“Mourning is the price we pay for having the courage to love."
Hanyuan “Hans” Zhang
MHC-LP, He, They
Psychotherapist
Specialties
Grief/Loss, Life transitions
Terminal illness, Personal growth and self-esteem
Anxiety/Depression, LGBTQ+
General relationship challenges, General mental health issues
Insurances Accepted
Aetna
Cigna
BCBS
Therapeutic approaches
Existential-humanistic therapy
Meaning-centered therapy
Narrative therapy
Out of Network Cost
$200
Sliding Scales Applicable for Eligible Patients
Service Types
Individual therapy
Languages
English
Chinese (Mandarin)
Ages Served
Young Adults(18-24)
Adults(25-64)
Elderly(64+)
Licensed In
New York
Loss is a frequent visitor. You might live your life just fine, but always suffering somewhere inside, feeling lonely and isolated, detached and numb a lot of the time. When traumatic distress overshadows all other aspects of life, you may get along with fixation or stuckness. The memories keep hunting, showing up every time and everywhere. How can we find relief from the overwhelming regrets, unstoppable ruminations, and unremitting yearning or loneliness?
Mourning is the price we pay for having the courage to love. I believe this is a period of both crisis and opportunity. You are no longer who you were, but being pushed to a position where you need to reconsider your new identities, and step on a tough, yet ultimately rewarding journey.
I’m Hans. I would love to sit down with you to talk about how this experience is forever changing, and how it is shattering what you have believed for the past decade or more. I show up fully, vulnerable, and responsibly, and always lead from one step behind. I support individuals, young adults, and others to find grounding amidst all the uncertainty, tears, and horror. Together, we will revisit the consoling memories and unfinished business, to unpack the complicated remorse and shifting identities. We will reconstruct a lasting bond to your current lives that can survive the absence of the past one. Walking from there, now I am here to help you navigate the anticipation of a loved one’s departure. I provide an open space for those holding even the most "taboo" griefs that can be controversial. As we explore the depths of your experience, I wish we could all harvest the wisdom that lies within the realms of self, love, freedom, and responsibility.
As a therapist, I got my Master's degree in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness at New York University, and a B.A. psychology degree from UCLA. I specialize in grief, loss, demandingness, death anxiety, living stress, depression, and interpersonal and intimate relationships. Drawing my counseling philosophy from Existentialism and post-modern deconstructionism, I utilize an existential-humanistic approach with IFS and CBT skills to explore the depths of a full and authentic life. However, I teach nothing but merely guide you to uncover the wisdom and knowledge that already reside within you. By creating a brave and affirmative space in here and now, I aim to be the water that carries your thoughts, to tell your own story, and to navigate your own path.
If this speaks to you, I extend an open invitation to embark on a heroic journey toward your liberation within. If you are curious about how sparkling it would be, I am here to talk alongside you.
About Hans
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
My journey into mental health counseling was ignited by my father’s battle with colon cancer, a pivotal experience that steered me towards specializing in grief counseling, particularly for those facing terminal illnesses. Since my father’s death, I have been passionate about helping individuals lead fulfilling lives while bravely facing their constraints. I believe in integrating an existential approach, focusing on the utmost freedom one has when embracing their fate. This philosophy allows me to bring compassion and resonance to those bearing similar burdens, helping them gain insights into death, meaning, love, and freedom. Thereafter, I am in the process of becoming an advanced grief counseling specialist.
What should someone know about working with you?
What you want to say is more important than what I need to know
My intake session would briefly go through the policies, introduce myself, and collect essential demographic information, which would take about 10 minutes. I will give the next 30 minutes to you to talk about your main concern, but I will ask guiding questions to shift our direction in order to know you better and collect further information. We will leave the last 5 minutes to review and consider future arrangements - If there’s no emergency, every 8th session (8th, 16th, 24th…) will be a review session to talk about our progress and adjust future direction. We will also talk about our relationship, what is fostering/hindering your expression, how you think of me, and how do you think I think of you.
At the end of every session, I will take the last 8 minutes to review the session and talk about what happened here between you and me.
Who is your ideal client?
As an existential psychotherapist, my work resonates with individuals who are eager to explore the deeper meaning of life and the essence of their existence. If you are grappling with inner confusion and loneliness, questioning your choices and values, or struggling with anxiety and thoughts of mortality—yet at the same time yearning for a more authentic and meaningful life—then we might be a good fit to embark on this journey together. These questions may seem distant at first glance, but I believe that the answers we uncover will serve as nourishment and a source of spiritual strength.
Are there any aspects of your personal self, therapeutic approach, or viewpoints that might be slightly controversial or challenge norms?
I would not believe those who claim they know exactly how a client is cured through psychotherapy. Most of the time, we work in a black box, holding a single torch, carefully walking in a dark night, searching forward with our arms, hoping to touch and grab something solid.
The entire psychotherapy industry is based on inductive reasoning, meaning the knowledge we have is a summary of experiences, and we attach reasoning to the phenomena later to help us comprehend. Therefore, we can never guarantee the effect of treatment, nor can we be certain about which therapeutic factor will be effective for a client. All we know are probabilities. We share the confusion as much as you do, but we know how to bear it, to get along with it, and we believe the light is ahead somewhere if we keep walking.
Without the help of professionals, clients will recover and grow by themselves over time. There are times when you are paying us to do the job yourself, and that is the most important part of your growth. The ultimate purpose of treatment is to help clients become independent of us.
Further Reading: About Hans
-
My core counseling philosophy can be summarized into three parts: First, life and the universe inherently have no meaning; meaning, value, and motivation are for us to define, discover, and create. Second, the goal of life is not to remain happy all the time but to experience it authentically and sincerely—both the valleys and the peaks are worth exploring. Third, the self is not a hidden treasure buried somewhere, waiting to be unearthed or preserved; rather, it is like an ever-changing river channel, constantly carving new paths through its flow. The self originates from society and ultimately returns to it.
-
From my research experience in Cognitive Neuroscience lab at UCLA and Math Learning Center at Beijing Normal University, the intensive and rigorous experimental projects have forged my skills in task mamagement, working under pressure, and being accountable. It also shaped my affiliation with research-based approaches like CBT and meaning-centered therapy.
-
After graduating, I have continued to pursue advanced courses in grief counseling and have been reading extensively about existential psychotherapy. I am particularly intrigued by the here-and-now interaction model in Gestalt therapy. Additionally, I have been exploring narrative therapy, which I deeply appreciate for its philosophical perspective on the power dynamics of knowledge. It inspires and empowers us to uncover our "forgotten knowledge" and "hidden values." Of course, what has helped me the most is watching recorded sessions of experienced therapists.
At the same time, I have been learning Iaido, maintaining vivariums, playing badminton, cooking, and playing the Elden Ring. A rich and diverse life has benefited me just as much as professional education. I believe that a good therapist should have a broad range of knowledge and an active, fulfilling life—just as I hope for you.
Contact your therapist directly to schedule a free 15-minute initial consultation.
We firmly believe that the "chemistry" between a client and a therapist is something truly special! If you are interested in working with a specific therapist, please feel free to schedule a 15-minute initial consultation directly through the timetable below. The therapist will contact you at the scheduled time.
Please note: Our therapists specialize in their respective fields and may not be able to address questions regarding your insurance eligibility. This is why we ask you to accurately provide your name, date of birth, and insurance information in the form below. Our billing team will contact your insurance company upon receiving your information to verify whether we can accept your insurance.
If you have any questions about your insurance, please contact hello@with-me.org.