Sixuan Bao , LCSW

Sixuan Bao is a licensed clinical social worker who blends practical methods with empathetic listening. She draws on nine years of experience to help people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship concerns, and career questions. Sessions are offered in English and Mandarin and are based in New York.

She focuses on clear, actionable steps. That can mean learning new coping skills, changing unhelpful thinking patterns, or practicing ways to communicate needs. She also supports people dealing with grief, burnout, addiction concerns, sexual and intimacy-related issues, and body image struggles.

Sixuan usually begins by learning what matters most to each person. Then she and the client set small, realistic goals. Progress is tracked in simple ways so adjustments can be made when needed.

Her approach includes client-centered work that centers the person's own perspective, cognitive behavioral techniques to shift patterns of thought and behavior, and elements from dialectical behavior therapy to build emotion regulation and distress tolerance. She may also draw on existential or Jungian ideas when they help a person find meaning or personal insight.

People seeking support for parenting stress, workplace challenges, or major life transitions will find focused, down-to-earth sessions. Sixuan aims to make therapy practical and approachable while honoring each person's strengths and story.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to the person. In an online session this means the therapist follows the client's lead and helps them name goals and strengths. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches concrete skills to change thinking and behavior. Online CBT often uses short worksheets, goal-setting, and practice between sessions to reduce anxiety, depression, and unhelpful habits. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships. Skills from DBT can be taught in sessions and practiced during daily life to manage strong emotions and reduce impulsive reactions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Sixuan will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, values, and pace. That decision is revisited as needed so the plan stays useful and relevant.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls let people use visual cues and do longer therapy work. Phone sessions can be a good option when a quieter or lower-bandwidth connection is needed. Live chat and text messaging work well for shorter check-ins, skill coaching between sessions, or when writing out thoughts feels easier. These options aim to make it simpler to fit therapy into daily life while using approaches that help with thoughts, emotions, and relationships.