Dr. Yishan Xu, Ph. D.

Hello, I am Dr. Yishan Xu, a clinical psychologist licensed in California, New York, and Virginia, a Board-Certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist (DBSM) and an AASECT Board-Certified Sex Therapist (CST). Currently, I serve as the chair of the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (SBSM) OPEC committee, a committee member of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), and the adjunct clinical faculty at the School of Medicine of Stanford University. I always see the role of a psychologist as a gardener. When people come to us seeking support, they may have too many branches of mental blocks and bushes of stress in their lives. What we can do is to help people be more aware of the branches and bushes that impact their quality of life, and then assist them to trim these parts, cope with stress, and live healthier and happier lives. I have been trained in various evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family System (IFS), Mindfulness Compassionate Approaches, etc. I combine evidence-based methods with a holistic approach, guided by lifestyle medicine principles, to support my clients in their healing journey. I believe that therapy requires teamwork and I love to work with my clients collaboratively and tailor treatment to meet their needs. I always try my best to provide a warm and safe environment for my clients so they have a private space to share their thoughts and feelings freely. I often invite my clients to explore their own strengths with me together and practice effective coping skills. The most important aspect of my approach is: It works! I think that is the beauty of applying evidence-based therapy into practice. I believe that everyone is unique, and we all have our own potential and needs. I want to use my knowledge and skills to help my clients understand themselves further, explore their potential, build their coping skill toolboxes, and manage their lives better.