About Dr. Angela Chen

I’m a cis-gendered woman (she/her) and a second-generation Taiwanese American Millennial.

I’m also a psychologist in private practice based in New York City.

One of the biggest reasons why I became a psychologist is my love of getting to know people and their journeys. I also enjoy teaching them the tools to reclaim their stature as the champions in their own life stories.

What sparked my passion

Having grown up as the daughter of first-generation immigrants and as a member of a tight-knit Asian American community, I have an intimate understanding of what it’s like to feel the relentless pressure to excel.

There was a time when perfectionism and people pleasing ruled my life, but doing so came at a high personal cost. I tried hard to meet exceedingly high standards and tended to beat myself up if I couldn’t meet them. In my mind, that meant that I’d let everyone (and myself) down. I got so caught up in striving for perfection and trying to please everyone else that I lost sight of who I was, what I wanted, and what mattered most to me.

Over time, I noticed that I fell into a cycle of burnout. I constantly felt on edge, overwhelmed, exhausted, and lonely.

It took a while to free myself from this cycle. It wasn’t until my burnout became severe that I was forced me to re-examine the way I approached my life. This wake-up call led me to therapy, during which I realized that I was not alone in my experiences. My journey to recovery allowed me to coexist with difficult thoughts and feelings more mindfully. It also led me to transform the way that I thought about myself, framed my narrative, and approached everyday situations. But, these changes also came with a great deal of fear and self-doubt.

What I’ve learned

My experiences in therapy taught me to figure out what I was good at and what I cared about. It also taught me to be kinder to myself, set and maintain sustainable and values-based goals, assert my needs respectfully, set and maintain boundaries flexibly, and learn effective tools to feel more grounded. With consistent and deliberate practice, I learned to live a life that felt more “me” and to convey myself more authentically with less fear and doubt.

I also came to realize that therapy is for anyone and everyone, not just for those considered “mentally ill.”

Many people use therapy for preventive purposes, as a safe space to learn skills and face fears, explore who they are, or to figure out what’s causing them to feel “off.”  

How I provide support

A combination of graduate training and learning more about myself and other people’s journeys has led me to develop a passion for teaching Millennials like me to live an expansive, values-based life, without letting fear and doubt hold them back.

I’m committed to helping Millennials with social anxiety and self-described people-pleasing and perfectionistic tendencies lean into their values and strengths so they can thrive at work and in their relationships. Nothing makes me happier than to witness a patient shift their relationship with themself and reclaim control of their life, even when doing so is outside of their comfort zone.