Why Grief Counseling?

My journey into mental health counseling was ignited by my father’s battle with colon cancer, a
pivotal experience that steered me towards specializing in grief counseling, particularly for
people facing terminal illnesses. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to helping others lead fulfilling
lives while bravely facing their constraints. My work is grounded in an existential lens, where I believe even in the face of suffering, we can find freedom by understanding how we make
sense of our stories, how we connect, and how we choose to carry forward.

Therapy for Grief, Loss, and Life Transitions

Loss can be a frequent visitor, even when life on the outside seems to be moving forward. You
may be showing up for work, family, and friends, but quietly carrying an ache—feeling numb,
disconnected, or like a part of you is missing. When grief or trauma lingers too long in the
background, it can start to shape everything: your thoughts, your relationships, the way you
move through the world. The memories may feel inescapable, the longing unrelenting, the
questions endless.

How can we find relief from the overwhelming regrets, unstoppable ruminations, and unremitting
yearning or loneliness?

I believe this is a period of both crisis and opportunity. Mourning is not a sign of weakness, but
the price we pay for having the courage to love. When you’re asked to reimagine who you are
now, and who you’re becoming, you are aimed to step on a tough, yet ultimately rewarding
journey.

Hi, I’m Hans

I’m Hans. I would love to sit down with you to talk about how this experience is forever
changing, and how it is shattering what you have believed for the past decade or more. I believe
therapy is a space to be seen—fully, honestly, and without pretense. I show up fully, vulnerable,
and responsibly, I’m here to stay with you in that unraveling, to walk beside you as you make
sense of what’s changing, and to support you in grounding yourself amidst the grief, the fear,
and the not-knowing.

I work with individuals—including young adults—who are navigating loss, death anxiety, living
stress, depression, and relationship struggles. I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling for Mental
Health and Wellness from New York University, and a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA. My
approach is grounded in existential-humanistic therapy and shaped by the lens of postmodern
deconstructionism. I draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy (ACT) to support clients in exploring what it means to live a life that is authentic,
connected, and free.

However, I teach nothing but merely guide you to uncover the wisdom and knowledge that
already reside within you. By creating a brave and affirmative space in here and now, I aim to
be the water that carries your thoughts, to tell your own story, and to navigate your own path.

Therapy with Me: What to Expect

Experiencing loss can be one of the most challenging aspects of life. Whether it’s the death of a
loved one, the end of a relationship, or a valuable memory, grief can leave us feeling adrift. In
our sessions, we’ll honor your loss, explore its impact on your life, and work towards finding
meaning and healing in the aftermath.
We will walk in slow pace to:

• Renarrate the story of loss for self
• Embrace the painful emotions
• Recognize and acknowledge ambivalent feelings
• Preserve charitable memories, allowing them to be bittersweet
• Redefine the relationship with the lost ones
• Accept grief and let it find a place in life
• Make meanings from the loss
• Integrate memories and let them help you learn and grow

Together, we will revisit the consoling memories and unfinished business, to unpack the
complicated remorse and shifting identities. We will reconstruct a lasting bond to your current
lives that can survive the absence of the past one. Walking from there, now I am here to help
you navigate the anticipation of a loved one’s departure. I provide an open space for those
holding even the most “taboo” griefs that can be controversial. As we explore the depths of your
experience, I wish we could all harvest the wisdom that lies within the realms of self, love,
freedom, and responsibility.

Therapy for Burnout and Perfectionism

Sometimes we create unrealistic standards for ourselves to the point where it leads to constant self-criticism and the fear of failure. When you’re always striving for perfection, it can become exhausting, and your own needs start to become overlooked.

As your therapist, I want to help you recognize and address these patterns, and together, we will figure out ways to manage your stress and to break the cycle of pushing the limits of your well-being for unattainable goals. We will find a balance, where you will still be able to achieve a sense of genuine fulfillment, while also practicing self-care and protecting your sense of well-being.

Who are you?

As an existential psychotherapist, my work resonates with individuals who are eager to explore
the deeper meaning of life and the essence of their existence. If you are grappling with inner
confusion and loneliness, questioning your choices and values, or struggling with anxiety and
thoughts of mortality—yet at the same time yearning for a more authentic and meaningful
life—then we might be a good fit to embark on this journey together. These questions may seem
distant at first glance, but I believe that the answers we uncover will serve as nourishment and a
source of spiritual strength.

Breadcrumbs

Outside the therapy room, I’m also learning, such as practicing Iaido, rock climbing, building
vivariums, playing badminton, cooking strange foods, or playing video game. These parts of my
life keep me grounded and connected to joy, curiosity, and play. I’ve come to believe that living
a rich, engaged life is just as important as seeking support when we need it. A good therapist,
like anyone else, is also a person, someone who keeps learning, exploring, and finding
meaning, just as I hope for you.

为什么是哀伤咨询？

我的咨询哲学源于我父亲罹患癌症的经历，它使我更多地专注于哀伤咨询和面临绝症的人群。我希望通过存在主义视角，我能够为承担类似重担的人们带来些许安慰和勇气，帮助人们获得在绝境和限制下依旧能勇敢面对生活的力量与态度，带着命运的镣铐起舞。帮助他们为生命、爱和自由赋予自己的意义。

丧失，哀伤，与人生转折

故人不见今时月，今月曾经照故人。人生的旅程中，失去是常客。它常以哀伤作伴，将我们推向一个个意料之外的转折点。或许你的生活表面看起来平静无波，但是内心的某个角落或许已积满灰尘，门窗紧闭。那扇门后，也许藏着难以触碰的疼痛、未能释怀的遗憾，或者无法释然的关系。当这些情绪如潮水般涌来时，生活中其他一切都仿佛被遮蔽。你或许会问自己，我该如何从中找到喘息的空间？又该如何重新找回力量，继续前行？

曾付出的爱给了我们悲伤的机会，愤怒的理由，和怀念的勇气。如果你看到这些文字，或许现在的你正在面对某种无法忽视的挑战或危机。我相信，危机也是“危急的机会”，而你或许已踏足其中。

你好，我是张翰元

我是翰元，我愿与你一起探索那些撕裂你、改变你，却也深深塑造你的经历。我的工作是为您提供一个安全的空间，让你可以放心地将真实、脆弱、复杂的自己交给我，我们可以一起回顾过去的温暖岁月、未竟的遗憾，以及未实现的梦想，将一团乱麻的情感剥丝抽茧，一点点地看清其中的自己。我们也可以重新审视当下的生活，建构起与身边人的新的纽带，重新理解那些离开你、陪伴你或让你困惑的人和关系。

作为一名心理咨询师，我毕业于纽约大学精神健康与心理咨询专业，专注于哀伤与丧失、生死意义、亲密关系、生活压力以及情绪困扰等议题。我通过存在主义视角和以人为本的真切关怀与来访者相处。我也会采取意义中心疗法（Meaning-centered Therapy），接纳承诺疗法（Acceptance and Commitment Therapy）帮助你找到自己的感受，声音和力量，收获自我，自由，责任与爱的智慧。

我不教授答案，只会引领你发现那些深藏心底的专属智慧，因为你本身就是目的。在这里，你可以自由地表达自己，无需担忧评判或误解。这是一个完全属于你的空间，你可以畅所欲言，也可沉默不语；可以发泄情绪，亦可静静倾诉。唯一重要的，是你与我一同面对当下，并找到新的可能。

同时我也在学习居合道，打理生态缸，羽球，料理，法环，丰富的生活带给我的助益丝毫不亚于专业学习，千门百类触类旁通，我相信一个好咨询师应该广泛地涉猎各种知识，积极的生活，就像我对你的希望一样。

我的理想来访者是谁？

作为一名存在主义心理治疗师，我的工作适合那些渴望更深入地探索自己生命意义和存在本质的人。如果你正面对内心的迷茫与孤独，开始质疑自己的选择与价值，或者被焦虑和死亡的思考所困扰，同时又渴望探索更真实、更有意义的生活，那么我们或许很适合一起踏上旅程。这些问题或许乍看之下有些遥远，但我相信对他们的回答都将成为我们的养料和精神力量。

如果你准备好了迈出改变的第一步，欢迎通过电话或邮件与我联系。我为个人、伴侣及家庭来访者提供中英双语心理咨询服务，并将在24小时内回复您的信息。

Registered New York License Number: P131931

Supervised by Joanna Chang, LCSW 092142