Jialu Li, BA, MA Candidate,
中文咨询师

Mandarin-speaking therapist in Chicago

Bilingual Psychotherapist in Chicago
Mandarin (中文普通话)
Pronouns – She/Her/Hers

You may have spent years trying to understand yourself. Friends have offered advice. Books have made sense. Yet when you’re in the middle of a relationship, an argument, or a difficult decision, something familiar still takes over. It can leave you wondering why understanding yourself hasn’t been enough to change what keeps happening.

Therapy offers the opportunity to notice these moments as they happen, rather than only making sense of them afterward. Over time, what once felt out of your control can become something you can recognize more clearly, approach differently, and no longer feel defined by. My work is grounded in psychodynamic therapy and integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) through a trauma-informed lens. We’ll begin by exploring what brings you to therapy and what you hope to gain from it. Together, we’ll identify the approaches that best support your goals by slowing down, noticing what keeps showing up in your emotions and relationships, and developing practical ways to navigate today’s challenges.

I work with adults, young adults, students, and couples navigating relationships, anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, identity concerns, and other emotional challenges. I have experience working with LGBTQIA+ clients and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, and I welcome the different histories, identities, and perspectives that each person brings into therapy.

I received my B.A. in Psychology from New York University and my M.A. in Counseling from Northwestern University. As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois, I provide therapy in both English and Mandarin Chinese, offering culturally responsive, trauma-informed care that honors each persons identity and lived experience.

Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable. Here, all parts of you are welcome, and we move at a pace that feels right for you. Whatever brings you here, you don’t have to have it all figured out before you begin. I look forward to meeting you where you are and walking alongside you through the process.

很多时候，我们会带着一些难以说清的问题走进咨询室。也许是一种若有若无的不安，也许是关 系中反复出现的模式，或者是渐渐与自己失去连接。正是在这些时刻，心理咨询可以成为一个停 下来、被理解，并慢慢展开探索的地方。

作为提供普通话和英文咨询的双语咨询师，我主要与学生、成年人，以及伴侣工作，支持面对亲 密关系、焦虑、抑郁、创伤、生活转变、身份认同以及其他情绪上的挑战。我也有与 LGBTQIA+ 群体、国际学生和不同文化背景来访者工作的经验，希望创造一个让每个人都能感到被理解、被

尊重的咨询空间。

我本科毕业于纽约大学心理学，硕士毕业于西北大学心理咨询专业。我的工作以心理动力学为核 心，结合存在主义疗法、认知行为疗法、接纳与承诺疗法、内在家庭系统、叙事疗法和焦点解决 短期疗法。我会根据每位来访的需要调整咨询方式，在理解内在经验的同时，也一起寻找适合当

下的改变。

改变很少是一蹴而就的，它往往始于愿意在不确定中继续向前。在这里，我们可以一起去发现新 的意义和可能。期待与你见面。

Group Therapy

In addition to individual therapy, I co-facilitate therapy groups designed to foster connection, insight, and healing within a supportive community setting.

Mixed-Gender DBT Skills Group co-facilitated with Hexin Bi, MA, LPC, C-DBT, which is a 10-week group that offers practical tools for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and navigating stress with greater confidence and balance.

Grief Support Group, co-facilitated with Traci Zuniga, MA, LCPC, is a safe space offering support and processing for anyone experiencing grief and loss.