Therapy for international students

Studying far from home can be exciting and lonely at the same time. You don't have to hold both on your own.

Moving to New York to study means adjusting to a new language, a new culture, and new expectations, often while carrying hopes and pressures from home. It's common to feel between two worlds, and fully at ease in neither.

International students often keep their struggles quiet. You may not want to worry your family, may feel you should simply be grateful for the opportunity, or may not know how therapy works here. Some people come from places where seeing a therapist isn't common at all.

Therapy can be a confidential place to slow down, make sense of what you're feeling, and find your footing, in English or in Mandarin.

You might recognize:

Homesickness and loneliness, even when you're busy
Pressure to succeed and make your family proud
Culture shock, or feeling out of place in class
Worry about grades, visas, or life after graduation
Trouble making close friends or finding community
Feeling like a different person in each language
Distance from family, and the time-zone gap

What international students often carry.

Academic expectations, and the cost of falling behind
Uncertainty about work authorization and future plans
Family expectations that are hard to explain here
Stereotypes, racism, or being seen only as foreign
Navigating health care and insurance in a new system

Struggling with the move doesn't mean you made the wrong choice. It means you're doing something hard.

How therapy helps.

Therapy across cultures

Our therapists understand what it's like to move between cultures and languages. Junli Xiao, MHC-I, offers sessions in Mandarin and English, with a particular interest in cultural transitions, cross-cultural identity, and family expectations. We'll work at your pace, in a way that respects your values.

Using your student health plan

Many international students in New York are covered by student plans through Aetna Student Health or UnitedHealthcare StudentResources. We'll help you check your coverage before your first session. See student insurance details.

Start Your Therapy Journey

Sliding scale spots are currently open with Laila Siddiqui, MHC-I for clients located in New York — you choose what you can pay, from $30 to $80 per session. See fees & insurance.

Who you'll work with.

Tina Liu, LMHC-D

Founder & psychotherapist. EMDR-trained, culturally attuned, licensed in New York & Florida.

About Tina →

Laila Siddiqui, MHC-I

Mental Health Counselor. Works with teens and young adults in New York, under the clinical supervision of Tina Liu, LMHC-D. Sliding scale spots available.

About Laila →

Junli Xiao, MHC-I

Mental Health Counselor. Works with adolescents and young adults in New York, in English and Mandarin, under the clinical supervision of Tina Liu, LMHC-D.

About Junli →

Our clinical team is growing — new therapists joining soon.

Not sure where to start? Send us a note and we'll figure it out together.

Therapy for international students — common questions

Will my school or family find out I'm in therapy?

What you share in therapy is confidential. We don't share information with your school, your family, or your international student office without your written permission, except in rare situations where the law requires it, such as an immediate safety concern.

Can I continue therapy when I go home for breaks?

Sessions are online, but you need to be physically located in New York (or Florida, with Tina Liu, LMHC-D) at the time of each session. If you're traveling outside these states, we'll plan around your schedule and pick back up when you return.

Can I have therapy in Mandarin?

Yes. Junli Xiao, MHC-I, offers sessions in Mandarin and English for students located in New York.

Does my student insurance cover therapy?

Many student plans do, including Aetna Student Health and UnitedHealthcare StudentResources plans used by New York colleges. Send us a note and we'll help you check your benefits before your first session.