Charlene Zhen (she/her)

I am a psychodynamic therapist in New York City working with adults and couples who appear capable and successful on the outside but feel anxious, burnt out, or disconnected inside. Many of the people I work with are navigating family and cultural expectations shaped by immigrant and bicultural contexts. After years of moving from one achievement to the next, you may realize you aren’t sure what you actually want or who you are when no one is watching.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent nearly a decade working in tech and corporate startups. That experience gives me firsthand insight into the internal pressure, perfectionism, and performance demands that accompany fast-paced careers and high expectations.

In therapy, we explore how family dynamics, cultural context, and early experiences continue to shape your present thoughts, emotions, and relationships. My approach is psychodynamic, culturally informed, and reflective. This work focuses on understanding recurring emotional and relational patterns rather than quick fixes, so you can develop deeper self-understanding, clarity, and a stronger sense of direction.

I also work with couples, including those navigating intercultural and intergenerational dynamics, to understand how patterns formed early in life influence present relational cycles. Together we explore what keeps you stuck and what becomes possible when you reconnect more fully with yourself and each other.

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.