Meet Celestie

Celestie Nguyen, LMSW SUPERVISED BY ANNE SLATER, LCSW-S

(She / her)

Associate Clinician

My name is Celestie Nguyen (she/her), and I am a queer, first-generation woman of colour with my heart in my hands and a love for buying new books before I can finish my current ones. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and an associate clinician working towards full licensure under the clinical supervision of Anne Slater, LCSW-S #66677. I am deeply committed to practicing from an anti-capitalist and anti-oppressive lens, and supporting clients onwards in their expansive journey of mental health. My work is rooted in social justice practices, and is heavily informed by my belief that healing and growth comes from truly seeing ourselves and embracing the parts within that we may turn away from. I view therapy as a collaborative process, which makes you my ever-knowing teammate! I value curiosity, compassion, and safety in our space together, and will actively work to decolonize mental health in all aspects of our work.

I was born and raised in Australia, and eventually immigrated to the United States as an adolescent. Born to refugees of the Vietnam War, much of my passion lies in working with first-generational individuals who are navigating intergenerational trauma, the disconnections that may occur between cultures, and how to honor themselves amidst shame. If you have ever asked yourself, “Do I deserve to live the life I want, if it goes against those who have sacrificed everything for me?”, know that you are not alone, and that you can share without burden in our space. I recognize that as a person of colour, any and all shared identities do not equate to shared lived experiences, and I acknowledge the privileges I hold in the room. I believe that it is of utmost importance to be culturally humble and affirming as a therapist, and it is my intention to always uphold you and your truth.

More so, my head and heart work is deeply committed to working with clients who identify under the LGBTQ+ communities. My expertise comes from primarily working with queer and trans youth and adolescents, and marveling in all that they are. I see you, I hear you, and I’m with you all the way. You are who I’ll go to bat for, every time. Honoring my own queer identity, along with all the other identities I hold, is what keeps me grounded and authentic in our work together. I’m a big fan of intersectionality, so here’s to looking at you, my fellow queer people of colour!

I have also worked in the realm of sexual violence prevention for years, first as a Victim’s Advocate, and then as a Certified Rape Crisis Counselor in New York state. I believe survivors and will always work to uplift them and hear their stories. As a trauma-informed therapist, I will be alongside you on your journey to empowerment and safety within yourself. Together, we’ll undertake a trauma-informed approach to understand the impact of trauma on our bodies, nervous systems, and beliefs of self. I also employ somatic techniques, principles of parts work, and other trauma reprocessing modalities in my work to support you in reprocessing traumas and strengthening safety. Feeling safe in your body and coming home to yourself without shame is at the core of my philosophy regarding trauma-response liberation.

Additionally, I also serve numerous other multi-faceted individuals who have struggled with depression, anxiety, relational issues, family disconnection, or feeling separated from their inner child. I utilize mindfulness-based approaches, along with tenants of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, to connect with you and embrace you as your full authentic self. I love working with folks who are moving through life transitions at any stage. I love to work with clients in all spans of life, and provide individual therapy services for those 13 and older.

No matter what you are going through or where you’ve been, you deserve to be here. Allowing yourself to embrace your flaws will allow you to see the imperfection in our communities, and the humanity that is so deeply rooted within yourself. There are no bad parts of you. The abundance of who you are and what surrounds you is worth loving. You are magic and messy and beautiful, and together, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!

I am at my most authentic and joyous self when I am swimming in the springs, loving on my cats, and alternating reading between science fiction, domestic thrillers, and YA beach reads. Outside of my work, I love to crochet (learning how to knit will be a next year goal), watch shark movies, and bake all the desserts.

I’m passionate about reproductive and abortion rights, intersectional feminism for all, and I believe that Black Lives Matter. To live by my values, regardless of my availability for new clients, I will always be available to have documentation sessions for trans and gender non-conforming folks who are needing a letter to support in receiving affirming care (details below in the “Fees” section).

areas of expertise

·      Trauma, PTSD & C-PTSD

·      Systemic Oppression / Racial and Cultural Identity / BIPOC clients

·      Children of immigrants & intergenerational trauma

·      Gender identity / Sex & Sexuality / LGBTQ+ clients

·      Survivors of sexual assault, sexual violence & dating violence

·      Relational issues (dating and/or relationship issues, familial disconnect, communication skills)

·      Life transitions for young adults

·      Self–esteem / Identity / Self-compassion

·      Depression / Self-harm & suicidal ideation through a harm reduction lens

·      Anxiety / Perfectionism/ Over-Control

·      Academic concerns & stress management for students

·      Executive functioning / Neurodivergence and a systems based approach

·      Attachment based work

advanced trainings

·      EMDR Basic Training Level 1

·      New York State Department of Health Certified Rape Crisis Counselor

·      Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certificate of Completion

·      Child Abuse Reporting Education (CARE) Mandated Reporter Training

·      Motivational Interviewing Certificate of Completion

education

MSW, Columbia University School of Social Work

BA in Psychology, Flagler College

BA in Criminology, Flagler College

Fees & services

I am currently not accepting new clients, but do have a waitlist available for services. Please feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in being placed on my waitlist, and I will reach out to you when availability opens!

I provide individual therapy for Texas residents, from the ages of 13 and older. All sessions will be conducted using a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform, allowing me to provide care for those anywhere in the state.

My fees are $150 per 50-minute session and $170 per 80-minute session. My sliding scale rates are reserved for BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ folks, and I currently have no sliding scale availability at this time (though please enquire if you’d like to be placed on a waitlist or reach out for low-cost resources!). While I do not accept insurance, I can provide monthly receipts (superbills) for you to submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

There are many obstacles for queer and trans folks who are seeking gender-affirming medical care and services. Beyond providing a safe space for my queer and trans clients, I also offer documentation after a single session to be used with other medical professionals as needed, to support folks on their journey to receiving affirming care. A documentation appointment is a $100 fee, and I will continue to offer these services even when not taking new clients. Please note on your contact form if you are seeking a documentation session. Dependent on availability, folks who need only a documentation session are also welcome to enquire about a longer term therapeutic relationship together if desired.