Evangeline Li, RDN, CLE

She/ Her

Tier I Therapist

Welcome to this space that is created just for you. I am truly glad you've taken this step to explore counseling. Choosing to further understand yourself is a profoundly powerful act! The moment you turn inward and seek support, meaningful change has already quietly begun.

I began studying abroad alone at age 12—first in Singapore, then in the US for college, graduate school, and work. Along the way, I navigated academic pressure, the end of an eight-year relationship, the uncertainty of the H1B lottery, and the confusion of a quarter-life crisis. Eventually, I chose to let go of the H1B and shift to a new career path. I believe each life has its own rhythm, like rivers finding their course. There’s no need to rush toward fixed answers: life is an open exploration, and you have the right to choose new directions at any time.

As I grew older, I came to understand the complexities of “adulting”: choosing health insurance, navigating the dating world, or figuring out credit card points while friends discussed wine with ease. These everyday yet very real challenges—ones that might have been shared with family back home—often become quiet, solo journeys here.

I am a warm, outgoing, and perceptive counselor. In this space, I will listen closely to your experiences, support you in processing emotions, and walk alongside you as you explore your inner world. Through thoughtful questions, I help you gain clarity and discover solutions that fit your unique needs. At times, I may suggest simple practices outside of sessions so healing can extend into daily life.

I offer sessions in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, both online and in person. To me, therapy is not about rushing toward a destination, but about gently opening a window within—bringing light to overlooked corners of your heart, and allowing clarity, calm, and deeper self-understanding to emerge.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, eating concerns, perfectionism, or identity struggles, I’ll walk alongside you with empathy, helping you build resilience, self-acceptance, and lasting change.

My Story

My professional journey began in nutritional science. As a Registered Dietitian in the U.S., I worked in Tier-1 trauma centers, the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and community programs such as WIC. These experiences showed me that food is not only physical nourishment but also an emotional and cultural bond. Over time, I saw how physical health is often deeply tied to emotions, identity, and relationships—insight that guided me toward psychotherapy and advanced clinical training at Columbia University.

What has shaped me most, however, extends beyond training. Growing up in a traditional Asian household, studying at UC Berkeley, and working in high-pressure hospitals, I lived under the weight of perfectionism, driven by ambition and fear, often at the expense of self-compassion.

My understanding of relationships was also shaped by personal experience. After the end of an eight-year relationship, I rebuilt my sense of self while navigating the dating cultures of California and New York. These experiences taught me how attachment styles and relational dynamics influence both connection and vulnerability, and deepened my empathy for clients facing similar struggles.

I also know the weight of uncertainty. Despite graduating from a top university, earning a professional license, and securing a coveted H1B visa, I entered a prolonged quarter-life crisis, still feeling unfulfilled. In one month, I faced a breakup, a move, and a career shift. At my lowest point, therapy helped me see that confusion can open the door to clarity. One ordinary Thursday, a colleague remarked, “You’d make a great therapist.” That moment illuminated a truth I had long carried within me; my passion and purpose lay in walking alongside others in their journeys of growth.

Having grown up across China, Singapore, and the U.S., and serving the Asian community for over a decade, I deeply understand the challenges faced by international students and immigrants: cultural shock, identity friction, career uncertainty, and the search for belonging. These are not just stories I’ve heard—they are journeys I’ve lived. It is with this cultural sensitivity and empathy that I hope to walk alongside you, as you navigate your own path toward healing, connection, and growth.

Therapeutic Approaches

My approach to counseling is integrative. I hold the perspective that no single theoretical modality can fully capture the complexity of human psychology and experience. Grounded in psychodynamic understanding, I thoughtfully integrate insights and methods from other modalities, working with you to discover a path that aligns with your unique needs and inner wisdom.

In practice, working within this integrative framework, I flexibly draw upon multiple evidence-based modalities to provide support that is genuinely personalized:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): To assist you in becoming aware of thought patterns that unconsciously influence emotions, and to learn more adaptable skills for emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
Psychodynamic Perspective: To accompany you in exploring underlying emotional currents and understanding how past experiences subtly shape present choices and relationships.
Motivational Interviewing (MI): To gently strengthen your internal motivation and self-acceptance, especially when ambivalence about change is present.
Attachment and Trauma-Informed Lens: To compassionately explore how early experiences shape your sense of security in relationships and your ways of coping.
Mindfulness and Somatic Awareness: To help you reconnect with your body and cultivate a more attuned awareness of emotional signals and needs.

Furthermore, I am continually advancing my training in specialized areas, including Sex Therapy, Couple Therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Life Coaching, and Eating Disorder treatment. This commitment to ongoing learning reflects my desire to support you from a more comprehensive standpoint, particularly when addressing deeper issues related to bodily experience, relational dynamics, identity, and self-worth, allowing us to work together at a profound level.

Specialties

Eating & Body Image | A Holistic Lens

As a Registered Dietitian (RDN), I understand that eating is never just about “what to eat.” Food is connected to emotions, culture, and self-worth. I support clients with eating disorders and body image concerns. I will guide you to healthier habits, but also exploring the emotional and cultural meanings behind food, aiming to rebuild tne relationship with your body.

Immigrants & International Students | Finding Belonging

Having lived in China, Singapore, and the U.S., I know the loneliness of cultural shock, language barriers, the identity struggles of being “between worlds,” and the stress of visas and cultural adaptation. In therapy, I bring cultural sensitivity and empathy to help clients navigate these pressures, find grounding in new environments, and discover a deeper sense of belonging.

Perfectionism & High Achievers | From Pressure to Self-Compassion

I know firsthand the exhaustion of perfectionism, having grown up in a traditional Asian family and studied in high-pressure environments like UC Berkeley and Columbia. Many high-achieving clients struggle with self-criticism, burnout, or the pressure to always “perform.” Together, we explore the fears beneath perfectionism, learn to balance ambition with rest, and begin shifting from “never enough” toward self-compassion and wholeness.

Anxiety, Depression & Relationships | Healing Through Connection

Emotional struggles are often tied to relational dynamics and attachment wounds. From my own cross-cultural experiences and personal growth, I understand how family history, friendships, and intimacy can carry both connection and pain. In therapy, I use attachment and relational perspectives to help clients recognize repeating patterns, rebuild emotional safety, and cultivate healthier, more authentic connections.

Young Adults & Emerging Adults | Navigating Crossroads

I specialize in supporting clients in their late teens through 30s as they navigate the challenges of “adulting”: career direction, independence, relationships, and cultural or family expectations. Having lived through my own quarter-life crisis, I know how confusing and overwhelming this stage can feel. In our work, I help you clarify your path, strengthen identity, and feel more grounded as you move through transitions.

Life Coaching | Growth & Meaning

Every life stage brings new goals and challenges. Through a coaching lens, I focus on helping clients identify strengths, clarify vision, and set practical steps toward growth. Together, we explore your personal ikigai—the unique intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what feels meaningful—so you can move toward a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Credentials

Supervisor: Huilin Lai, LCSW: R081942
Licenses & Certifications: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN); Certified Lactation Educator (CLE)
Degree: Columbia University – Master of Social Work (in progress, Mental Health Advanced Clinical Track)
Degree: California State University, Northridge – M.S. in Human Nutrition
Degree: University of California, Berkeley – B.S. in Nutritional Science
Advanced Training: Motivational Interviewing, CBT, DBT, Trauma-Informed Care, Internal Family System, Sex Therapy

More About Me

If I were to describe myself in a few words, I’d say: a life-loving ENFJ, a devoted food enthusiast, and an ever-curious explorer. I deeply believe that the meaning of life is found through wholehearted engagement with the world.

You’ll often find me exploring: a new neighborhood café, a new restaurant, a new movie, or a new city. To me, sipping a cup of coffee isn’t just enjoyment, it is an invitation to dialogue with nature and culture. Through these experiences, food and travel have become my most intimate languages for understanding the world's rich tapestry.

This love for experience also shapes how I approach Therapy. I’m drawn not only to genuine human connection but also to uncovering the unique light in every person’s story. And as an ENFJ who also needs energy balance, I value quiet time to recharge—whether through journaling, walks in nature, or lighting a candle at home to gently return to myself.

I also have a gray-and-white cat who, as friends say, looks like a little dairy cow 🐄—you might even catch him making a quiet cameo during our sessions!

What moves me most as a therapist is witnessing someone gradually find safety amid emotional waves, recognize their own worth in times of uncertainty, and couragefully step into a life that feels truly their own—rich with presence and meaning. In those moments, I’m reminded again: true change grows from courage, and from the warmth of being deeply understood and accompanied.

Book a Session with Evangeline