Qing Li
She/ Her
Tier I therapist
Have you ever felt that something within you was beginning to change—something intangible, yet undeniably present? You try to grasp it, but find yourself unable to put it into words or express it through actions. In today’s fast-paced world, being gentle with ourselves can feel like a luxury. But this gental is important because small, overlooked disappointments can gradually accumulate, leading to disappointment in ourselves and harsh self-criticism. I would like to co-create a space can be a quiet, engaging, and accepting space for you. I will be here to meet you and accompany you as you explore the journey of discovering yourself.
II am an art therapist with 11 years of experience working closely with art on a long-term basis. I specialize in using a variety of visual art media to meet the individual needs of my clients. Looking back on my own experience, I often find myself engaging in deep self-reflection while creating art: Art is a gentle, soothing, and captivating medium. Through the process of creating art, we can rekindle memories of carefree childhood play, while also gaining deeper insights into ourselves. If you’re tired of always having to explain yourself through words, why not come sit with me here? There’s no judgment here. I’ll be here to accompany you as we experience the charm of nonverbal communication together, letting the artwork serve as a window for self-expression.
Explore not only what is happening within you, but also what has shaped you—so you can release what no longer serves you and reconnect with your own voice and sense of self.
My Story
I began studying at an art academy in middle school, and art has been a constant presence throughout my life. The emotional struggles I faced in high school and my subsequent recovery led me to take an interest in mental health, ultimately prompting me to choose art therapy as my major in college. This experience has also profoundly shaped my clinical approach: I embrace the humanistic principles of non-judgment, empathy, and acceptance, as I have personally experienced the importance of being fully accepted. At the same time, my alignment with existentialism means I never shy away from painful topics in therapy; I view suffering as nourishment for self-formation and actively invite clients to externalize, engage with, and even reshape their suffering through artistic creation.
As an art therapy student at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), I previously provided art therapy services to individuals with psychiatric disorders in inpatient units at a New York State psychiatric center. Working in a high-pressure and unpredictable clinical environment helped me gradually establish appropriate and clear therapeutic boundaries, while also enabling me to hold and respond to clients’ emotions with greater steadiness. In addition, I am able to more accurately identify each individual’s unique therapeutic needs, work with them to find suitable artistic media and modes of expression, and develop corresponding treatment plans. Another distinctive aspect of this hospital was that many patients entered treatment through social service systems or referrals following involvement with the criminal justice system. Working with them moved my understanding of systemic inequality beyond the theoretical level and, through direct clinical experience, allowed me to see more clearly how social structures, access to resources, and individual circumstances can shape a person’s life and psychological well-being. As a result, I began integrating a social justice perspective into my clinical work, attending not only to clients’ internal experiences but also to their social identities, cultural backgrounds, and structural circumstances. I strive to approach therapeutic relationships from a decentralized stance and to build relationships with clients that are equitable and collaborative.
Therapeutic Approaches
I am particularly attentive to subtle forms of trauma in clients’ experiences—small, often overlooked harms that can gradually erode one’s sense of self through repeated accumulation. Like water wearing away stone over time, these subtle injuries can have a powerful and pervasive impact in modern life. My goal is to help clients move from passively enduring their pain toward recognizing and honoring it.
Many forms of distress that appear to exist within the individual may also be shaped by broader social and cultural environments. Gender-based role expectations, conflicts between cultural values, and social pressures that tie personal worth to external achievement can gradually become internalized as shame, self-doubt, or harsh self-criticism. For this reason, my clinical orientation is grounded in a social justice framework, through which I understand individual experiences of trauma in relation to larger external systems. I hope to support clients in identifying these internalized voices, exploring which beliefs genuinely reflect their own values and which have been shaped by their environments over time, and rebuilding a sense of self that is more aligned with their lived experiences and values. At the same time, I remain attentive to power dynamics within the therapeutic space and strive to share agency and voice with my clients.
In my therapeutic practice, art remains at the core of the process. Based on each client’s preferences and the qualities of different art materials, I incorporate a range of creative approaches to create space for nonverbal communication. Art-making can serve as a resource for self-awareness, making abstract or deeply internalized feelings, beliefs, and social messages more visible and accessible.
Specialties
I am committed to supporting international students who are navigating the challenges of adapting to cross-cultural environments, individuals seeking personal growth, and women experiencing anxiety and depression. I am particularly interested in how women navigate and find balance among different identities and parts of themselves—for example, the tensions between “rationality” and “emotion,” “independence” and “dependence,” and “being true to oneself” and “meeting others’ expectations.”
While respecting each client’s social identity and sense of self, I hope to accompany them in exploring the personal experiences and social influences underlying these inner conflicts. Through this process, I support clients in gradually developing beliefs and values that genuinely reflect who they are, rather than those shaped primarily by external expectations.
Credentials
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Supervisor: YuehChun Chao(Avery), LCAT 002513
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Degree: School of Visual Arts, New York, USA | Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Art Therapy(in progress)
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Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Art Theory (China) from the Central Academy of Fine Arts
More About Me
I am someone who balances both sensitivity and rationality. I tend to observe and think about things in a logical way, which helps me maintain a relatively stable sense of self in complex situations and allows me to understand things from different perspectives. At the same time, my long-term engagement with art has also shaped a strong sensitivity to emotions and subtle experiences. I often notice the deeper layers beneath what people feel, and I can be deeply moved when I resonate with something genuine, vulnerable, or complex.
I really enjoy photography and traveling, and I often bring my camera with me to capture the world as I see it. In my free time, I also make art. Recently, I’ve become especially interested in printmaking.
Music is also a very important part of my life. In fact, it has been with me even longer than visual art.
I’m also interested in Chinese metaphysics and am currently studying Meihua Yishu (Plum Blossom Numerology).
Over the past few years, I’ve become very into K-pop, and I’m slowly learning Korean as well.