Lin Yuan, MHC-LP

Associate Psychotherapist | She/Her/Hers

Sometimes, you can be surrounded by people and still feel like you don't quite belong. You might find yourself overthinking social interactions, worrying about rejection, or changing parts of yourself to fit others' expectations. Perhaps you're navigating different cultural identities, struggling with relationships, or feeling stuck in a job or life situation that no longer feels right. You want to feel more comfortable being yourself, but figuring out what that looks like can be difficult.

Hi, I'm Lin Yuan, a Singaporean-Chinese mental health counselor offering online individual therapy throughout New York. I work with adults navigating social anxiety, identity exploration, cultural adjustment, relationship difficulties, work-related stress, and life transitions. My own experiences have shaped my appreciation for how complicated finding a sense of belonging can be, especially when you feel different from those around you. I hope to help you better understand what you're going through, find clarity in the challenges you're facing, and build a life that feels more authentic to who you are.

Schedule a Consultation With Me

*Lin is currently accepting new clients and clinically supervised by Heyu Wang, LMHC-D.

How I Understand the Work

I believe the challenges we face are often connected to the experiences, relationships, and environments that have shaped us. Sometimes, we develop ways of thinking or behaving that help us navigate difficult situations, only to find that those same patterns eventually leave us feeling disconnected, anxious, or uncertain about how to move forward.

My approach draws from psychodynamic, cognitive, and Gestalt perspectives. I look at how past experiences influence present relationships, how our thoughts shape the way we interpret situations, and what our emotions may be telling us about our needs. I also recognize that culture, identity, and social expectations can influence how we see ourselves and relate to others. Rather than assuming there's one right way to approach a challenge, I believe in understanding your experiences within the broader context of your life and finding possibilities for change that feel meaningful to you.

What Therapy With Me Feels Like

I know that choosing a therapist can feel overwhelming, especially when you're unsure what to expect or where to begin. My style is warm, curious, and collaborative, and I want our sessions to feel like a space where you can express yourself openly without worrying about saying the right thing.

Together, we'll explore what's been troubling you, identify patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and work toward practical changes. Depending on your needs, we might examine unhelpful thought patterns, develop coping strategies for anxiety, practice expressing yourself more confidently, or explore different ways of navigating conflict and rejection. I balance reflection with practical tools so that the insights you gain in therapy can become meaningful changes in your everyday life.

My hope is that you leave our work feeling more confident in yourself, more comfortable navigating uncertainty, and better equipped to build relationships and experiences that feel fulfilling.

Areas I Often Support

Social Anxiety | Identity Exploration | ‍ ‍Sense of Belonging

Fear of Rejection | Self-Understanding | Self-Expression

Family & Cultural Expectations |‍ ‍Work-Life Balance

Languages

I provide therapy in English & also speak conversational in Mandarin for clients who prefer it.

A little about me

  • Growing up, my own intrinsic interest in the human psyche led me to the field of psychology. However, it was my own mental health experiences, as well as the experiences of my friends’ difficulties with navigating the healthcare system, that motivated me to pursue mental health counseling as a career and calling.

  • As a therapist, I am genuinely grateful for the chance to be there for someone in a difficult period of their lives. Not only do I understand that it can be an intensely vulnerable moment, but I am also reminded time and time again how creative and amazing my clients are as they change and grow through this experience. To be able to be there for them, help them express their unspoken feelings, and get that “aha!” moment of insight is incredibly rewarding and my favorite part(s) of being a therapist.

  • Lately, I’ve been getting back into dancing and video games! NYC provides an endless number of genres and classes to try, and my Steam library is grateful that I’m finally clearing my backlog of sale-bought games. 

  • As cliche as it sounds, any kind of time spent with loved ones and friends truly grounds me back into myself. Otherwise, a great walk always does the trick, even if you don’t feel like it will be at the start.

  • M.A. in Mental Health Counseling Brooklyn College, City University of New York

    Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honors) with Distinction in Psychology National University of Singapore

“True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.”
— Brené Brown