One thing before we go further
If you're here, you've probably been carrying a lot. Trying to figure out what you or your child need. Maybe you've already talked to other therapists, maybe this is the first time you've ever looked for one. Either way, you don't have to explain everything perfectly or be "ready." You're here and that matters.
My story
I'm Mariah Chew, a licensed therapist based in California. I'm also a fourth-generation Asian American. And for most of my life, I was adjusting who I was to fit the room I was in.
I wasn't Asian enough because I'm fourth gen, but I wasn't white enough to just ‘be American’.
When I was younger, I wished there was a therapist who looked like me. Someone who understood my family without labeling our behaviors as problems. Someone who wouldn't recommend strategies that ignored how my family thinks.
Someone who would see me as a whole person. I NEVER found that person. So after more than a decade of clinical work, I built a practice that could be that for someone else.
Why 'Clearing the Fog'?
If you know San Francisco, you know Karl the Fog. He rolls in, blankets everything, and makes it hard to see what's right in front of you.
That's what it can feel like for the families and young adults I work with. Your child's strengths, their sense of identity, and your connection with them are still there. It is just hard to see through the fog. Clearing the fog is about what becomes visible once it lifts.
What I believe
I believe everyone has strengths that are uniquely theirs. But sometimes life makes them harder to see.
My job is to help you see them again. That goes for the children I work with, the families I support, and the young adults who are still figuring out who they are.
Who you are is where your strength lives.
What working with me actually feels like
I bring my authentic self into every session. And I ask the same of you. There are no "right answers". We're just two people having a real conversation.
With kids, that might look like playing a game, drawing, telling a story, or just hanging out. I follow their lead and adjust as I learn what works for them. With teens, it's more conversation, but always on their terms. With young adults, it's direct, real, and grounded in shared experience.
I don't use words you'd need a textbook to understand. And I won't pretend to be neutral about something when I know you need someone in your corner.
I trust the people I work with as the experts in their own lives. You know your story, your relationships, your culture, and your feelings better than I do. My job is to be curious, give you a change in perspective, and my opinion as a licensed therapist.
Where I come from
Before starting Clearing the Fog, I spent over a decade across four clinical settings:
Learning centers
Wraparound programs
Non-profit therapy
Therapeutic day school
Along the way, I led therapy groups for teens and co-facilitated a support group for parents of children with Cerebral Palsy.
I've also worked with kids who are starting to struggle and kids who've been in the system for years, with terrified caregivers (and furious ones), and I've worked with teachers, coaches, and school counselors for years. Working with families and young adults across varying circumstances has taught me to stay steady. So, you won't have to filter yourself in my office.
Association of MFTs
Association of MFTs
Beyond the office
I was born and raised in San Francisco, and even after 8 years in Southern California (where I met my husband and built lasting friendships) the Bay Area has always been the place I call home. I love the history, the cultural diversity, and the way the city looks when the fog finally lifts.
The maternal side of my family is from Hawaii, and I spent most of my childhood summers there. That's where I learned what the aloha spirit really means - compassion, warmth, respect for others. Those values shaped me long before they shaped my work. Outside of sessions, I have a Corgi and I could honestly stare at him all day. I'm a self-confessed night owl, a sports fanatic, a music and dance lover, and I have very strong opinions about boba. I grew up attending a French immersion school, so I have a soft spot for anyone navigating multiple cultures and identities.
