Sifan (Jessie) Ye
She/her
Tier I Therapist
Many people come to therapy feeling emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, stuck in painful relationship patterns, or exhausted from constantly trying to hold everything together alone. Sometimes these experiences arrive loudly, while other times they appear more quietly through self-doubt, loneliness, disconnection, or the feeling that something inside no longer fits the life one is living.
I believe every person carries stories that deserve to be heard. No matter how “big” or “small” an experience may seem from the outside, if it feels meaningful to you, then the emotions connected to it are meaningful too.
I see therapy as a space for slowing down enough to better understand yourself — not only your pain or symptoms, but also the ways your emotions, relationships, culture, and life experiences have shaped how you move through the world. Many of the ways people cope once served an important purpose, even when they no longer feel sustainable. Rather than rushing to “fix” parts of you or reduce you to labels and diagnoses, I hope we can approach your experiences with curiosity, reflection, and care.
As someone who has lived across cultures and navigated my own ongoing journey of identity and self-understanding, I deeply value creating a space where all parts of you are welcome — including the parts that feel uncertain, conflicted, ashamed, overwhelmed, or still in the process of being discovered. I also believe identity is not something we discover only once, but something that continues to evolve, deepen, and take new forms throughout life.
My approach is collaborative, relational, and evidence-informed. I integrate warmth and emotional exploration with practical support, helping clients better understand themselves while also developing tools for daily life. Together, we can build a space where you feel more connected to your own story, more able to tolerate uncertainty, and freer to move through life in a way that feels authentic to you.
I offer sessions in English and Mandarin, both in-person and via telehealth.
Rather than focusing on what is 'wrong,' I help clients understand the wisdom behind their coping strategies and cultivate lasting healing through self-compassion and insight.
My Story
Both personal experiences and years of academic and clinical training across different environments and cultures have shaped my path toward becoming a therapist. I was born in China and came to the United States alone as an international student during adolescence. Living across cultures deeply influenced the way I understand identity, belonging, achievement, and emotional well-being.
My interest in therapy also grew from witnessing how deeply emotional struggles can shape people’s lives, including people who were deeply important to me. Over time, I became increasingly aware of the ways people learn to disconnect from themselves in order to adapt, succeed, or simply keep functioning, especially in environments where suffering is often normalized while emotional needs are overlooked. Some of my understanding of self-worth, body image, and the relationship between control and emotional suffering has also come from personal reflection and lived experience.
Through my studies in psychology, human development, feminist studies, and multicultural perspectives, I became especially drawn to the importance of storytelling and authentic listening — the idea that every person’s experiences deserve to be understood within the larger cultural and relational contexts that shape them. My clinical experiences in psychiatric and counseling settings further strengthened my understanding that people are far more than the struggles they carry. To me, therapy feels most meaningful when it becomes a real conversation rather than a space where someone has to perform, explain themselves perfectly, or be reduced to labels or diagnoses.
Therapeutic Approaches
My therapeutic approach is relational, insight-oriented, and integrative. I believe meaningful therapy begins with a genuine therapeutic relationship — one where clients feel emotionally understood, thoughtfully supported, and able to show up without needing to have everything figured out.
I draw from person-centered, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychodynamic, and relational approaches depending on each client’s needs and goals. In practice, this may involve exploring how past experiences, relationships, cultural environments, or internalized expectations continue to shape present emotional patterns, while also developing practical tools to navigate life with greater flexibility and self-awareness.
In our work together, we will build on the strengths, resilience, and insight you already carry while also exploring the patterns or experiences that may no longer support your system. Therapy is a collaborative process, and rather than following a fixed method, I adapt my approach based on what feels most helpful and meaningful for you at the moment.
Specialties
My work focuses on supporting young adults, international students, and individuals navigating anxiety, perfectionism, identity exploration, and interpersonal difficulties. I also work with concerns related to self-worth, body image, and people’s relationships with food, achievement, and control.
In work related to self-image and body relationships, I often incorporate mindfulness and value narrative to help clients build a more flexible and compassionate relationship with themselves. Sometimes, the more we try to push certain thoughts, insecurities, or emotions away, the more they begin to feel like “the elephant in the room,” taking up even more space in our lives. Together, we can explore new ways of relating to these experiences while also developing a clearer understanding of your own values, identity, and personal narrative.
I approach these experiences within the larger cultural, relational, and environmental contexts that shape how you understand yourself and move through the world.
Credentials
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Supervisor: Huilin Lai, LCSW: R081942
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Degree: New York University - M.A. in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness (in process)
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Degree: University of Pennsylvania - M.S.Ed. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development, concentration in Applied Developmental and Counseling Skills
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Degree: University of California, Santa Barbara – B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences
More About Me
Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy documentaries and podcasts that explore real human stories, from live conversations to athletes’ personal journeys and unusual real-life events. I also enjoy makeup as a form of self-expression and creativity. To me, it is not only about appearance, but also a way of reflecting different moods, emotions, and parts of oneself. Travel is another important part of my life, and when visiting a new place, I like to slow down and experience daily life as if I were a local, paying attention to the people, culture, and small moments that make each place feel alive. You may also notice that I occasionally bring humor into the therapy space. I believe humor and moments of joy can be meaningful sources of connection, grounding, and healing.