I was born and raised in Guangzhou, China. My roots trace back to Henan, and my family carries cultural influences from Hakka and Shaanxi traditions. I also spent part of my childhood in Fuzhou. I completed my undergraduate studies in Shenzhen and had brief academic experiences in the United Kingdom and Japan. Now, I live in New York.

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Each of these cultural experiences has shaped me in different ways. For a long time, I found it hard to answer the simple question, “Where are you from?” Nowhere felt like a true hometown. I often felt like a stranger, no matter where I was. Each of these cultural experiences has shaped me in different ways. For a long time, I found it hard to answer the simple question, “Where are you from?” Nowhere felt like a true hometown. I often felt like a stranger, no matter where I was. Over time, I realized that this feeling isn’t unique to me. Many people who grow up among different cultures experience the same sense of disconnection. But over time, I’ve come to see that living across cultures brings both challenges and gifts. When we learn to accept ourselves as we are, the complexity of our identities becomes an advantage. We don’t need to shrink ourselves to fit into a label. A stable sense of self-worth can offer us the grounding and belonging we seek, even when external environments shift.

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Being exposed to different cultures and communities from a young age helped me become more sensitive to differences in values and more accepting of different ways of being. It also shaped my ability to shift perspectives and see things from multiple angles. In therapy, I hope to offer a space that is respectful and free from judgment, where we can explore ideas together. Sometimes, because of work, school, family, or financial pressures, people feel stuck in one place or stage of life. But if we can see our situation in a new light, we might find more openness, flexibility, and ease.

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As a student in both China and the United States, I’ve interned or volunteered in many settings, including a public high school, private counseling center, hospital inpatient and outpatient departments, and a community mental health program. These experiences brought me into contact with people facing a wide range of life challenges. I became more aware of how social systems and structural issues shape individual experiences. At the same time, I was moved by the resilience and strength I witnessed in each person. Some people worked extremely long hours to support their families. Some lived with disabilities and lacked the support they needed. Others struggled to be accepted by society, or even by loved ones, because of who they were. Although they often felt anxious, sad, frustrated, or unable to move forward, when they chose to speak, to seek help, and to show up in therapy, I saw a kind of quiet strength that deeply moved me. So while I recognize the constraints people face, I also believe that each person carries their own wisdom and strength. These inner resources may need time and a chance to be seen, but they are already there.