ASIAN AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST IN NEW YORK CITY
Therapy that sees all of you.
Pei-Han Cheng, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and bilingual provider (English & Mandarin) in New York City who offers culturally responsive therapy for Asian and Asian American adults, couples, and parents navigating anxiety, burnout, identity concerns, relationship challenges, and intergenerational family dynamics.
If you’ve landed here, chances are you’ve done everything right.
You’ve checked all the boxes, made your family proud, and built a life that looks successful on paper. You’re the one people come to for help—the reliable one, the steady one, the person who doesn’t make waves.
And yet, when you finally pause, there’s often a quieter question underneath it all: What if I prioritized myself? What if I pursued what I want, or conserved some energy for myself?
That constant balancing act—trying to keep others happy while figuring out what you actually want—can be deeply exhausting, especially when your choices have long been shaped by family expectations and unspoken cultural rules.
If you find yourself measuring your worth against other people’s standards, or trying to silence your inner critic by pushing yourself harder, I want you to know this: you don’t have to carry the pressure, doubt, and uncertainty alone.
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE THERAPY
Hi, I’m Pei-Han.
In our work together, you’ll find a space where your unique experiences and cultural background are not only understood, but deeply valued. I frequently work with high-achieving people navigating anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, and performance related stress. I bring both clinical training and lived experience navigating similar questions and pressures, and I approach therapy as a collaborative process—one that balances compassion with clarity and a path forward.
You can expect me to:
Hold a non-judgmental, empathic space where you feel heard and understood
Offer insights that go beneath the surface, along with practical tools and strategies
Gently challenge patterns and beliefs that no longer serve you
My work draws from evidence-based approaches, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), attachment-based therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). These frameworks allow us to move beyond insight alone and support real, lasting change—helping you respond differently, relate more intentionally, and build a life that feels more aligned and sustainable.
As a therapist, I believe that:
You can work hard and still make room for joy.
You can be imperfect and deeply worthy of love.
You can make mistakes without losing self-respect.
You can honor your culture while choosing a life that feels true to you.
Why I Do This Work
Like many of my clients, I’ve straddled cultures for most of my life—always trying to do right by everyone, often unsure of where I truly belonged. As an Asian immigrant woman, I’ve known what it feels like to be “the other,” and that lived experience deeply shapes my commitment to helping you center yourself and build a life that genuinely fits who you are.
Growing up, I absorbed familiar messages passed down through generations: work hard first, joy later. When things went wrong, I learned to handle them quietly and quickly on my own. Over time, that way of coping built resilience—but it also fed perfectionism, anxiety, and a fear of making mistakes or letting others down. If this feels familiar, you’re not alone.
For many of us with similar cultural backgrounds, this pressure isn’t just personal—it’s deeply ingrained. The constant striving to do more and be better can create an ongoing cycle of self-doubt and emotional exhaustion.
This blend of personal experience and professional training shapes how I show up in my work: with empathy, cultural attunement, and a steady belief that meaningful change becomes possible when we stop abandoning ourselves to meet others’ expectations—and begin relating to ourselves with clarity, compassion, and trust.
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Whether you're:
Navigating the complexities of relationships and seeking deeper connection,
Parenting with intention and trying to break generational patterns
Struggling to find meaning beyond achievement
Or simply longing for more peace, authenticity, and ease in your life
.… I'm here to help you question those ingrained "rules" about success, reconnect with yourself, and live with more intention and less self-doubt.
If you're ready to loosen the grip of “shoulds” and step into a life that feels aligned with who you really are – I’d be honored to walk that path with you.
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Licensure:
Licensed Counseling Psychologist in New York and Oregon
Education:
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Columbia University
M.A. in Mental Health Counseling Psychology, Boston College
B.A. in Psychology, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taiwan
Special Trainings:
Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship: of University of Pennsylvania (Counseling and Psychological Services)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training, Behavioral Tech
Ongoing Emotionally Focused Therapy Training, International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy
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You Might Find Me...
Kicking a soccer ball around with my energetic kid (and pretending I’m not out of breath).
Finding peace by a river or lake – nature is my reset button.
Savoring Taiwanese tea like it’s a spiritual experience. The Japanese tea ceremony concept of 一期一會 (ichigo ichie), meaning "one time, one meeting," beautifully reminds me to cherish each present moment with others – the essence of attunement and co-regulation in attachment-based therapy.
Connecting with friends on walks or at local events.
Reading quietly with my family, soaking in the magic of being here and now together.