Xiaoyuan (Claire) Zhang, APCC

Claire is a dedicated and compassionate professional clinical counselor. She holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Columbia University in New York and received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California, Berkeley. In her therapeutic practice, Claire utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic, and Motivational Interviewing to tailor to each individual’s unique needs. She believes in the transformative power of therapy to foster healing, growth, and resilience, with a strong therapeutic alliance as fundamental to the success of the therapy process. Claire’s core belief is that every individual possesses the innate strength and potential to overcome challenges and reach their potential, and her role as a therapist is to facilitate this journey of discovery and empowerment.

Before joining Embark, Claire gained her clinical experience in Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS), a day treatment program in New York City where she provided individual and group therapy for adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders. Besides doing therapy, Claire is youth mental health advocate. During 2020 and 2021, she served as a board member in the California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN), a program of Mental Health America of California, where she was dedicated to creating positive change in the mental health policy and services for youth at the state and county levels. In her free time, Claire enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, and traveling.