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Charlene Zhen, LMSW

Age Group Served
adults
elders
Therapy Format
individuals
couples
Treatment Focus
adhd, burnout, emotion-regulation, family-conflict, personal-growth, racial-identity, relational-concerns, stress, suicidal-ideation, womens-issues, anxiety, depression, relationship-issues, self-esteem, life-transitions
Types of Therapy
Attachment-based/Relational Therapy
Humanistic
Integrative
Interpersonal
LGBTQ+ Affirming
Psychoanalytic
Psychodynamic
Trauma Informed Care
Insurance Accepted
Out of Network, Private Pay
Can Prescribe Medication: No
Offers Sliding Scale: yes
Accepting New Therapy Fund Clients: yes
Last modified: April 13, 2026

Charlene Zhen, LMSW

In-Person / Virtual: in-person, tele
License Number(s): 123745
States / Provinces Served: New York
Ethnicity: Chinese
Racial Identity / Culture: asian-american, second-generation-asian-immigrant
Languages Spoken: English
Sex/Gender: Female

I am a psychodynamic therapist in New York City. I work with people who have spent their lives being capable, meeting expectations, and showing up for others, but somewhere along the way lost touch with themselves.

Many of my clients are Asian American and adult children of immigrants navigating family pressure and cultural expectations. On the surface you appear capable and successful, but underneath you feel anxious, burnt out, or disconnected. You move from one achievement to the next without feeling satisfied, and when there is no clear next goal, you feel aimless or lost. You may not be sure what you actually want or who you are when no one is watching.

My approach is psychodynamic, culturally informed, and reflective. We explore how family dynamics, cultural context, and early experiences continue to shape your present relationships, choices, and sense of self. We focus on noticing recurring themes, understanding what drives your reactions, and developing a stronger sense of direction and agency.

I also work with couples, including interracial and cross cultural couples, to explore how family of origin patterns and intergenerational dynamics show up in their relationship.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent nearly a decade in tech startups in San Francisco. That experience gives me practical insight into perfectionism, burnout, and performance pressure in high achieving environments.

I hold a Master of Social Work from Columbia University and studied English Literature and Business Administration at the University of Southern California. My clinical training includes both individual and couples therapy, with a focus on psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches.