Kuan-I (Lester) Wu, LPC

Kuan-I (Lester) Wu is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Washington, DC, and Virginia. He earned an M.S. in Healthcare Emergency Management from Boston University School of Medicine and an M.S.Ed. in Counseling and Mental Health Services from the University of Pennsylvania. Lester is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Counseling and Counselor Supervision at The George Washington University, where his research focuses on reducing mental health disparities and promoting equitable access to care, particularly among communities marginalized by race, gender identity and sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and immigration background.

Lester believes meaningful therapy begins with understanding the whole person. He takes a holistic approach that considers how culture, relationships, identity, and life experiences shape emotional well-being. Lester embraces remaining humble and curious rather than assumptive, inviting clients to teach him what matters most to them. He has worked in diverse clinical settings, providing individual and group psychotherapy to individuals with a wide range of mental health concerns. Lester tailors therapy by primarily integrating ACT, CBT, and DBT to support clients in responding to life's challenges with greater flexibility and self-compassion. 

As a foreign-born clinician, Lester combines the wisdom of Eastern collectivist values with the insights of Western psychology to help clients navigate cultural expectations while pursuing meaningful personal growth. He enjoys collaborating with clients to create an affirming space where they feel understood, respected, and empowered to explore their strengths, overcome obstacles, and live in greater alignment with their values. Lester considers it a privilege to walk alongside clients on their healing journey and provides therapy in both English and Mandarin Chinese.