Jiayi Shao (She/They) Jiayi Shao (she/they) is a queer psychotherapist
based in New York City. Born and raised in
China and now practicing in both English and Mandarin, she brings a deep sensitivity  to the experience of navigating multiple identities, languages, and emotional landscapes—especially
for those living at the intersections of migration, racism, colonialism, and marginalization.  

Her clinical background includes training in IFS (Internal Family Systems), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), DBT
(Dialectical Behavior Therapy), Family and Couple Therapy, as well as somatic therapy.

She integrates these modalities with her background in Zen Buddhism and improvisational theater,
often weaving in metaphor, imagery, and
body-based awareness to support clients in reconnecting with clarity and self-trust.




She might be right for you if....

…you’ve always been the “sensitive” or “high-achieving” one, and you're exhausted — maybe from burnout, academic stress, or trying to meet impossible standards.

…you’re neurodivergent, or wondering if you might be, and want support navigating focus, motivation, and meaning (without being told to just try harder).

…you’re somewhere between “queer,” “third-culture kid,” and “cultural chameleon”—and honestly, you’d just like someone who gets that.

...you’re tired of “figuring it out” alone, and want a therapist who’s both soft enough to hold your vulnerability and sharp enough to challenge what’s keeping you stuck.

…you’re not afraid to get weird — and you want a therapist who isn’t either.



. . . .  Education + Training  . . . .


Columbia University — Ed.M. in Mental Health Counseling, 2022


Columbia University — M.A. in Psychological Counseling, 2022


New York University — B.S. in Applied Psychology, Minor in Educational Theatre, 2020


Ackerman Institute for the Family — Core Curriculum in Couple and Family Therapy, 2024


IFS Institute — IFS Online Circle: Foundations of the Internal Family Systems Model, 2023


The Center for Excellence in EMDR — Basic Training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), 2023


Mental Health Counselor — New York, License LP#120555