Lilian Zhong
You've always been the strong one. Right? As a bilingual Asian therapist (English/Mandarin), I currently work as an inpatient mental health clinician at Kaiser Permanente in California, supporting adults through acute mental health crises. Before this, I spent over four years at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Community Psychiatry Program in Baltimore Maryland, where I walked alongside adults through their darkest and brightest chapters — from life’s most overwhelming moments to recovery and the gradual return of joy. Through that experience, I witnessed how someone could radiate warmth for everyone around them while quietly burning out within.
As a bilingual Asian therapist (English/Mandarin) with over four years of clinical experience at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center's Community Psychiatry Program, I walked alongside adults through their darkest and brightest chapters — from life’s most overwhelming moments to recovery and the gradual return of joy.
I specialize in supporting high-functioning individuals navigating people-pleasing, social anxiety, and interpersonal burnout, whether that shows up as persistent self-doubt, intrusive thoughts that feel impossible to shake, or an overwhelming need to keep others happy at your own expense. You are not alone, and it doesn't have to stay this way. I draw on an integrative approach across CBT, ERP, MI, and EMDR, tailored to who you are, where you have been, and where you want to go, committed to providing a safe and nurturing space for you to explore, heal, and grow. Please note I am only available for therapy appointments on Fridays. Please also note that documentation requests, including FMLA and ESA letters, require a full clinical assessment prior to completion and cannot be guaranteed at intake. In addition, my practice focuses on voluntary, client-initiated therapy. I do NOT provide forensic or court-mandated treatment, including evaluations or treatment ordered as part of legal proceedings. Clients seeking court-ordered services are best served by a provider who specializes in forensic work. Licenses & Credentials California Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) #21478 Maryland Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) #LC14018 Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists Approved Supervisor
First session
Our first session is a space for mutual discovery. I will ask questions to understand your current concerns and the experiences that have shaped them, so we can begin to map out what you hope to achieve through our work together. At the same time, I want you to have the chance to get a sense of who I am, how I work, and whether this feels like the right fit for you. There is no pressure to have everything figured out before we begin. Showing up is enough.
Strengths
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to listen deeply and identify the underlying patterns beneath your behaviors and thoughts. I also have a keen eye for recognizing your strengths, and I enjoy working with you to explore how those strengths can serve your current goals. When you are ready, I will gently encourage you to stretch beyond your comfort zone at a pace that feels right for you, because that is where growth happens, and I am here for that journey with you.
Ideal clients
"Do they like me?" "Am I good enough?" "If I say no, will I disappoint them?" If these questions feel familiar, you are in the right place. I have a particular place in my heart for people-pleasers and those living with social anxiety, because I have been there. I know firsthand how exhausting it is to constantly manage others' perceptions while losing sight of your own needs, and that lived experience deeply informs the empathy and understanding I bring to our work. This is often especially true for individuals who grew up in high-pressure, achievement-oriented environments where external expectations quietly became the measure of your worth, reinforcing the very self-doubt and social anxiety you are now working to unlearn. But here is what I want you to know: your kindness and genuine care for others are not weaknesses to be fixed. They are some of your greatest strengths. Our work together is about cultivating a stable identity that is no longer dependent on others' approval, so you can continue to be YOU while protecting your kindness and empathy. Note: For self-pay clients, I can provide a superbill upon request that you may submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we bring awareness to the beliefs that have shaped your behavior, and begin the work of rewriting the patterns that no longer serve you.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
Through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy, we move beyond insight into action, gradually facing the thoughts and situations you've been avoiding until they lose their power over you.
EMDR
Through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), we gently desensitize the painful experiences that have shaped how you see yourself, while simultaneously strengthening the positive beliefs you deserve to carry forward.
Motivational Interviewing
Through Motivational Interviewing (MI), we explore your own reasons and readiness for change at your own pace, honoring the barriers that have made change feel hard.
Compassion-Focused
Underlying all of the therapeutic interventions is a compassion-focused approach. I believe that feeling truly seen and understood is the foundation of meaningful change, and I bring that same warmth and care to every step of our work together
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 21478
- MarylandLicense LC14018