English Speaking Counselor in Taipei

Are you “stuck” and looking for a way out? Or, are you simply looking to develop and advance yourself? I am happy to help.

Welcome. I am Lillian Chen. After living in California and Colorado for over a decade, having established two psychotherapy private practices in Colorado, I now reside in Taipei. Being both American and Taiwanese, having each foot in one world, with the soul of a global villager embracing diversity, I easily relate to the “Third Culture Kids (and adults).” My personal experiences in international relocation, acculturation, culture shocks, and reverse culture shocks have all equipped me with the cross-cultural understanding of expat challenges.

Multicultural sensitivity is a part of the key foundation in my helping work. I have experiences in helping clients from diverse demographic backgrounds, including but not limited to those with language barriers, as well as couples who had cultural and language gaps between each other.

As an empath, I naturally pour my heart out to my clients and always want the best for them. I believe in authenticity instead of political correctness or disingenuous professional façade. I appreciate humor as much as bitterness. I honor my clients’ emotions and existence in a down-to-earth manner. That is also why I am selective in accepting clients, because I want to make sure that I will be able to wholeheartedly support you. The result is, nearly all my clients have commented that they felt respected, understood, supported, and empathized in our work. Meanwhile, I appropriately and constructively challenge my clients in order to help them reach their goals.

I have been enthusiastic in the subjects of narcissistic abuse (NA) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) since 2013. As the information of the two subjects is sufficient in the English language, I have dedicated my NA and CPTSD writing systematically in Chinese, for public education purposes. Without fact checking, I have often received feedback from readers regarding me as the first expert in those topics in the Chinese-speaking realm, although I humbly believe that there are other professionals familiar with these subjects.

Despite my recent focus on the two subjects, I was trained to be a “generalist” and a Marriage and Family Therapist. I continue appreciating the opportunities in helping clients with various concerns. Please refer to the “expertise” page for more. I am passionate and experienced in helping children and their families, but I now do not accept children under the age of 13 or a family size over 3 people, because of the limitation of my office setup. I might accept such clients when my office becomes more suitable for them.

My personal and professional experiences have led me to doubt whether or not the conventional mental health service structure is truly in the best interest of the clients. Therefore, based on the professional groundwork and prioritizing my clients’ best interests, I have decided to stop conforming to the clinical, highly restrictive structure of mental health services. My helping service is an integrated model which organically and holistically responds to each unique client’s circumstances. Generally, I name it “Transformation Work,” while my clients and I interchangeably use the terms counseling, therapy, coaching, etc. simply out of habits and convenience.

While mostly eclectic and organic, my preferred therapeutic models include:

• Psychodynamics
• Existential Psychology
• Emotionally Focused Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
• Gestalt Therapy
• Object Relations
• Structuralism
• Family System
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Social justice orientation
• Somatic processing, integrating knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine, aromatherapy, and various types of body works and energy works

My general philosophy is significantly influenced by Michel Foucault’s theories, although he was not a psychologist. Mr. Foucault’s philosophy, especially in the realm of power and structuralism, has led me to view and think critically of the world and the experiences where each of us lives, and to defy restrictions which brings oppression instead of healthy liberation.

On the personal side, I enjoy reading, writing, travel, horseback riding, snowmobiling, swimming, and interacting with animals. I am an omnist, and most familiar with Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity, in addition to some exposure to Paganism and Kabbalah. I often incorporate my clients’ spirituality in each of their unique paths to healing and transformation. I am a passionate ally and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ individuals, cultural minorities, children, struggling parents, victims, and the underprivileged population. Not against psychiatric treatments and medication, I am however against the abuse of psychiatric power, as a part of my general support for human rights.

Please visit the other pages for my education, experiences, areas of expertise, and other information. Or, feel free to contact me.

Wish you joy and freedom.

*As this website speaks to the global audience, your local legislation may have its own definition of any specific terminology, which may not be in congruence with this site’s or my use of the words. Please clarify with me as needed