Lizhen Yan , LMFT

Lizhen Yan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who provides counseling informed by a Christian perspective while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. She supports individuals, couples, and families coping with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and challenges related to parenting and marital relationships, offering a calm and respectful space for exploration and growth.

With training in marriage and family therapy, she focuses on how individual behavior is connected to relationships and family dynamics. Rather than treating concerns as solely individual problems, her work examines interaction patterns and communication within the family system to identify more effective paths forward. This approach is goal-oriented and often balances time between individual sessions and work with couples or the broader family when that will better address the issues at hand.

The practice underscores that involving relevant family members can produce more durable solutions by addressing the reciprocal effects of behavior across the family unit. The field has also seen calls to blend traditional MFT with additional therapeutic techniques and to expand inclusivity for diverse family forms. Lizhen applies these principles of marriage and family therapy to help clients and their loved ones move toward clearer, more functional relationships.

Approaches to Change and Online Care with Lizhen Yan

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values, accept difficult thoughts and feelings, and commit to actions that move them toward what matters. It is often useful for anxiety, stress, and situations where avoidance patterns limit life choices.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and learning practical skills to shift those patterns. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and problems with coping and mood regulation.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) is centered on improving emotional connection in close relationships by identifying and reshaping interactional cycles. EFT is especially helpful for couples and families working to repair trust and strengthen bonds.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work itself. She collaborates with each person or family to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and adjusts the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and to connect from different locations. These options allow licensed professionals to provide consistent, accessible care while tailoring communication styles to each client’s comfort and needs.