Couples Therapy for Connection, Repair, and Growth
Dr. Pei-Han Cheng, PhD.
licensed for: New York, Oregon, and NYC
Relationships are beautiful, complicated, and – let’s be honest– sometimes really hard.
Whether you're navigating conflict, adjusting to significant transitions, healing from infidelity, or embracing the complexities of an interracial relationship, I'm here to help you build a more resilient and fulfilling partnership.
Maybe you and your partner love each other deeply but feel like you’re constantly missing each other. You try to connect, but the same arguments keep repeating. You’re both trying, and yet…you still feel hurt, misunderstood, or alone in the relationship.
If you’re in an interracial relationship, those challenges can feel even more layered. Different ideas about communication, caregiving, expressing emotions, and connection with your families can create subtle (or not-so-subtle) tension.
YOU MAY BE STUCK IN A CYCLE
One person seeks connection, the other pulls away– and no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to break it.
This can lead to one of you feeling unheard, yearning for deep validation, while the other wants to fix things, struggles to understand the emotional weight, and feels like they’re always walking on eggshells.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And it doesn’t mean you’re not meant to be together. It means there’s something worth working through– with support.
CULTURALLY ORIENTED THERAPY IN NEW YORK
What If Your Differences Could Bring You Closer?
Picture a relationship where your differences, including cultural backgrounds, actually enrich your connection instead of causing conflict. Picture being able to talk about the hard stuff: cultural expectations, family roles, traditions, even microaggressions— without feeling like you’re on opposing teams.
That cycle of hurt feelings? It absolutely can change into a deeper, more understanding bond where you both feel truly seen and valued.
In Couples Therapy, we’ll:
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Explore the specific patterns that keep you stuck
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Look at how your individual histories and cultural backgrounds shape how you love, argue, and repair in a relationship
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Identify the fears, needs, and longings that are actually driving your conflict
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Learn how to turn toward each other with empathy, even when you disagree
MY APPROACH TO COUPLES THERAPY
Emotionally Focused Therapy
I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)– a highly effective, research-backed approach that focuses on deepening emotional bonds– and I bring a deep awareness of multicultural dynamics.
In our work, you'll gain practical tools to communicate better, understand each other's inner worlds, and build a stronger, more secure connection. You'll learn to validate each other's experiences, even when you don’t fully understand them. We'll also focus on real-life skills you can use outside of our sessions to create new, healthier ways of being together.
This work isn’t about changing who you are– it’s about becoming more of a team.
A partnership where both voices matter, where difference is not a threat but a strength, and where love isn’t just a feeling, but a daily practice of showing up for each other with care.
Hi, I’m Pei-Han.
In our work together, you'll find a space where your unique experiences and cultural background are not just understood– they’re deeply valued. I bring both clinical expertise and lived experience of navigating similar challenges to our work. Think of our sessions as a collaborative journey, where we explore what's holding you back with both compassion and a clear path forward.
YOU CAN EXPECT ME TO:
Hold a non-judgmental, empathic space to listen to you deeply.
Offer insights that go beneath the surface practical tools and strategies.
Gently challenge patterns and beliefs that no longer serve you.
I draw from evidence-based therapies like Emotionally Focused Therapy, Attachment-based Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, to support real, lasting change – not just insight, but action.
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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
Licensure:
Licensed Counseling Psychologist in New York and Oregon
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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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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.