Perhaps one of the most positive developments in recent years has been our collective readiness to openly talk about mental health issues, big and small. It seems as though folks on a global scale are more willing to admit that life is tough, and whether you’re suffering from more serious issues such as clinical depression, body dysmorphia, substance abuse and anxiety disorders, or simply going through a rough patch, and feeling lost in the labyrinth of this thing we call existence, seeking out help is not to be scorned, nor should it be a source of shame.
Add to this the fact that many of us wholly uprooted our lives and made the move to Beijing, a confusing and frightening reality in its own right, and our access to resources become all the more murky, yet all the more urgent.
Suffice it to say that The Beatles weren’t wrong when they sang, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Unfortunately though, our friends aren’t always equipped to provide us with the necessary emotional infrastructure to maintain a successfully balanced and healthy well-being.
To that end, we’re sharing a comprehensive list of multilingual counselors and organizations in Beijing who offer services ranging from workplace wellness, therapy for all ages, marriage counseling, cross-cultural relationships, and finding purpose, to adjustment issues.
The information below was compiled in November 2019 by local members of the counseling community, who state:
“All [counselors]say that they are fully certified with a professional body unless otherwise stated, however please make your own inquiries. All speak English and see adults. Sessions are 50-60 mins. Where a range of payment is indicated, it’s a needs-based sliding scale. Most counselors are also available online.”
Mike Shook MA, LMHC, NCC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor). Practices narrative therapy and feedback informed treatment and works mainly with children, adolescents, and adults. Available Tuesdays and Thursday from 10am – 5pm for online appointments, with limited in-person availability on Thursdays. RMB 350-800. WeChat: mshook. For more information click here or email mike@noomawellness.com.
Katie McLeod MA, MRes. Available Fridays 11am – 7pm and online Monday and Wednesday mornings. Currently seeking certification with CCPA. Flexible with location, RMB 200-800. Degree focus marriage and family therapy, adults, adolescence, or couples. WeChat: katiemcleod
Danielle Harris MSc. Shunyi, evenings and Saturdays. Online & face-to-face. Among others anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma, transition, stress loss. WeChat: dani-1926.
Karen Hurworth MA. Available weekdays 8am – 6pm & Saturdays 8am – noon. Shunyi district. RMB 600 per session. Variety of approaches to treat issues from depression, anxiety, relationship challenge and finding life purpose. WeChat: khurworth
Gaëlle Cassier. Psychoanalyst with a French clinical psychologist license and Masters. French, English, Chinese. Contact for fee. Lacanian psychoanalysis, research in cross-cultural approaches and psychosis. For more information click here, call 139 1101 0032, or email gaelle.cassier@xin-jing.com.
Dr. Michelle Mope Andersson English and Swedish, pastoral counselor for adults and couples, Dongzhimenwai. Travels every month or so. Needs based sliding scale. Existential therapy, marriage and family. For more information click here, or email mopeandersson@yahoo.com.
Dr. Birgit Mathon clinical psychologist and systemic psychotherapist, studied in Vienna and Stanford. Special fields: trauma, depression, anxiety, communication for couples. WeChat: BirgitMathonBeijing
Dr. Mike Merhvarz Psychologist, English, Farsi, Mandarin; individual, couple & marriage therapy; ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, Asperger, Autism, pediatric developmental assessment, psychological and neuropsychological testing. International Medical Center, Beijing. For more information email dr.mike@imcclinics.com
Dr. Theo Cope Psychologist & Positive & Transcultural Psychotherapy, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, cross-cultural relationship, adjustment issues, addiction, bipolar. Raffles Medical Clinic. For more information email cope_theodore@rafflesmedical.com
Leon Lee, English and Mandarin, available seven days a week for adults, teens and couples in Chaoyang. RMB 600. Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy. WeChat: leonptp (Assistant, Michael).
Titi Hill, BSc, MBACP. Individuals, couples, families. Weekdays in Shunyi, 798 and Chaoyang. RMB 950. For more information click here, here, call 186 1255 7824, or email info@beijingcounselling.com, or in- fo@hilldynamics.org. Titi Hill can also be reached via Skype at hilldynamics.
Ms. Masooma Kachelo, MS MFT, Certified Mindfulness Teacher, English. Works weekdays in the Shunyi/Chaoyang area. 15 years of experience. Uses mindfulness-based approaches for working with women suffering from depression, anxiety, and trauma related relational challenges. WeChat: mindfulturn-mas
Other Resources:
In crisis? Lifeline Shanghai offers free and confidential support via telephone from 10am – 10pm, 365 days a year. They are located in Shanghai but available to talk to anyone in China: tel. 400 821 1215.
Problems with alcohol? Click here for the Beijing chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous or call 189 1161 8759.
Bearapy offers wellness consulting and training to help make workplaces mentally healthy. For more information click here, or email client@bearapy.me
Photo: Pixabay
