About

About me

Heawon Hake

LCSW-R ASAC

Since I was in the 4th grade, I wanted to become a counselor working with people. After Korean War, I lived in poor country, South Korea. I didn’t have any toys to play with, but had books to read. I read this book about a counselor working with a kid with lots of challenge. I was so moved that this counselor showed such care and love for this kid to find his way in life. That sold me the idea of becoming a counselor.

34 years of experience

I was fortunate to attend Yonsei University in Korea, then Adelphi University earning Master’s in Social Work. Wanting to refine counseling skills, I attended Gestalt Center of Long Island, NY. There, I learned how Gestalt technique embraced Eastern medicine, philosophy and body work.

I learned freedom is not a destination, but a process. People come to therapy for many different reasons, and I know that the process can lead them to liberation. Each insight and awareness help us get there. No matter what we do, we want to do it from our own free will. I was introduced to spiritual work in psychotherapy and I began soul work which is now over 30 years. My work experience also brought me to alcohol and substance abuse treatment. I attended PACE school for the addiction education and training which ultimately prepared me to write a grant which won quarter million from NYS for its innovative model.

I also developed a non for profit organization to serve young adults by providing mentors for free. This experience led me to work with various community organizations such as libraries, universities, Suffolk Police Dept., DSS, Courts and Jails, Adoption Agencies, etc. This ignited movement that a lot of libraries now have Social Work Interns to address different community concerns and serve wide range of populations.

Currently, I am the director of the center for marriage, family and individual counseling. I am devoted to work for the community and provide supervisions for pre credentialed, but licensed therapists stressing the excellence for treatment engagement, techniques and ethics.

Throughout my work as a psychotherapist, I had the privilege to work with various ethnic groups. My own ethnic background seems to soften the cultural differences with clients, staff and other administrators. The old saying goes, you can break one stick easily. When you have 10 sticks Together, it is much harder to do so. I love combining much more than being against something. It is not West against East. It is not America against Asia. It is inter-dependence that make us strong. Let’s work together, let’s learn from each other and care for each other.

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