Check out Dr. Vivi’s book chapter – The Power of Being Different: Navigating Grad School as International Students
I help international students understand, navigate, and integrate into their new cultural environment in the U.S., so they can succeed in school, in career, and in their social lives.
International students experience challenges in 4 key areas. Those areas are academic, social, living, and career. When you work with me in one of my coaching programs, you can expect to navigate these areas with greater ease and to feel happier with your decision to study in the USA.
Academic
What made you do well in your home country won’t necessarily help you succeed in the U.S. I can help you get up to speed:
Quickly understand academic practices and expectations of American education
Modify learning habits to perform optimally in U.S. schools
Effectively communicate with professors to achieve educational goals
Build relationships with peers as and utilize school resources to facilitate learning
Social
Friends play an important role in international students’ adjustment in the U.S. I can help you create a support system:
Understand American social and cultural practices
Learn how to socialize with Americans in different settings
Develop healthy, supportive friendships and/or romantic relationships if desired
Living
Living in a foreign country and handling everything on your own for the first time can be tough. I’ll help you learn how to:
Confidently navigate different aspects of your everyday life in the U.S.
Steer clear of potential personal, safety, financial or legal pitfalls that otherwise might cost you great emotional, mental, and financial damage
Career
Good grades won’t necessarily land you a good job in the U.S. If your goal is to build a career in the U.S. I can help you:
Network with results
Prepare for internship/job interviews
Effectively navigate workplace culture
Build meaningful mentorships
Develop the right mindset for a successful career
Coaching for International Students: Professional Support and Guidance
About Dr. Vivi Hua, Psy.D.
Many years ago I came to the U.S. from Taiwan and studied in a field that rarely accepted “fresh off the boat” international students from non-English speaking countries.
While my English skills were considered quite good back home, for the first couple of years in the United States, I often had to stop in the middle of a conversation to catch my breath. I felt I was living in two parallel worlds with people around me. Nothing felt right. Everything took effort – from figuring how to use the very complicated NYC public transit, how to have a simple conversation with my American peers, to struggling to raise my hand and participate in class. Six years later, I earned my Doctor of Psychology degree. Ten years later, I obtained my green card based on my professional credentials. Today, I’m a successful psychologist in New York City and help international students across the United States.
I understand the courage and confidence it takes to navigate the educational system and build a successful life and career in the United States—especially when you’re from another country.
I’ve worked with students from New York University (NYU), Columbia University, the City University of New York (CUNY), Parsons School of Design at the New School, Manhattan School of Music, United Nations International School, as well as elite schools in the U.S. Northeast region.
I’m passionate about helping international students truly thrive in the U.S. as they embark upon this exciting educational, career, and personal journey!
Wondering if student success coaching is right for you?
I’ve worked with students from schools such as:
What people say about Dr. Vivi:
“Thank you for your help, Dr. Hua. You not only taught my son how to communicate with people but also taught me a lot.
You helped us become better prepared for the world! He looked really happy last time he came home for vacation. He is doing well in school as well!”
— Mother of a Former Client from China. The student was studying in a private high school in the U.S.
“It is with confidence that I would recommend Dr. Vivi Hua. Her care and understanding for adolescents is remarkable and she works diligently to collaborate with school and family in order to create a comprehensive plan for her clients.
Her compassion, ability to engender rapport and trust, sensitivity, and expertise helps make complicated and difficult situations better.”
— Rebecca Comizio, M.Ed, MA, NCSP - Nationally Certified School Psychologist
“I wanted to make use of the opportunity to learn from someone who was an international student once, and used the opportunities they got to build a successful career for themselves in the United States. It gave me hope to read more about [Dr. Vivi’s] life story and how [Dr. Vivi was] resilient in the face of challenges.
My experience [working with Dr. Vivi] was really great. I learned a lot about not just excelling in the academic domain, but also various other domains like social life. Also, I could really resonate with our discussions in the group and individual meeting- which helped me realize that there are many people in the same boat as me.
I thought the international [student] wheel of life was a really nice way of looking at different domains most international students are impacted with. I had a great journey with Dr. Vivi, and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to be a successful international student in the United States.”
— Asmita Saha, M.A., Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student at Auburn University
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