Mingjia Chen

Hi, I’m Mingjia Chen (she/her), and I am honored to be part of your journey of exploration and healing. As a therapist, I’m passionate about creating a therapy space that fosters healing and growth. My goal is to guide my clients in identifying and transforming patterns of behavior, thought, and communication that may be holding them back.

Through my experience as an international student since the age of fifteen and my journey of embracing my queer identity, I have gained insight into the experience of being “in-between” and developed a deep passion for helping clients explore their identities and agency in both individual and relational contexts.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis and completed my graduate studies and clinical training at the Family Institute at Northwestern University. My therapeutic work is rooted in the Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) model, which emphasizes identifying patterns and drawing from various therapeutic approaches—such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS)—to meet clients’ unique goals and needs. Through my professional training, I’ve had the privilege of working with individuals, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds, navigating challenges such as conflict resolution, life transitions, and stress management. Together, we collaborated to implement interventions that aligned with their strengths.

My style is warm and personable, and I strive to meet clients where they are. My experience serving underprivileged communities in the Family Institute’s Community Program has deepened my awareness of how cultural elements—such as race, ethnicity, sexual and gender identity, and religious beliefs—shape our experiences. I encourage clients to share their stories with openness and curiosity, and I value creating a strong therapeutic relationship as the foundation for the healing process. Together, we can uncover your inner strengths and achieve your therapeutic goals.

在生活中，你是否有时感到无法自我消化的压力、困扰和焦虑？你是否有时对自我的认知感到困惑，期望有渠道可以帮助你进一步了解自我？在与家人和亲密伴侣的相处中，你是否会为争执不断或疏于沟通而感到心力交瘁？

无论是作为个体或作为家庭和亲密关系中的组成部分，对于外在行为和内在自我的理解都是疗愈中不可或缺的部分。作为心理咨询师，我希望可以通过倾听、引导和反馈来帮助你理解你所处的困境和困境背后的模式，从而促成改变和成长。当我们处在外界或内在的压力下，往往会忽视自己内在的力量和需求，而这些对于自我的认识和理解恰恰是解开许多困境的关键。我相信通过我的辅助，你能更好地找到这些自我理解的关键，纾解困境带来的阴霾。