Dr. Kaili Chen

PsyD Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University, Hong Kong/USA

MA Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University, Hong Kong/USA

BA Psychology from the University of San Francisco, USA

Member of the American Psychological Association

Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society

Registered Clinical Psychologist of the New Zealand Psychologists Board

Registered Member of the Hong Kong Association of Doctors in Clinical Psychology

Areas of expertise: Adult Individual Therapy

• Adolescents 14+
• Interpersonal issues
• Identity exploration
• Trauma
• Grief
• Depression
• Anxiety

Dr. Chen has worked in the field of psychology since 2010 in several non-profit organizations and community mental health centers. Before settling in Hong Kong, she has lived in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, China, and the United States, and understands firsthand the stresses expats face living abroad and the intricacies of multicultural lifestyles. 

Before establishing herself as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Chen worked for a major global supply chain management corporation and was subjected to the immense work stress well known for in Hong Kong. This experience greatly highlighted the need for sustainable work-life balance, as it was apparent that the pace of modern-day life subjected humans to an immense amount of stress that can include moving, work, family dynamics, friendships, financial considerations, medical illnesses, worldwide political issues, and even vacations. Reflecting on her own experience, she realized that not only were adults predisposed to high levels of stress but that adolescents in school were similarly struggling with stress as well. Although some can process stressful events easily, others can find it challenging as it may be overwhelming. As a result, self-care is essential to both physical and mental wellbeing.

Dr. Chen strives to provide a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere in the therapy room with all her clients. By utilizing a tailored psychodynamic and schema therapy approach for each client, the emphasis is placed on attaining awareness and insight of past experiences to create more adaptive coping strategies moving forward.

When working with adolescents, Dr. Chen is intentionally mindful of the fact that they are still in the tumultuous mental space of forging their own identities. She, therefore, focuses on building a strong rapport with adolescents as part of the process, with the understanding that trust is essential in creating a safe space for them to speak their truth and uncover the deeper reasons for their behavior. 

Dr. Chen is also trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), a treatment primarily used for individuals who have experienced trauma, which is an emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that can include but is not limited to war, assault, natural disasters, abandonment, neglect, or illness. The treatment works with the brain to begin processing information that may be too traumatic for the brain to process on its own. Once the memory is cleared, the healed brain can associate itself to similar situations without feeling triggered in the same way. As mentioned earlier, everyone processes stressful events differently, yet others may find it challenging to process overwhelming events that can be difficult to articulate. In these cases, EMDR can be a beneficial treatment to be able to reduce these triggers.

Dr. Chen is passionate about her work with her clients and cares deeply about helping them achieve their goals in therapy. It has always been her belief that progress is not necessarily linear, and that success looks different for everybody. An avid traveler, functional fitness athlete, and dog owner, she has recently incorporated these interests into her work and developed a fascination for aviation psychology, sports psychology, and animal-assisted therapy.