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), and 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