional therapy. I have 5 years of experience volunteering/working within the mental health space. Specifically, I have done educational campaigns to raise mental health awareness for underserved populations. I have also volunteered as a trained listener for mental health hotlines. Being unique in the sense of growing up in South America with Asian mother allowed me to gain perspective of mental health in multiple cultures. I have seen others’ struggles through different perspectives. I was fortunate enough to explore mental wellness through psychology courses and other resources. I am leveraging my experiences and education to make the mental health space more equitable for those who don’t have the opportunity to improve their mental well-being. I’m a double major in Biochemistry and Computer Science at UC Berkeley ’22.
Dr. Amanda Tan (Clinical Director)
I am originally from Singapore and moved to California to become a psychologist! In my work in private practice and past work in hospitals, I have helped many clients navigate issues such as acculturative and immigration stress, religious tension, work burnout, substance use, relationship and familial conflict, and various role transitions. I enjoy helping people grow and believe each person is capable of finding their own path forward.
Our clinical advisors helped review our mental health content to ensure that it was ethical and culturally responsive