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 that other people set for me and tended to beat myself up if I couldn’t meet them.

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. Severe burnout 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.

What I’ve learned

My experiences in therapy taught me to figure out what I was good at and what I cared about. Learning more about and implementing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as part of therapy and during my graduate and early-career training led me to be kinder to myself. I also learned to set and maintain sustainable and values-based goals, assert my needs respectfully, set and maintain boundaries flexibly, and learn effective coping skills 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.

My personal experience and professional training also made me realize that therapy is for anyone and everyone, not just for those in crisis or considered “mentally ill.”

Many people use therapy proactively, 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 to also be kinder to themselves and live an expansive, values-based life, without letting fear and doubt hold them back with the use of ACT and CBT. My passion has led me to spend more than 10 years evaluating and treating individuals in schools, clinics, and hospitals using a combination of these therapeutic approaches. It’s also led me to become actively involved in research, teaching, and mentorship related to clinical and academic work.

I’m committed to helping Millennials who struggle 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.