Counselors – Community Center Shanghai

Carrie Jones, LCSW

Location: Pudong
Language: English

Carrie Jones is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Texas (USA). She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Baylor University. In Texas, she worked in a number of settings including a family counseling center, a substance abuse center, and several schools. Since 2010, she has served as the Director of Counseling at Community Center Shanghai. Carrie specializes in working with children and adolescents, but also works with adults on a broad range of issues including cultural adjustment/transition, self-esteem and identity, grief and loss, substance abuse, self-injury, anxiety, stress, depression, and mental illness. Carrie has a firm background in working with clients, both adolescents and adults, with eating disorders and is a strong believer in Family Based Therapy for this issue. Carrie also has training and experience in marriage counseling and is committed to helping couples and families improve their relationships. For more information about Carrie, her counseling style, and to read some of her articles, visit www.shanghaicounselor.net.

Thamar Álava

Location: Pudong
Language: English, Spanish, French

Thamar Álava is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist from Spain. She completed the Intern-Resident Psychologist program and postgraduate training of the Spanish National Health System at the Hospital Principe de Asturias, Madrid. Prior to this, she obtained her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Universidad Pontificia Comillas of Madrid.
Thamar understands psychotherapy as a space for self-learning and for developing a deeper comprehension of oneself as well as our relationships with others and with the world. It is this self-awareness allows for personal growth and healing. Thamar’s therapeutic approach is eclectic, drawing on her knowledge and training in Humanistic and Systemic Psychotherapy. She also uses EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy) when indicated. She thinks each approach has to be tailored to the individual and uses the methodologies that best suit the client’s need.
Thamar works with adults and covers a wide variety of issues including cultural adjustments/ transitions, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss and relationship issues among others.

Dominique Lavin

Location: Pudong, Downtown
Language: English, Spanish

Dominique is a psychologist from Chile with a Master’s Degree in Clinical and Occupational Psychology from Gabriela Mistral University. She has also a certificate in Applied Positive Psychology from the Flourishing Center of Philadelphia. Her experience of having lived in two different countries gives her tremendous understanding of problems that can occur when facing new situations and cultural transitions, as well as depression, anxiety and relationship challenges. Dominique works with both children and adults, assisting them in using their own resources and focusing on and taking advance of their own capabilities. She utilizes tools such as psychological tests and games. Dominique has also completed a seminar workshop in Short Therapy Program from MIP Psychotherapy Center in Santiago, Chile. Her clinical orientation is psychodynamic, but she believes that everyone benefits from a unique approach depending on their needs and circumstances.

Timothy Gartz, LCSW

Location: Pudong, Downtown
Language: Spanish, English

Timothy Gartz comes to the Shanghai Community Center with many years of professional experience. He earned his Masters Degree from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis before working as a bilingual (Spanish and English) individual, group and family therapist. He earned his License in Clinical Social Work from the Colorado Board of Social Work Examiners and has lived in Asia working as a counselor in international schools and clinical practice for the past 12 years – the first ten in Hong Kong and the last two in Shanghai.

Timothy specializes in working with youth, families, and providing marital counseling. He is particularly skilled in mood disorders, trauma, and improving relationships across the lifespan. He has a strong ability to be empathic and find solutions to those in crisis or assist families whose loved ones are impacted by severe mental health challenges. He looks to utilize positive psychology, cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused and family therapy modalities in his services. Timothy is available weekdays after 5pm and Saturday evenings.

Scott Shen, MSW, LSW

Location: Pudong, Downtown, Minhang
Language: Mandarin, English, Shanghainese

Scott Shen is a Licensed Social Worker from the State of Ohio, USA. He has a Master of Social Work degree from the Ohio State University.

Through his work with children, adolescents and their families at several counseling agencies, Scott has extensive experience in individual and family therapy, dealing with a broad range of issues including cross-cultural issues, attention deficit, defiance, depression, anger management, grief and loss, stress, self-esteem and relationship issues. From his work with clients, Scott understands that various issuesand difficulties are not all that clients bring to him, and that each individual or family has their own set of unique strengths and resources as well. This knowledge always helps Scott to aid clients in addressing their chronic issues and to find solutions together.

Scott grew up in Shanghai and spent several years in Ohio for graduate school and work. He appreciates the difference between cultures and understands that living in a cross-cultural environment impacts every aspect of individual’s life and family dynamics. Therefore, Scott focuses on the use of Mindfulness techniques and other client-centered psychotherapy models to assist his clients in unloading the tremendous stress they encounter daily.

Melonie Grannell, D.Clin.Psych.

Location: Downtown, Minhang
Language: English

Dr Melonie Grannell is a Clinical Psychologist from Liverpool, UK. She obtained her doctoral degree from The University of Liverpool in 2009. She has vast experience with individuals across the lifespan, presenting with a variety of challenges and disabilities, learning, physical and emotional. Dr Grannell takes a person centered approach to therapy, tailoring the therapeutic approach to the needs of the individual. Her therapeutic approach is eclectic, drawing from her knowledge and experience of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy) and Mindfulness. Dr Grannell works alongside adolescents and adults, reflecting upon a persons experiences, how they understand these experiences and the emotions that occur at such times. She believes that a shared understanding, feeling heard and understood, leads towards a path of hope, acceptance, adjustment and facilitates change. Having worked with individuals with complex mental health problems, interpersonal difficulties and significant trauma, Dr Grannell is accustomed to working with a wide variety of mental and behavioural issues, including trauma (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression, mood disorders (including Bi-Polar), interpersonal and relational problems (including Personality Disorders), bereavement and loss, attachment issues, learning and physical health problems. She particularly enjoys working alongside individuals and families were a family member has a learning disability/difficulty and/or behavioural issues, including those presenting with traits of autism and those diagnosed with Autism and Asperger Syndrome. As a wife and mother of two children, Dr Grannell is an enthusiastic and passionate Clinical Psychologist.

Eunice Lazar

Location: Downtown
Language: English, Romanian

Eunice Adriana Lazar has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and post-graduate training from Systemic Family Therapy in Romania where she worked as a psychologist in a health care clinical practice for over 2 years with diverse cases and with clients of variety of ages (clinical assessment, career counselling, individual therapy for adults, adolescents, and children). Prior to this, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Work and Organizational Psychology from West University in Romania and pursued her career as an Organizational Psychologist where she brought a new perspective to organizational culture, hiring, and retention. During this time, she also worked on personal development assessments and trainings to help people be more aware of their mental health and wellbeing. She continues to do this as part-time Organizational Psychologist and Trainer for a software engineering company in Shanghai.

Eunice is also currently an active volunteer for 2 charities in Shanghai – Lifeline, a non-profit organization that provides free telephone support in Shanghai and Shanghai Sunrise, an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by raising funds for educational scholarships for underprivileged and at-risk youth.

Eunice’s hobbies and passions include personal development and wellbeing, painting, designing, reading, exploring the world and learning about different cultures and people, meditation, fitness, and snowboarding.

Clinical Assessment and Testing, Stress/Anxiety/Depression Therapy, Family/Couples Therapy, Early ages and Adolescent stages difficulties, ADHD, Self-Esteem, Personal development, Fitness and Wellbeing Counselling, Personal Evaluation/Assessment (Personality, EQ test, IQ test, Attention Mobility, Abilities tests, Career), Career Assessment and Counseling

Theresa Decker, MA

Location: Downtown
Language: English

Theresa is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Chicago, IL, USA and holds a Master of Arts in Family Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University. She works with couples, families, and individual adults. Theresa views clients from family-systems and developmental perspectives. Her experience in couples’ counseling ranges from pre-marital counseling and adjustment issues to recovering from infidelity. In addition to helping families with adjustment, behavioral and school-based issues, she is knowledgeable in assisting families with grief and trauma, chronic medical/emotional issues, and adoption issues. Theresa also sees adults with depression, anxiety, adjustment concerns, and the desire
for personal growth.

Theresa’s approach varies based on the client situation and goals. She is influenced by emotionally-focused couples’ therapy, solution-focused/strategic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Theresa is married and the mother of six grown children. She at one time worked as an electrical engineer and holds a B.S.E.E. from Northwestern University.

Vilia Lyell, D.litt et Phil

Location: Downtown
Language: English, Afrikaans

Dr Vilia Lyell qualified as a clinical social worker and then pursued further postgraduate studies in psychology, obtaining a Masters Degree and a Doctoral degree in Psychology. Vilia played a primary role as Director of Childline Johannesburg (Child abuse organisation) developing standards and protocols still used today. Since leaving the NGO sector in 1998, she has enjoyed a fulfilling career in private practice. Vilia worked extensively in the forensic field, appearing as an expert witness in matters pertaining to child abuse, domestic violence and child custody disputes Vilia’s therapeutic orientation is psychodynamic (object relations), which is an insight orientated approach aimed at helping clients understand their inner world and how this influences relationships both past and present.

Vilia offers psychotherapy to:
Adults who are struggling with adjustment difficulties, depression, anxiety, stress, grief, trauma and relationship difficulties (within the context of their work and in their intimate relationships).

Couples who want to work through their recurring conflict and destructive communication patterns, infidelity and those who wish to enhance the connection and emotional safety within their relationships.

Play therapy for children who are not yet verbal enough to articulate their thoughts and feelings, due to their age. This methodology is developmentally applicable for emotional difficulties, behavioural problems, grief, trauma, adjustment difficulties and parental divorce/separation/discord.

Javiera Rébora, M.A.

Location: Downtown, Pudong
Language: Spanish

Javiera is a psychologist from Chile with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. She has worked in a private clinical practice in Chile, at the National Family Center, and also as a kindergarten counselor and psychologist. Specializing in depression, anxiety, self-esteem & identity, grief & loss, and stress, Javiera works with both adults and adolescents. Javiera also does child therapy, including psychodiagnostic work, play therapy, verbal therapy, parental counselling, helping children with school refusal, and managing emotions, conflicts, and struggles. She also helps clients of all ages facing cultural adjustments and transitional difficulties.

Javiera’s primary way of thinking about her clients is from a psychodynamic approach (psychoanalytically oriented), which focuses on the unconscious processes that influence one’s way of thinking and behaving. For each case, she adapts and implements various psychological techniques that best suit her client’s needs.

John K. Miller, Ph.D., LMFT

Location: Downtown, Minhang
Language: English

Dr. Miller works as a professor of therapy in the US and China and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the US. He has been working in China for the past 10 years. He has been in clinical practice for the past 25 years, specializing in couples and family therapy as well as individual therapy. His philosophy and approach to treatment considers the context in which problems occur and the relationships between the people involved. With this in mind, he will occasionally ask for family and significant others to participate in treatment (only with your consent). This therapy embraces a “wellness” approach to treatment, and encourages clients to explore existing strengths and resources. Dr. Miller earned his Ph.D. in Child and Family Development with a specialization in Family Therapy from Virginia Tech. He also holds a MA in Family Therapy from the University of Louisiana, as well as a BA in Psychology.

This education included coursework on couples therapy, family and child relationships, human sexuality, psychopathology, adult and child development, hypnosis, group psychotherapy, systems theory, and substance abuse counseling. He is a former US Fulbright Senior Research Scholar to China (2009-2010), former Research Associate of the Mental Research Institute (MRI), a former president of the Oregon Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (OAMFT) and a Clinical Member of the American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA), the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA). He has served on the Board of Directors of the AAMFT, as well as other leadership positions in the US.

Dr. Miller is also an Approved Supervisor (AAMFT), supervising other therapists’ clinical work leading to licensure. Dr. Miller is available to see clients and clinical supervisees at the Downtown Counseling Center in Puxi.

Viviana Ni, AThR, MAAT

Location: Pudong, Downtown, Minhang
Language: English, Mandarin

Viviana Ni is a Licensed Art Therapist with Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore Art Therapy Associations and holds a Master of Arts in Art Therapy from Goldsmiths University of London. Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that utilizes creative methods to facilitate individuals on their path of healing and improves physical, mental and emotional well-being. Clients can express themselves verbally as well as non-verbally via the modality of expressive art therapy which brings suppressed emotions to the surface so the art therapist can then focus on working with these issues. Viviana has over 7 years of experience working with a wide range of clients, including children, adults, families, and the elderly and has worked in various settings internationally and locally, including hospitals, a day care center for the elderly, mental health institutes, special needs care centers, governmental organizations, and a wellness center. Her approach in art therapy is based on psychodynamic, solution-focused, narrative, mindfulness, and developmental art therapy. Viviana specializes in the populations of children, families, couples, adults, and LGBTQ and with the issues of relationships, trauma and loss, parenting, self-esteem, transitions, cultural factors, emotional difficulties, special needs, and mental health

Linda Confalonieri, PhD

Location: Skype Only
Language: Italian, English

Linda Confalonieri, PhD is an Italian psychologist with a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Catholic University of Milan (Italy) and a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in General Psychology from University of Milan-Bicocca where she worked on cognitive and intercultural psychology research projects. For two years, she lived in the U.S. as a visiting Research Scholar at the Department of Psychology, Emory University of Atlanta, Georgia, working on National Institute of Health projects. Linda has several years of clinical training and working experience in Italy and the U.S. in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). For the past four years, she lived in Shanghai (P.R.C.) collaborating with Community Center Shanghai – Counseling Department. She has been also Visiting Researcher at Shanghai Mental Health Center – Department of Mood Disorders (SMHC).

Linda is an expert in treating adults with anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and eating disorders. She also works with people experiencing problems related to cultural adjustment, relational difficulties, procrastination, perfectionism, impulsive and obsessive-compulsive behaviors, stress management, and low self-esteem. While flexibly adjusting protocols to each individual’s life experience, Linda strongly believes in scientific evidence-based treatments within the branch of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Her milestones for effective interventions are validating the individual’s emotions and thoughts, working together towards shared goals, considering the psychologist as expert in his/her field and the client as the expert of him/herself.

Linda now lives in Europe and is available for online sessions via WeChat videocalls or Skype.

Lucia Hu, MA

Location: Downtown
Language: English

Lucia Hu is a Canadian Certified Counselor (CCC), a professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist working towards licensure in California (USA). She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications from the University of California at Berkeley and her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University (California, USA). Since 2012, Lucia has supported clients with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, cultural adjustment, East/West family communication, dwarfism, and spirituality struggles. She has also supported couples with communication and marital infidelity through pre-marital and marriage counseling as a facilitator for the Prepare and Enrich marriage assessment. While utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy approaches, Lucia is concurrently developing proficiency in Emotion-Focused Therapy for individuals and Narrative Therapy. She has conducted focus groups and parent support groups and has traveled to provide onsite support to employees following stressful and traumatic experiences.

Lucia is not accepting new clients until Fall 2019

Azin Nasseri, PhD

Location: Downtown
Language: English

Dr. Azin Nasseri has a Ph.D. in Psychology from Chicago School of Professional Psychology, USA. He specializes in marriage and family counseling and has over 20 years of experience working with couples.

Dr. Nasseri takes a holistic approach; considering the biological, psychological, social, and moral dimensions of human reality. He integrates evidence-based scientific knowledge with spiritual insights drawn from the various wisdom/enlightenment traditions. He is also a certified Myer-Briggs Type Indicator consultant.

Dr. Nasseri is the author of several books including The Unity-Based Family: An Empirical Study of Healthy Marriage, Family, and Parenting published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing (2017), Moral Trauma: An Analysis of Akrasia and Mental Health, published by Lambert Academic Publishing (2013), and Journey Through The Seven Valleys (2018) available through Amazon.

Dr. Nasseri is not currently accepting new clients.

Maria Castaneda

Location: Pudong
Language: English, Spanish

Maria Castaneda is originally from Bogotá, Colombia and has lived in Shanghai with for nearly a decade and her 2 children were born in Shanghai.

She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology (Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia), a Master’s Degree in Primary Education (University of Alabama, United States) and a diploma in Marriage and Couples Counseling from Escuela Vasco Navarra de Terapia Familiar and Hospital de St. Creu (Bilbao and Barcelona, Spain).

Over the past fifteen years, she has worked in four international schools as a Special Needs Education teacher assisting families and children finding their strengths. For the past three years, she has worked as a family and couples counselor. She uses a Family Therapy approach which focuses on how relationships can help us handle life situations better.

Maria is passionate about family welfare and relationships. She loves to guide women, children and couples to find peace, balance, and to live a more fulfilling life.

Haibo Ma

Location: Pudong, Downtown, Minhang
Language: Mandarin, English, Sichuanese

Haibo Ma is a Chinese counseling practitioner who is now also a Canadian Certified Counselor- Qualifying and a professional member of the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association. He grew up in Sichuan Province and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Psychology in Shaanxi province. He then spent two years learning counseling skills and approaches through Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology (CSPP) at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities in the U.S. and returned to Shanghai with his Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Haibo is familiar with the experiences of both culture shock and reverse culture shock. His primary counseling approach is DBT(Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), integrated with person-centered and psychodynamic approaches. Haibo specializes in working with adults who suffer from mood disorders including depression and anxiety and also those with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Jon Sedarati, MSc

Location: Downtown, Pudong, Minhang
Language: English

Let me be frank: I do not have a magic pill for you. I do not have a one-size fits all solution to my clients’ problems. I may not be able to help you, at all. But. . . if you are motivated to change, try new things, think new thoughts, and build a trusting relationship with me, I believe you are almost certain to benefit from counseling.

Originally from England, Jon earned a master’s degree in psychology before beginning his psychotherapy training at the Sino-American Family Therapy Institute (SAFTI). Presently, he is a clinical intern at Community Center Shanghai (CCS) and Yew Wah International Education School (YWIES). Jon’s areas of interest include relationship issues (e.g. marital, familial), sex, anxiety, addiction, and depression.

Jon hopes that clients come to view him, not as a healer or problem-solver, but as a guide whose primary function is to listen. That said, he believes meaningful changes require action, and do not simply result from talking about one’s problems.

Learn more at talkwithjon.com

Laura Ruesjas-Lukasik, PhD

Location: Minhang
Language: English, Spanish, French

Laura is originally from Argentina and has lived in various countries for the last 20 years. She earned her Clinical Psychology Doctorate (PsyD in Psychology) from California Southern University in the US, and holds a Certificate in Psychology from Derby University in the UK. She also holds a Master of Science degree from U.C. Berkeley and a M.Arch from McGill University. Her Clinical PsyD thesis deals with understanding issues of loss of identity of expatriate women who follow their working partners in international assignments, and how this affect their mental health.

As part of her training, Laura has been prepared to diagnose, identify, and treat various psychological conditions. She believes her role as a counselor is to guide a process of change initiated by her clients. This involves using several evidence-based psychotherapy technique approaches focusing on solving current problems and working from the client’s strengths. She is well informed about the latest neuropsychology research, as well as therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and narrative, which help explain feelings and emotions her clients bring to therapy sessions. Laura is able to work with children and adolescents with socio-emotional issues and learning disabilities, and adults on a broad range of issues, keeping in mind the important impact that expatriate life brings to everyone. She brings to the counselling practice her experience as an expat herself, and raising two teenage boys.

Yoly Lin

Location: Downtown, Pudong
Language: English, Chinese

Yoly is a clinical intern from China working towards her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Palo Alto University, USA. She worked as teacher in primary school for 3 years, worked for foreign companies for 10 years after earning the Master’s Degree in Business Management, and also worked in Germany for half year.

Yoly works with adults, couples, and families on a broad range of issues including depression, anxiety, stress, grief and loss, and other mental health issues. She has received specific training in psychodynamic therapy and family therapy and views clients from a family systems perspective. She believes in the innate resources of clients and that love and deep understanding are the way to change.

林屏

林屏是在美国帕洛阿托大学学习以取得研究生学位的临床实习心理咨询师。她曾任小学教师三年，后在取得管理学硕士学位后在外资公司工作十年，并且她曾在德国工作半年，积累了丰富的人生经验。

林屏擅于与成人，夫妻，家庭工作，处理各种心理不适与症状，如焦虑，抑郁，强迫，压力，哀伤，丧失等。她在心理动力学和家庭治疗方面接受过专门的培训，并从家庭系统的角度分析和理解个案。她相信来访者的内在资源，相信爱和深刻的理解是帮助来访者通向改变之路。

语言：普通话，英语

地点: 浦东，市区

Chen Qin

Location: Jinqiao
Language: English, Chinese

Chen Qin gradually progressed toward becoming a counselor as a result of her personal experiences overcoming culture shock while studying abroad in the United States in 2011. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine with a minor in Linguistics. Now she is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling at Palo Alto University. Chen is fascinated by the power of the mind to construe reality, by how minor behavioral changes can lead to vastly different paths, and by how relationships influence a person’s well being. Chen works with individuals, couples, and families. She provides support and help to clients of all ages with a variety of difficulties. Although her primary approach is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which encourages the clients to change the patterns of dysfunctional thinking or behavior and to develop personal coping strategies, she also utilizes a combination of various psychotherapeutic treatments w tailored to meet each client’s needs.

Meet Carrie Jones – CCS Counseling Director