This is not a review of a counseling session, but a half hour conversation I had with Elvina over the phone. I'm currently a graduate student enrolled in a counseling course, and conducting interviews of various local counseling professionals in the Bay Area. Elvina promptly responded to my request for an interview (without incentive) on a Saturday afternoon, and was very engaged throughout our conversation. She was honest, supportive, and very helpful. Her education and experience were formative in our dialogue, and I got a real sense that her care was genuine. read more

This review is almost 2 years overdue. I've been reluctant and am finally doing it now. Background: in Oct 2020 my fiancé Johnny and I came to Elvina for help. We met 7 years prior. After the first 6 months, Johnny didn't want to be physical with me, citing trauma from losing money in stocks. I couldn't leave him during this low point of his life so we stayed together. We weathered ups and downs and built a strong companionship. In late 2020 after being on breaks I finally resolved to leave him. He talked me into getting counseling as the last resort. This was how we started seeing Elvina. Elvina went over why we were there. My main issue was the lack of intimacy and Johnny's was the way we fight. We saw Elvina regularly for over a month. We talked about Johnny's concerns, conflict resolutions, even the details of his business. It was all about Johnny but Elvina forgot my main concern - the no-sex was NEVER mentioned. After a while, I gave up. It was difficult enough for me to bring it up at all (cultural taboo) and now it was further invalidated - is it even a big deal? Am I making a big deal out of nothing? I stopped seeing Elvina, feeling so embarrassed that I couldn't even tell her why I stopped. Life went on and we just had a baby (through IVF). Things are not better - Johnny got into stocks again and stopped bed sharing with me, citing he had to trade. Through my pregnancy (and all its hormonal heights), I was mostly alone at night. Then the market crashed and Johnny lost it all again. He now invests heavily in his business (borrow money to do so) and we fight constantly, me being weary and skeptical, and he thinks I'm being negative. Affection is so foreign and seem impossible in my future. Thinking back on Oct 2020 I wish I had more courage. I was so close to addressing my concern. Johnny would not address my concern. No one would. I wish there was professional help, the help I sought for. I wish there is some understanding of why he's this way. I have no confidence I will ever know, or that any professionals can help. Of course, life is not black and white. Johnny has a good heart. We get along well mostly. We also bonded over our son. But there is no intimacy. And there is always stress over his finance. I wish we could have talked about these in therapy. I write this because hopefully therapists would realize the importance of not dismissing their patient's chief complaint. I came to her seeking help at a pivotal point in my life and it was dismissed. I can't help but feel a deep sense of resentment towards it every time I am confronted with the reality of my circumstance. read more

Elvina has a quick, cut-through-the-bs way of helping a couple out through a challenge. She helps people see things from a different perspective, the other's perspective, a compromising perspective, so they can have a new direction. Elvina's customer service is something to rave about--quick to get back to you, easy to schedule, very caring, very approachable. I HIGHLY recommend Elvina. read more

When searching for a therapist, you want someone with patience and a knack for listening. Constructive feedback and suggestions are also helpful when one is struggling to find their way during a time of need. Elvina falls into these categories. While many therapists will take on new clients with many different types of issues and conflicts, Elvina focuses on what she knows is her strength: helping couples with their relationships. read more

I know Elvina as a business owner, a caring and thoughtful therapist, and a wonderful person who is generous with her time and resources, especially when she is helping others. Whether it is with a client, a business associate or a child in need, Elvina gives genuinely and with compassion. Elvina is a woman of vision and boundless energy. She is sharp and always on-point. She is a positive, successful person who possesses gifts she readily gives away. Perhaps her greatest gift is her ability to listen. read more

Please DO NOT go to this person! Her business should be renamed: "How to Fracture and Destroy Couple's Marriage". Elvina is supposedly an endorsed divorce therapist. My husband scheduled an appointment with Elvina in what I first believed was an effort to help our marriage. It was our first session. His lawyer recommended her. At the very beginning, she was siding with my husband and advocating totally for him. She lacked objectivity, understanding, empathy, or any regards for me. She caused tremendous damage to whatever could have been saved. I left traumatized, in disbelief of her lack of professionalism and experience. No counselor should ever make their clients feel so badly and completely rejected. It contradicts the promise of "Do no harm". If you have any hopes of saving your marriage and don't want to be verbally abused and made to feel worthless and that you are to blame for everything bad or wrong in your marriage, AVOID GOING TO ELVINA LUI! read more

I'm an owner of a Wealth Management firm that was in the process of bringing on a business partner. This would be someone with whom I'd work very closely for many years. So, we wanted to go to someone to help us with our communications so we could do it right from the start. Elvina not only helped us develop the skills for great communication, she allowed us both to express ourselves honestly and completely about concerns going into this business deal. We carry her great advice with us to this day. Our business owes a part of its success to Elvina's services, to be sure, and we're happy to endorse her with this review!! read more

I am not at all happy with my experience. I was expecting someone like her to understand and help couples. But I am totally disappointed and I wouldn't recommend her. She jumped into conclusions and took sides in just one session. I would expect that from my Mother in law not a marriage counselor. I am angry upset and I decided to never go to any marriage counseling at all in my life after coming to you. read more

Life can take us for turns we aren't prepared for and it's helpful to have people who are trained, who dedicate their time in service understanding more deeply the things that sever our relationships and the things that can help put them back together. Elvina is this kind of person. The divorce rate is a sign that we all should be aware of because it tells us lots about our culture. Going to counseling sessions is one of the best things we could do for ourselves and the best time is always now. read more

Elvina is passionate for her work with clients. She is committed to helping them find the best relationships they can have. I know her as supportive, compassionate, and direct therapist. She is not just sitting back and listening. Elvina is an innovative therapist, she is educated, experienced and always finding new and better ways to help her clients. read more

Elvina has come full circle in the most trying time in my life. She could see what was worth fighting for and gave me the tools to work through it. She was easily accessible at any time since it was the hardest time for me. She helped me see through the fog. She comes highly recommended for individual and couples counseling. I am sad she is leaving the Bay Area and thrilled for SoCal to be blessed with a talented individual. I thoroughly believe counseling is not just for the crazies! It creates a higher level of emotional thinking. This was perfect timing for her new start and to leave me with my new start. Thank you, Elvina. read more

I met Elvina through work. We are colleagues, and we were working together with the same clients. It is very evident that she is working effectively with couples. She is educated, experienced, knowledgable, and intuitive. I strongly recommend Elvina for individuals and couples who wish to improve their relationship. read more

A few months ago, I spoke with Elvina about the possibility of helping me and my fiance prepare for our marriage with some pre-wedding counseling. Though we ended up not working together (due to geographic limitations), Elvina really impressed us with her knowledge and insight and she happily provided us with a number of alternatives for us to check out. read more

I've known Elvina for 5 plus years now. She is very dedicated to her career as a professional and also for the love of the craft. Her education and experiences speaks volumes about her dedication to this field. Elvina is a very honest and understanding person. She is very passionate about her field of practice. I find that she often sees many sides of an issue that I've never thought of. Talking to her meant having open ears and encouraging views. read more

I work with Elvina on a Podcast entitled DivorceTalk. We discuss a range of issues including avoiding a divorce, surviving a divorce, and thriving afterwards by learning how to successfully co-parent and how to avoid making the same mistakes in your next relationship. From working with Elvina, I have learned a lot about her philosophy behind relationship counseling. She is positive, proactive, and balanced. Elvina views a relationship as a combination of its parts and looks to help couples put the parts together so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. If you want to get a taste of Elvina's talents, go listen to her on our podcast at www.divorcetalkpodcast.com. You will enjoy what you hear! read more

I have known Elvina for more than 5 years and I can confidently say that she is passionate about helping couples find solutions to their trials. She is honest and is always giving her best to each couple. It's a comfort to know that if I ever need couple's therapy, I can always go to her. read more

Elvina is a passionate professional who cares about couples, and people in general. I was fortunate enough to see her speak at two different events and both were outstanding! read more

Elvina is a compassionate person and a professional. Her dedication to her work, her education and her life experiences puts her is an amazing position to be able to provide the necessary support one might need. read more

Elvina was very helpful and professional. She was very easy to talk to, and she offered some good insight and some practical exercises that were helpful to the situation. The whole process was pain-free and went much better than I had expected; this is my first experience with therapy and really didn't know what to expect. The overall experience was positive and is something I would recommend for others going through hard times. read more

As a colleague with Elvina for many years, she has proved to be a professional in providing good listening skills and able to reflect / analyze the problems I was going through. The experience she has gone through herself have definitely given her good insights in understanding people's needs and concerns. It has always been a passion for her to help struggling couples to rejuvenate their relationship. read more

Elvina has been instrumental in helping me and my partner get through what was a very difficult time in our relationship. Before we began sessions with Elvina, we communicated in ways that were very unproductive. Elvina helped by allowing us a place to practice healthier ways of communicating with her thoughtful feedback. She helped to reconstruct false belief systems both of us had held about each other. Our relationship is now better than it has ever been, built on compassion and patience. Thank you, Elvina! read more