Meet Crystal Chen, PhD

• Anger

• Anxiety (e.g., generalized anxiety, chronic worry, social anxiety, panic attacks)

• Attachment issues and interpersonal dynamics (e.g., getting stuck in unhelpful relational patterns)

• Depression

• Emerging and young adulthood (18 years old +)

• Emotion regulation

• Grief and loss (e.g., bereavement, unresolved childhood experiences)

• Life transitions (e.g., relationship break ups, transition from school to workforce, becoming a parent)

• Mindfulness

• Multicultural identity (e.g., AAPI and Latinx identity, 1.5 and 2nd gen, bicultural identity, transracial adoptees, interracial families)

• Neurodiversity-affirming therapy for autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, and neurocurious folks

• Perfectionism

• Relationship stress (e.g., family relationships, dating in NYC, conflict, communication difficulties, boundary setting)

• Self-esteem

• Trauma (e.g., childhood abuse and neglect, sexual trauma, C-PTSD)

• Work stress and burnout

I enjoy working with emerging adults (18 years old+) and early career professionals who struggle with intense emotions (e.g., anxiety, anger, depression), stressful relationships, and want space to process their BIPOC identity. As a therapist, I don't believe in sitting back in sessions and being neutral - in fact, the opposite! I'll be myself - warm, curious, and transparent in our sessions to make sure you feel comfortable, understood, and safe. We'll go at your pace and I'll help guide us when it makes sense, so together we can explore and help you grow.

One of the reasons I’m a therapist is to help people heal from relational traumas. Together, we'll explore how past hurt, broken trust, or unpredictability in relationships may be affecting your current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, often keeping you stuck when you’re wanting to change. I'll encourage you to become more present and aware of yourself or your feelings in a curious, nonjudgmental way in our sessions. We might use mindful breathing and other techniques to help you slow down so you can feel more control over how you choose to respond to challenging situations. I also enjoy teaching practical skills for navigating difficult relationships, such as boundary setting, conflict resolution, and standing up for yourself.

As a Chinese American child of immigrants, I understand many of the unique challenges related to BIPOC and immigrant families, including discrimination, bicultural identity, cross-cultural issues, and family conflict. I also recognize how often we hide, silence, or change parts of ourselves to fit into the expectations others have of us. In therapy, I offer an affirming space where you can reconnect with your authentic self, reclaim your identities, and redefine your relationship with them in a way that feels true and empowering.

 I am deeply invested in social justice and collective liberation, and recognize that our healing is inextricably linked to our broader contexts, including the conditions of our family, community, and Earth. I won't encourage you to simply adapt to oppression. Instead, I believe that what may seem like mental illness or dysfunction are often natural responses to abnormal conditions, signaling that things are not all right. I believe that we can honor these signs as guides toward meaningful change and collective well-being. I'll help you listen to your instincts and strengths. Our sessions can be a place where you can vent and rest, or where we can develop a plan. Together, we’ll work toward building the conditions necessary for you to thrive.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT)

• Multicultural Therapy

• Psychodynamic Therapy

• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

• Trauma-informed Therapy
  

I am an out of network provider and my fee ranges from $225-250/session.