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.

Cheng Qi, PhD Candidate

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

Qi Cheng is a licensed psychologist/counselor, doctoral candidate in Psychology. She has a Master of Psychology degree from University of Pittsburgh and has worked in hospital and school setting for many years.

Qi Cheng got her systematical training in Family Therapy, Eriksonian-hypnosis, medical stress assessment and intervention, Solution Focused Therapy, and from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (U.S), KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (Singapore), and Osaka Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Japan. Prior to private practice, she worked in Beijing United Family Hospital and Shanghai International Hospital for 7 years. Cheng works with families to provide practical coaching sessions that equip parents with the tools and skills to help negotiate and manage behavior and emotional disturbances. Because of her clinical contributions, she won the International Mary Barkey Clinical Excellence Award in 2017, as the youngest during the past 100 years. She has also be invited as the guest speaker in 2019 Tedx Talk.

She specializes in

• Family issues: parenting issues / marriage issues / family dynamic / communication problems / child-adolescent emotional problems / child-adolescent behavior problems; infant & young children behavior & emotional problems

• Medical issues: medical procedure related psychosocial support / end of life psychosocial support / medical trauma / grief

• Crisis issues: Crisis prevention / intervention;

• Individual issues: depression /anxiety /phobia /sleeping problems /culture adaption / Career/ Study

Besides the clinical work, Qi Cheng is the clinical supervisor and guest lecturer of many famous public hospitals and medical schools, the founder of the public WeChat account “The words of Cheng Qi”, and the contributing commentator of Youku, She has papers published in domestic and international core journals, including SSCI journals.

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.

Eunice Lazar

• Location: Only available for online sessions
• 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 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

Mirian Bonomi

• Location: Downtown
• Language: English, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, a bit of French.

Mirian Bonomi is a psychologist from Brazil with a Master’s Degree in Public Health, with a focus on women’s and gender studies. She has worked for the Public Health Sector in the women’s and children’s health department in Brazil, as well as in hospital settings. She has also worked with domestic violence and abuse in different capacities.
In her role as an educator, for over fifteen year she has been working closely with parents/families, helping them deal with situations of child upbringing in a positive and collaborative way. She has been in Shanghai for the past five years, working in multicultural environments.

Mirian uses a psychoanalytical therapeutic approach and works with adults, children, parents and families, both individually and in groups. Mirian also provides support for pregnancy and parenting.

Hifumi Ohnishi, PhD

• Location: Downtown, Pudong
• Language: English and Japanese

Dr. Ohnishi is a licensed psychologist (Michigan, USA) with 19 years of counseling experience.  She earned her Ph.D degree in counseling psychology with a specialization in multicultural counseling from University of Connecticut, USA.

Dr. Ohnishi’s theoretical orientation is an integration of multicultural, psychodynamic, and humanistic perspectives.  She is a native of Japan and worked at a mental health center and university counseling centers in the USA. She provides individual and couples counseling for adults from international backgrounds. Her expertise is in the areas of cross-cultural relationships, cultural transition, relationship problems, LGBTQ concerns, career, depression, mood, anxiety, and adjustment issues including clinical assessment and diagnosis.

Javiera Rebora

• Location: Only available for online sessions
• 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.

Javiera repatriated to Chile in 2020 but is still available to work with Spanish speaking clients via phone or video.

Linda Confalonieri, PhD

• Location: Not currently accepting clients
• 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.

Dr. Melonie Grannell, D.Clin.Psych.

• Location: Not currently accepting clients
• 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.

Lydie Bonnet

• Location: Downtown Saturdays, Pudong Sundays, online
• Language: French, English

Lydie Bonnet is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist from France. She obtained a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology from Lyon 2 University.  She has worked in medical settings and educational organizations providing individual and group therapy in both France and China.

Lydie has specialized training in the use of games and art media in group therapy for young people with emotional, behavioral, and communication issues, as well as experience facilitating group activities using drama, roleplay, modeling, music and painting.  In her practice, she assists clients seeking relief from distress related to their mental and emotional health and accompanies them as they develop in their ability to understand and respond to their experience.

Lydie provides talk therapy for teenagers and adults as well as play therapy for children 3 years old and above. She provides therapy in both French and English.

Scott Shen, MSW, LSW

• Location: Pudong, Downtown
• 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.

Sharon Lui, MA

• Location: Downtown, Minhang
• Language: Cantonese, Mandarin, English

Sharon Lui obtained her Marriage and Family Therapy Degree from Bethel Seminary San Diego. Her eastern upbringing and western education give her personal and professional advantages in working with cross-cultural marriages and third culture kids. Before coming to China, she worked as a substance rehabilitation counselor at Salvation Army and California Smokers Helpline. Sharon has also worked with an EAP firm and provided counseling service and training to a number of Fortune 500 corporations in Shanghai.

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.

Cecilia Ding (丁希希）

• Location: Only available for online sessions
• Language: English, Mandarin

Cecilia has had a passion for empowering others since high school. Her fight against domestic violence was featured in the New York Times(on the FAST track) and received awards from Hillary Clinton. After graduating from Harvard, she worked on venture capital and IPO projects. After achieving success with her own investment firm in the United States, Cecilia decided to return to her roots of helping others as a life coach. She has coached for many years and is now pursuing a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology (LMFT track) from Palo Alto University and receiving training in individual, family, couples counseling, and specialties such as play therapy and teletherapy.

While Cecilia came from a coaching background, she believes that clients ultimately have all the answers within themselves. She helps them uncover the power already within.  She guides her clients to answers rather than giving them the solution (授之以鱼不如授之以渔).  

Cecilia grew up in China and America. She studied in many countries and lives in a bicultural family. She appreciates the richness and challenge of a diverse community. Cecilia deeply respects everyone’s freedom to be the best version of themselves and believes family units, love, and aspirations come in many equally valuable forms. She sees clients of many ages, with a particular strength for helping couples and individuals managing transitions such as the birth of a new child, affairs, midlife anxiety, career changes.  

 She looks forward to meeting all that life will put in her path. 希希欢迎大家用中文咨询。

Linlin Mai

• Location: Downtown, Minhang, Online
• Language: English, Chinese

Linlin Mai is a registered therapist with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has a Master’s Degree with a distinction in Person-Centered Experiential Counseling and Psychotherapy Practice from the University of Nottingham.  Linlin did a placement in a research clinic in the UK where she worked with adults who experienced anxiety, depression, trauma, and various other issues. She came to Shanghai in 2019 and has been working at Wellington College International Shanghai as a mental health counsellor.   From this, Linlin has gained experience working with children and young people from age 3 to 18 on a wide range of issues. She utilizes a combination of talk therapy and play therapy with children and adolescents. 

Linlin’s practice is rooted deeply in the person-centred approach that trusts the intrinsic self-actualizing power within every human being. Her therapy approach is not about giving advice, but rather about offering a warm and accepting environment that is safe for exploring difficult experiences. Through these explorations, clients find themselves feeling more in touch with their authentic selves and making decisions that are true to their hearts.

Linlin believes that every person is unique, and she does not expect her clients to be any different from who they are. Her favorite quote is “People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be. When I look at a sunset, I don’t find myself saying, ‘Soften the orange a bit on the right hand corner.’ I don’t try to control a sunset. I watch with awe as it unfolds.” – (Carl R. Rogers, A Way of Being)

Danielle Dully

• Location: Not currently accepting new clients
• Language: English

Danielle Dully is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) from New Jersey, USA. She is currently an intern working towards her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Danielle has a Master of Arts in Counseling from Kean University (CACREP accredited) in New Jersey with a concentration in School Counseling. She has been an active member in the International School Counselor Association (ISCA) since 2019, participating in many professional development opportunities and consultations with other counselors from around the world and staying current in the profession.  

Danielle has been living and working in Shanghai since 2019 and is currently a secondary school counselor who works with over 300 students ages 11-17. As a dedicated, caring, and empathetic professional school counselor with a commitment of meeting the needs of each student, Danielle has excellent communication and interpersonal skills that assist in fostering therapeutic relationships. She has the innate ability to understand and motivate others in reaching their maximum potential, as well as to remain positive, patient, and effective in dealing with challenging situations. Danielle provides individualize and small group counseling and acts as a liaison to school management during student emergency and crisis situations.

Danielle works with older adolescents as well as adults of all ages utilizing various therapeutic techniques including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. She can provide individual and family counseling for those dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, self-harming behaviors, and suicidal ideation.

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Maya Angelou

Jon Sedarati, MSc

• Location: Downtown, Pudong
• 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

Karlene Rowland, MSc

• Location: Not currently accepting new clients
• Language: English (Currently not accepting new clients)

Karlene is from New Zealand where she studied Psychology at undergraduate level before coming to China 20 years ago. She has an MSc in Mental Health Psychology from the University of Liverpool (a British Psychological Society accredited course) where she achieved distinction level grades in all modules including Psychological Appraisal and Treatment, Psychotherapeutic Intervention Strategies as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Mental Health Treatment. Karlene’s dissertation studies focused on post-natal depression and anxiety in particular during the first 1-6 months following birth.

Karlene’s approach to supporting clients focuses upon evidence-based practice and psychotherapies working hard to assess the bio-psycho-social needs of her clients, she uses an integrative approach blending modalities and therapies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Approaches to treat a variety of mental health problems and disorders. Karlene has received training in treating addictive behaviors, depressive disorders like post-natal depression/post-natal anxiety, anxiety disorders such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder but also social phobia, panic attacks and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as well as eating disorder psychopathology, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and CPTSD.

Karlene works to demystify approaches to therapy by diffusing myths about mental health to normalize the experience of her clients, placing their psychoeducation and the therapeutic relationship and alliance at the forefront of creating a safe and supportive zone for clients to learn and acquire useful skills and tools, which they can then utilise beyond the counseling context to help deal with distress and live better lives. Her goal in a client session is to begin to set in motion and facilitate a growing awareness of the client’s own psychotherapeutic process, that leads the client toward relieving their distress, and working for ongoing change that continues well beyond each therapy session, with a focus on wellbeing to help prevent further distress and build resilience for her clients.

Karlene has extensive experience in delivering workshops and corporate training sessions on an array of topics related to workplace mental health, suicide prevention and intervention as well as years of training volunteers to work on a helpline for crisis and mental health support.

Bella Wu

• Location: Pudong
• Language: English, Mandarin

Bella Wu is a National Certified Counselor and member of the American Counseling Association. She has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Rehab & Mental Health Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh in the US. Bella worked in Carnegie Mellon University’s counseling center with hundreds of students from all over the US and 10 foreign countries. She also worked in UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s inpatient unit and Peking University Shenzhen Hospital’s outpatient unit.

Bella invites you to embark on a continuous life journey toward self actualization. Along the way there will be challenges such as social conflicts, gaps between high expectations versus reality, finding your own identity, adjusting to unexpected changes, and building resilience. Bella hopes to provide clients a safe space to speak the things they want to say and to hear the things they want to hear. Bella offers flexible hours on weekends and evenings.

吴诚钰Bella是NBCC美国国家认证咨询师（ID 1600612）和美国咨询协会ACA的成员。她拥有匹兹堡大学临床康复与心理健康咨询硕士学位。她曾在卡内基梅隆大学的咨询中心对来自美国各地和 10 个外国的数百名学生提供中英双语心理咨询服务。她还曾在匹兹堡大学附属精神病医院住院部和北京大学深圳医院特诊心理科见习。

Bella邀请您一起踏上不断实现自我的人生旅程。并用专业技能与温暖的力量助您面对一路上会有挑战，例如关系冲突、高期望与现实之间的差距、职业规划的迷茫、找到自己的身份、适应意外变化所带来的情绪及行为困扰。她希望为来访者提供一个安全的空间让他们可以畅所欲言，让心声被听见，脆弱被接纳，挣扎和坚韧被看见。 Bella 在周末和晚上提供灵活的工作时间。
地点：浦东
语言：英语、普通话

Marina Kalashnikova

• Location: Downtown, Pudong
• Language: Russian, English, Spanish

Marina Kalashnikova is a psychologist from Russia. She has a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, both with Honors, and has been a member of the Russian Association for Cognitive Behavior Therapy since 2017.

As wife and mother in a cross-cultural family who has lived in Europe, South America, and Asia, Marina incorporates academic training with multicultural concepts into each case, leading to greater understanding of clients’ backgrounds.  

Marina has both interest and expertise in a broad range of issues, including adaptation and assimilation into diverse/foreign communities, isolation and loneliness, goal-achievement mindset, and midlife and postpartum crisis. In her practice, Marina utilizes several therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Her clients come from a wide range of environments and upbringings, and range from children to teenagers to adults.

Marina’s articles related to values of spouses from different cultures and strategies for their adaptation in multicultural families have been presented in scientific conferences in Russia and published in specialized psychology magazines.

Wenjing Pu

• Location: Downtown, Pudong, Online Sessions
• Language: Mandarin, English, Shanghainese

Everyone has experienced dark moments in their lives and these times can make us lose our bearings and see only despair. Wenjing is no exception. Shortly after she graduated from university and became a structural engineer, a series of tragic events happened in her life. For almost a decade, Wenjing bore witness to many painful challenges affecting her family. This period left her feeling hopeless, sad, and desperate and completely stalled her previously advancing engineering career. Wenjing knows she can’t go back to that time and change history, but that she can bring positive influence to countless families experiencing their own challenges. In order to do just this, Wenjing decided to change careers to professional therapy.

Wenjing is now pursuing a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Palo Alto University in Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. Prior to being admitted to this program, she obtained the Chinese National Psychological Counselor license (Secondary Level) which was government-recognized for the practice of psychotherapy in China. Since 2013, Wenjing has devoted herself to volunteering in the mental health field, offering pro-bono lectures on the need for more broad-based psychological awareness among the public; answering a hotline for issues related to parenting, youth development, mental health, etc; and lastly as a contributing columnist and guest advisor at a Shanghai radio station program focusing on raising healthy children.

From her previous career in engineering, Wenjing is especially good at integrating rationality and sensibility into her counseling approach. Her theoretical orientation focus is psychodynamic and humanistic. Wenjing believes during dark moments, an unbiased trained advisor can lift another person up and spark a flame within them, resulting in hope and a better future.

Sarah Harkin

• Location: Pudong
• Language: English

Sarah Harkin is a counseling intern working towards her MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at William and Mary. She has 12 years of experience as an international educator and has taught in Australia, Bangladesh, Egypt, and South Korea. Sarah specializes in working with youth and young adults and is also available to help adults and expatriate families work through transition and adjustment.

Laura Swartz

• Location: Downtown, Pudong, Online Sessions
• Language: English

Laura Swartz is an American counseling intern working towards her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University (CACREP accredited). She has spent nearly 14 years abroad in China and Japan and has been in Shanghai for 8 years working in the security industry and pursuing her second Master’s degree.

Laura’s approach to therapy is primarily a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and psychodynamic approaches. She has completed levels 1 & 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and uses this approach in couples’ work. Laura aims to create a safe and supportive environment for clients to express themselves and find workable solutions that can be used independently. Her goal is for clients to learn the skills necessary to manage challenges and become the version of themselves that they’ve always wanted to be.

Katrina Volante

• Location: Downtown, Pudong, Online Sessions
• Language: English

Katrina Volante is a student intern at CCS. She is studying clinical mental health counseling at Palo Alto University. Katrina practices from a constructivist orientation, a theory that asserts that reality is subjective: people construct their own reality within themselves and project it into the external world. This means that the language we use as we experience life and tell our story is of great importance. During counseling, expressive arts techniques, such as writing and mindfulness, may be used to deepen insight and explore presenting issues. Katrina is available to counsel individuals aged thirteen and older. She has experience working with issues such as low self-awareness, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

Justin Kagis

• Language: English

Justin is completing a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. He takes a person-centric approach that emphasizes collaboration, authentic listening and non-judgemental support. He has additional training in Emotion-Focused Therapy which is grounded in attachment theory. Justin is available to work with individuals aged thirteen and older on a wide variety of issues. He strongly believes in the counselling process as a way to empower individuals to face their darkness and celebrate their light. He welcomes clients from any background including those interested in exploring existential, spiritual, or other important questions related to identity and meaning in life.

Tonye Stuurman

• Location: Pudong
• Language: English

Tonye Stuurman has lived in China for the past eight years. She has a Diploma in Journalism and an Honours Degree in Women and Gender Studies. In her home country, South Africa, she worked for many years as a community activist and workshop facilitator, focusing on gender-based violence.

Tonye has been an integral part of the CCS Teen Advocacy Group and introduced this group to the CCS Clothesline Project. In addition, Tonye also offers community workshops and seminars.