Lizhen Yan, LMFT

Lizhen Yan is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in New Jersey who helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and relationship strain. She also supports clients working through depression and a range of family-related concerns. She welcomes people from all backgrounds and offers counseling from a Christian perspective when that is helpful. With five years of clinical experience, she uses a mix of practical methods to help clients make changes that feel sustainable. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take actions that matter. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy are used to address unhelpful thinking patterns and to strengthen emotional connection where relationships are strained. Her work pays attention to family context and how patterns between people affect individual wellbeing. That includes attention to abandonment and attachment issues, blended family dynamics, adoption and foster care questions, and problems that trace back to family of origin. She also supports people dealing with communication struggles, control issues, codependency, caregiver stress, and forgiveness. Sessions can touch on commitment and fatherhood concerns, fertility stress, and domestic violence impacts, always aiming to balance individual needs with relational patterns. Therapy may shift between individual time and time focused on relationship interactions when that seems useful. Lizhen offers services in English and Mandarin. She practices in New Jersey and carries the credential MA LMFT, FL LMFT.

How her approaches guide online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people get clearer about their values and take actions that match those values even when feelings are difficult. It can be useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions where someone wants more meaningful direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is commonly used for anxiety and depression and for learning practical coping skills. Emotionally-Focused Therapy, or EFT, centers on the emotional bond between people and can help when relationship connection or recurring conflicts are the main concern.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Decisions about which methods to use are made together and can change as progress is made.

Session formats are not specified in the profile, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals often use video or phone to keep contact consistent; check available formats and scheduling details when you sign up.