Qi Zhai-McCartney

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If you’re feeling stuck, unsure, or disconnected from the most important people in your life—whether it’s your partner, colleagues, boss, or family—you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Qi Zhai-McCartney has over 10 years of experience. She helps professionals, leaders, individuals, and couples improve their communication, break unhelpful patterns, and strengthen their relationships.

Whether you’re looking to lead with confidence, rebuild a struggling relationship, or navigate life’s transitions with clarity, Qi Zhai-McCartney offers therapy and coaching to support you in achieving your goals.

Please contact me at: info@seeingqi.com

Profession

Psychotherapist & Coach

Specialities

ANXIETY AND PANIC DISORDERS
DEPRESSION
GENERAL RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES (FAMILY, FRIENDS,
CO-WORKERS)
LGBTQIA+
TRAUMA AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
PERSONAL GROWTH AND SELF-ESTEEM
ADHD/ADD
LIFE TRANSITIONS
MARRIAGE AND PARTNERSHIPS
PARENTING
GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH
WOMEN’S MENTAL HEALTH (PREGNANCY, INFERTILITY AND POST-PARTUM)
GRIEF AND LOSS
RACE AND ETHNICITY
SEX AND INTIMACY

Finances

Training

Master’s of Guidance and Counselling
Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts

What kinds of treatment or therapy do you provide?

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
Exposure Therapy
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Couple Therapy

What language can you conduct the session in?

English, Chinese, and French

What is the greatest reward in being a counsellor for the queer community?

I find fulfillment in helping queer clients - who have experienced multiple layers of being the "Other" - find the right support that makes them feel seen and empowered

What is the greatest challenge in being a counsellor for the queer community?

I could benefit from more specialized training in this area

What was your path to becoming a therapist?

I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Stanford University, which led to my first career in finance—a journey that took me across the world, from California to New York, Singapore to Beijing, and Boston and back. While working full-time in finance and building my own family, I pursued a second Master’s degree to make a midlife career transition into psychotherapy and coaching. Before becoming a therapist and coach, I also helped people step back from the overemphasis on intellect and cognition in our post-industrial information and technology economy—as a yoga and meditation instructor. Beyond my work, I am a mother of four in an international blended family, navigating the joys and challenges of cross-cultural relationships firsthand.

What are you most excited about within the evolving mental health landscape?

I'd like to provide mental health support in a more accessible way. Many clients find 1x1 therapy or coaching a big hurdle, a somewhat taboo modality to approach in a conservative society. Through my frequent public speaking and participation in events, I am able to connect with the general population and make mental health a more social / community experience.

What do you do to continue learning and building competencies as a provider?

I participate in continuing education and trainings every year

What advice would you give to someone who is hesitant to try therapy?

We all struggle, we all need help, you don't have to do it alone, there is help.

What kind of training have you had in working with the LGBTQ population?

I have no formal training in this field but I have worked with many queer couples and individuals

What should someone know about working with you?

I am a warm and compassionate therapist who also provides practical suggestions that my clients - both male and female - can easily apply to their everyday lives, at work or at home.

How do your own core values shape your approach to therapy?

I have personally experienced being the "Other" and feeling unseen, misunderstood. This deeply informs my approach to clients of all kinds

Are you a queer affirmative practitioner?

Yes

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