Happier Life Starts Now

English & Mandarin Counseling Services in San Francisco Bay Area

加州舊金山灣區灣區中文心理諮商— How may I help?

Individual Therapy Family Therapy Couple Therapy

“The good life is a process..
..It is a direction not a destination. ”
—Carl Rogers

Credentials & Trainings

Advanced Integrative Five Phase Model level 1& 2 with Renée Emunah
Presenter in NADTA 2019 conference
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#101610)
Registered Drama Therapist (#690)
MA in Counseling Psychology, concentration in Drama Therapy, from California Institute of Integral Studies
Completion of Gottman Couple Therapy level 1&2
Certified Prepare and Enrich facilitator (#1269287)
Trained in Expressive Arts Therapy and Strategic Family Therapy

The Therapist

中英文心理諮商師

Michelle Chia-Ning Chang 張家寧, MA, RDT, LMFT (#101610) (She/They)
Registered drama therapist, Licensed marriage and family therapist

I’ve been supporting people in achieving more satisfying relationships with others and oneself since 2012. You will have healthier boundaries with others and your own inner critic, more self-compassion, and better self-esteem. I work well with adults who grew up with controlling, critical, manipulative, or dismissive caregivers, couples who struggle with infidelity/communication/trust issues, and families with cross-cultural conflicts. As a working parent with 2 kids, I especially like to support new parents and help them find the balance in chaos.

I actively listen, ask questions, reflect, share my observations, suggest activities, and challenge you if it is appropriate and needed. As a queer Asian therapist, I strive to create a culturally sensitive, social justice informed, passionate, LGBTQ affirming, and non-judgemental healing space for you.

Fun Facts
I grew up in Taiwan, moved to California in 2011. I am a parent with 2 children, 2 dogs (they came with me from Taiwan), and probably too many plants. Making pour-over coffee is one of my self-soothing strategies. I travel several times a year to recharge and get inspired by the world.

Free Phone Consultation

Just send me a message through the contact form

Services

諮商服務項目

I’m honored to provide services
to the LGBTQIA community.

Individual therapy 個人諮商

Depression
Relationships
Boundaries
Breakup & Divorce
Self-esteem
Life transition
Identity issues
Self-growth
Parent-child Relationship
Parenting Issues
Relational Trauma/Developmental Trauma
Work Life Balance

$250/50 Minutes

Couple therapy 伴侶諮商

Inefficient Communication Patterns
Infidelity/trust issues
Life Transitions/ Life Stages
Cross Cultural Issues
Parenthood Related Anxiety and Stress
Parenting Issues

$450/90 Minutes

Family therapy 家庭諮商

Cross Cultural Issues
Inefficient Communication Patterns
Life Transitions
Trauma
Grief and Loss
Parent-child Relationships

$450/90 Minutes

CONSULTATION 同業顧問/督導

I LOVE supporting other therapists’ growth. I provide clinical case consultation and supervision to associates and licensed clinicians around topics of expertise. We will identify your strengths and needs, conceptualize cases, and explore interventions and options. *I do not offer private practice internships at this moment. *

Drama Therapy in Individual therapy and couple therapy
Couple therapy and Family therapy by using Gottman couple therapy, attachment theory, and Strategic Family Therapy
Creative arts in therapy (sand tray, drawing, drama, music, writing…etc)
Therapeutic relationship
Therapist persona development
Therapist in private practice

$150/50 Minutes

Free Phone Consultation

Just send me a message through the contact form

Recommendations

Michelle is a skillful, creative and compassionate therapist who provides a safe and courageous space in which to process all kinds of issues and explore new territories. Her drama therapy orientation ensures that her sessions are dynamic and often enlivening and fun. She is also my first choice to refer for couples and parenting issues, since she is passionate about couples therapy and parenting, and she really walks her own talk. Don’t be fooled by how youthful she looks: she is an adept therapist able to skillfully navigate complex issues and create positive change.

Laia Pedreno Mateu, MA, MFT

Michelle Chang is a highly skilled, compassionate clinician. Great with couples, families, and individuals, she uses drama and expressive arts therapies and other cutting-edge approaches that get at the heart of the problem effectively yet gently. Michelle’s a wonderful person to work with around issues of communication, assertiveness, boundaries, and healthy intimacy. I highly recommend her!

Jessica Engle, MFT, RDT, The founder of Engle Center

Having worked closely with Michelle, I’ve known her to be an astute, engaging, and culturally-responsive clinician. She has a deep understanding of relational dynamics which she applies toward respectful, reparative counsel with individuals, couples, and families. She is committed to the well-being of her clients, providing therapeutic techniques that foster interpersonal connection and healing. I continue to refer clients to her, confident in her abilities and experience.

Doug Ronning, LMFT #51086, RDT-BCT

FAQs

常見問題

Is everything kept confidential?

Yes! there are only a few exceptions, including court orders, current child/elder abuse, or If I believe one is in imminent danger to others or self.

What is your rate?

Please take advantage of a free 15 minutes phone consultation, send me a message to get started!

Individual $250/50 Minutes
Couple & Family $450/90 Minutes
Prepare/Enrich program for premarital/marital assessment $400/90 Minutes
Consultation for clinicians $150/50 minutes
I do have few sliding scale spots for students, low income immigrants, and LGBTQIA folks, please contact me for more information

Do you take insurance?

I don’t accept any insurance, but I can provide a receipt which you may submit to your insurance company and get reimbursed. (Please contact your insurance company prior the session.)

What is Good Faith Estimate?

“Right to receive a Good Faith Estimate” under the No Suprise Act.

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit

www.cms.gov/nosurprises

Contact

預約諮詢/詢問相關問題

All Sessions are currently being held online.

By filling out the form, you’ll be eligible for a free 15 minutes phone consultation.

Fill out my online form.