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Accepting new clients

A place to talk,and to understand.

I’m Joy Zhou, a psychodynamic psychotherapist. This is my private practice.

You may be going through a difficult time, finding yourself caught in familiar struggles, or wanting to understand yourself more deeply. Whatever brings you here, we can begin with what feels most present.

Get in touch → What to expect
In-person (Shanghai) / OnlinePsychodynamicIndividual · Couples · FamilyEmotions · Relationships · Self-understanding中文 / English
01About
Understanding takes time

What draws me to psychodynamic work is a lasting curiosity about how we come to be who we are.

We each come to understand ourselves in our own way, and in our own time. Some experiences come readily into words. Others take longer before we can begin to say what they mean to us.

I think of therapy as work we do together. We begin with what feels most present to you. What we talk about, what we notice, and where the work leads take shape over time, through the conversations between us.
National Level II Psychological Counselor (China)8+ years in practice1,500+ therapy hoursPsychoanalytic & psychodynamic trainingFamily therapy trainingLGBTQ+ affirming

Training & credentials →

Joy Zhou
02How I Work
Looking beneath the surface

Patterns that repeat

Some feelings, choices, and ways of relating return in different forms. Together, we can notice what feels familiar, explore how these patterns took shape, and understand how they continue to influence your life now.

Listening for what’s unsaid

What you say, what remains unspoken, moments of hesitation, conflicting feelings, and experiences that are difficult to put into words can all find their way into our conversations. Sometimes, something important begins to emerge in what is harder to say.

What happens between us

What happens between us in therapy is also part of the work. Together, we can pay attention to the feelings and patterns that emerge in our relationship, notice what may feel familiar, and make room for a different experience to take shape.

03Services
Ways we can meet
01
Individual TherapyEmotional distress and stress, difficulties in relationships, questions of self and identity, and experiences of trauma or loss, including concerns that have persisted or returned over time.
50 minutes
02
Couples TherapyConflict and distance, trust and attachment, sex and intimacy, as well as experiences of betrayal, separation, trauma, and relationship crises.
90 minutes
03
Family TherapyFamily conflict, parent–child relationships, intergenerational patterns, and the ways illness, trauma, loss, or major life changes can affect the family as a whole.
90 minutes
04Getting Started
Before our first meeting
1

Get in touch

Tell me briefly what you’d like me to call you, what brings you to therapy, and the best way to reach you. There’s no need to say too much at this stage.

2

A brief conversation

We’ll start with a phone or video call of about 10 minutes. We can talk briefly about what has brought you to therapy at this point in your life, and you’ll have a chance to ask any questions you may have.

3

Our first session

We’ll have more time to talk about what you’re going through and what you’re hoping for from therapy. It’s also an opportunity to experience how I work and to consider whether working together feels right for you.

4

Deciding whether to continue

If we decide to continue, we’ll agree on the frequency of sessions and other practical arrangements. Therapy usually takes place once a week at a regular time.

05FAQ
A few common questions

If there’s anything else you’d like to know, feel free to ask me.

Get in touch →

Yes. What you share in therapy is confidential, with limited exceptions involving serious concerns about your safety or someone else’s, as well as circumstances where disclosure is required by law or professional ethics. We’ll discuss confidentiality and its limits before we begin working together.

If you need to reschedule or cancel a session, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance. Sessions begin and end at the agreed time, so arriving late will usually mean a shorter session. If something unexpected happens, we can talk about it.

Yes. Before we begin working together, we’ll review a therapy agreement covering confidentiality, the practical arrangements for therapy, our respective rights and responsibilities, and policies around rescheduling and cancellation. For online therapy, the agreement can be completed by email; for in-person therapy, it can be signed when we meet. Read the Therapy Agreement →

In person, we share the same physical space, allowing expressions, posture, silence, and the experience of being together to become part of the work more naturally. Online therapy offers greater flexibility around location while still allowing for sustained, in-depth work. You can choose what works best for your circumstances, and we can also talk this through during our initial conversation.

If you are at immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else, or are experiencing a suicidal crisis, individual therapy is not a substitute for immediate crisis support. Please contact local emergency services or a crisis service, or go to the nearest emergency department. Once the immediate crisis has passed, we can discuss what kind of ongoing support may be appropriate. Crisis support resources →

06The Space
Where we meet
Therapy room with beige sofa and greenery
Therapy room with leather sofa and warm lighting
Therapy room with two armchairs facing each other
Bright, modern therapy room
Therapy room with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows
Decorative details in a softly lit therapy room
In-person therapy space · 糖心理 × KnowYourself

Start with what’s on your mind

You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just tell me what you’d like me to call you and, in a few words, what brings you here.

or email me directly