Therapy for Asian Americans

with Dr. Pei-Han Cheng, Ph.D.
licensed for: New York, Oregon, and NYC

Schedule a free consult

Do you ever feel like you're walking a tightrope, balancing the weight of family expectations with your own dreams?

Maybe you're the one everyone relies on, the "model minority." The one who quietly carries the pressure to succeed, make the right choices, and never cause trouble.

On the outside, it might look like you have it all together. But underneath? There’s a persistent hum of anxiety. A fear of letting people down, always putting your own needs on the back burner. 

There’s often an invisible rulebook, filled with expectations about career paths, marriage, and even how you should express your emotions. 

You might feel: 

  • Lost, anxious, or or emotionally disconnected

  • Drained and resentful from putting everyone else’s needs before your own

  • Difficulty talking about these issues, perhaps feeling unheard or finding it difficult to express your needs and emotions openly

  • Worried about bringing "shame" to your family or being misunderstood

IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR, YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

Therapy That Understands the Cultural Layer

Many Asian Americans face these unique challenges. 

As a therapist who shared this lived cultural experience, I offer a safe space where: 

  • You don’t have to explain the feelings of isolation and conflict that come from navigating intergenerational differences in values and beliefs 

  • The importance of family harmony and reputation is understood, 

  • The "model minority" myth is unpacked, not upheld

Meet With Dr. Cheng
A woman seated on a beige sofa, reading a document, with decorative vases and dried plants in front of her, and a fireplace with stacked wood in the background.

CULTURALLY ORIENTED THERAPY IN NEW YORK

What You Can Expect From Therapy

It truly doesn't have to feel this way. Imagine navigating family and cultural expectations while staying true to your own desires. What if you could honor your family and make choices that genuinely resonate with you? That inner peace and fulfillment you're seeking? It's absolutely within reach.

Together, we'll explore the deep-seated patterns and beliefs that are keeping you stuck – the drive to achieve, the fear of letting loved ones down, the struggle to set boundaries without guilt. We'll examine how cultural expectations and family dynamics have shaped your sense of self and your relationships, and start rewriting those internal scripts with more self-compassion and choice.

This work is about reconnecting with your culture in a way that feels grounded, intentional, and aligned with who you really are. Your well-being shouldn’t be an afterthought– it should be the foundation of an authentic, purposeful life.

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Through our work, you'll gain:

  • Practical tools to manage anxiety and burnout

  • Confidence in voicing your needs – without shame

  • The ability to set boundaries that honor both you and your relationships

  • A deeper sense of identity that integrates your cultural roots and personal truth

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a rust-colored shirt and black pants, sitting on a beige sofa, holding a black notebook and a pen, in a modern living room with a green plant and books on a table.

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 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.

Let's Talk

    • 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 

  • 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.

  • 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.