Margaret C. Wang, LMFT Psychotherapist

Margaret C. Wang, LMFT Psychotherapist Margaret C. Wang, LMFT offers psychotherapy in the state of California via telehealth. Wang, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, IMF #132544
M.A.

Santa Clara University Counseling Psychology

I offer individual and group therapy via phone and video, while ensuring that the telehealth medium is secured and confidential. Maybe you look amazing on paper but your insides don't mirror that. Or you feel stuck and your fears are holding you back. I'm excited to tell you that you can get everything done EVEN IF it doesn't seem like there's enough t

ime in the day. When working with clients, my focus is on making sure that you feel heard and understood. I find that it is so important to approach my work with non-judgment and openness. Whether you are working through intergenerational trauma, or are hoping to overcome symptoms of depression, I am here. I find that it's imperative that we collaborate and you determine your goals because you know yourself best. I’m here to help you better manage whatever circumstances are leaving you feeling helpless, and I will equip you with the skills to cope with difficult emotions.

04/22/2026

Fun looks like so many things to me.

There's this pull — not to share that I'm doing fun things with certain family members — out of fear of getting negative feedback,
"Why aren't you doing more?"

There's this duality. There's an expectation that you should be doing more, almost as a way of showing gratitude, and as a way of showing that you're doing something that made their sacrifice worth it.

But then there's the flipside — this family member would also want me to relax. Deep down, there's a part of them (I'm using they/them pronouns to protect their anonymity) that wants to see me do well, to relax when they weren't able to: it's their perceived way of making use of what they worked for — of what they were able to give me.

There's a part of me that's come to terms with it, that there will be some things that I need to keep private, to protect myself. Another part of me is making sense of what's comfortable to me while trying to be more authentic with myself.

Those who have shown up during the
highs and lows lately:
.p.chiu




For special occasions / when I'm in the area:








04/21/2026

Last weekend was a roller-coaster due to the lack of sleep.

I was grateful that I was on the road by 7am. It was my first time to Petaluma, and it was a stunning drive. I had plenty of time and was relaxed. I didn't feel the pressure to speed. I saw a rainbow-- the Universe was telling me that I was where I was supposed to be.

And I arrived calm and stoked to be there at a conference.

Then on the way home, my tiredness caught up with me, and the existential questions sunk in, "What's the point of all this? Was it worth it?"

I can be transactional when I process experiences, and it's something that I'm working on because it's not about getting something out of it; it just is.

On the way back, it was raining so hard that I could barely see 100 feet in front of me. I passed a car flipped on its side on the freeway. It reminded me that it didn't matter; it didn't need to be "worth it". Sometimes that's the lesson-- that we don't have to figure it out.

04/15/2026

When I was ten, I did a skating competition, and I kept repeating the same jump and skating in circles because my mind went "blank", and I forgot my program (i.e skating routine to music).

When we're experiencing a perceived threat, our brains shift to survival mode.

This is the reason that...
Your brain goes "blank" under stress.
You forget what you were going to say when you get called on unexpectedly.
You can't remember details related to a difficult or painful interaction.

Maybe it makes you feel idiotic, but you're not. Your brain is attempting to protect you.

The next time you feel under pressure you can...
> Engage in breathing / grounding exercises.
> Take a 5-minute break away from the situation.
> Put an ice pack on your forehead to remind your body to attend to what's in front of you in the present.

DM me if you feel frustrated when you forget the details.

Music:
Scheherazade
Suite by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
I skated to this piece when I was a Junior Lady ~2005-2006.

04/13/2026

I did the photography myself, and it brought me so much joy, something as silly as taking photos of myself. I've been getting bored of selfies, so here was a way that I could harness some of my creative energy. So please forgive the imperfection here!

This is one of my favorite tops, and I just love how it makes me smile whenever I wear it. It’s whimsical and fun. I guess that it's a reminder that even the small things make a difference-- they have the capacity to shift our mood.

For me, posting on social media isn't about becoming an influencer, but rather a way to share my perspective as a therapist, and the parts of me that are wholly human. Along the journey, I might share some aspects of myself that you wouldn't ordinarily see.

04/08/2026

This past weekend --while on my walk, I took a different trail.

Normally I'd talk myself out of it and think to myself, "I don't have enough time" or "I need to be somewhere."

And it was worth it.

It was less noisy, and along the way, I saw a deer.

Slowing down doesn't necessarily mean a whole life overhaul. It can be a small detour.

If you're trying to slow down but don't know where to start, here's what I'd suggest:

→ Be open to the idea. You don't necessarily have to do it — just be open to taking the detour.

→ Notice what comes up when you can't. On the days you're too busy, pay attention to your thoughts. The point is to gather some awareness.

→ Be kind to yourself either way. Self-compassion isn't something you earn by being productive. See if you can practice being non-judgmental towards yourself whether you slow down or don't.

DM me if you have trouble slowing down.

04/06/2026

Sometimes old wounds show up when you least expect them. 🌿

Last weekend I was supporting my dad at an award ceremony — such a meaningful moment. But I was tired, and when I'm tired, things affect me more when they are and aren't a big deal. Someone said something to me, and I realized: I've got some unfinished business to process. 🫢

So I did what I know works. I excused myself, went to the bathroom, did my breathing exercises, and came back feeling a little more grounded.😎

That's the thing about old wounds resurfacing — it doesn't mean you've failed. It just means there's more to process, and it comes up from time-to-time. And that's okay.

When those moments come up for you, here are 3 things that can help:

→ Name it. Acknowledge that it's unfinished business that needs more processing
→ Do your version of self-regulating. Breathing, journaling, calling a friend, grounding exercises — whatever works for you.
→ Remind yourself that you're doing your best. These things take time. Be gentle with yourself.

04/01/2026

Sometimes through the discomfort, we experience growth.

This past weekend at a conference, I sat with a group I didn't know well. I could feel the iciness from the person next to me — and as an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), I pick up on other people's emotions easily. It didn't feel great.

But instead of immediately moving, I made a choice: I took responsibility for sitting with that discomfort.

🌤And soon enough? That woman who had been icy toward me — she warmed up. We both got to enjoy the experience more.

It's a good reminder that challenging ourselves socially can be worthwhile — as long as we're also respecting our own boundaries.

✨️If you are "too sensitive", here are 3 things that can help:

→ Acknowledge what's going on internally
→ Stick to your boundaries
→ Practice neutral self-talk — it matters more than you think

⚠️And if you’re feeling zapped, no need to push yourself. Listen to your body. This example only applies to you have extra to give.⚠️

If you are "too sensitive", DM me.

03/31/2026

Slowing down doesn't mean that you're falling behind. 🌿

At a conference this weekend, I had two options: push through exhaustion to make an early workshop, or protect my energy for what actually mattered that day.

The night before, I'd stayed up late with my sister and her friends. Leaving the house at 7am didn't seem to be the "right" choice — it felt silly to place myself in LA traffic if I didn't absolutely need to do so. I wanted to be present with a new friend.

So I skipped it. And I'm going to admit it, I experienced some regret, but I also know that it wouldn't have set me up to enjoy the rest of the day.

Not everyone has the option to slow down.
But if you do have that choice which option are you taking? Or are you muscling through out of habit?

DM me if you have a hard time slowing down!

03/30/2026

Doing things a little more slowly — and letting that be okay.

Last weekend I was at a conference, and there was a morning workshop that I really wanted to attend. But the night before, I lollygagged (what a fun word!!): I stayed up hanging out with my sister and her friends. Leaving the house at 7am departure felt too much.

🛏So I made a choice. I skipped the workshop. I protected my rest. Because I knew I'd be driving in LA traffic, and later that day I was meeting a new friend — and I wanted to show up for that in a good mood.

🐢Choosing the slower, softer way isn't always automatic for me. It means accepting that I might miss things. But it also means that I get to avoid showing up pi**ed off
and cranky.

⚠️Slowing down is a privilege, and not everyone has the ability to slow down: some folks have to keep working to pay the bills.

🌱Where in your life are you muscling through… when do you give yourself permission to slow down?

DM me if you have trouble slowing down!!

03/25/2026

Venting, Complaining, or Therapy:
Which one are you doing? 🗣️🧠

It can seem like these are all the same, but there are some distinct differences:

​☁️ Venting: This is about emotional release. It feels good in the moment to get it out, but research shows that venting without a limit can actually keep your brain in a high state of stress.

Oftentimes, this looks like "getting it out" or experiencing catharsis. It's more effective when you vent with some kind of endpoint in mind, so that you're not maintaining a state of hyperarousal.

​🥀 Complaining: Here there's often a lack of openness to change. It can be like a repetitive loop where we might feel as if things are happening to us. It becomes a problem when we continue to feel powerless and stuck.

​⚖️ Therapy:
Therapy isn’t about venting—it’s about developing agency and perspective. The process might look like moving from "this happened" to "here is how I am choosing to respond."
​
✨️DM me if you're feeling stuck!!✨️
​.

03/24/2026

✨️Here's to the 90s✨️

03/23/2026

What if we started honoring what we do on our own terms? 🌿

I often think about how it's all relative.

What might be easy for someone else—like navigating the subway or getting out of bed—might be incredibly hard for you right now.

​Whether you’re managing a depressive episode or challenging anxious thoughts, your wins are valid.

We need to stop minimizing our progress just because it looks different from someone else’s baseline.

​What if you took a moment to internalize and soak up these wins? If it was meaningful to you, it counts.

Celebrate your wins in the comments 👇🏼

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San Jose, CA

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