About Yixin Ke
Yixin Ke Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Illinois, offering both in-person and virtual therapy to IL residents. Practicing under the supervision of Iwona Florianowicz.
Welcome — I'm Yixin
Hi, I’m Yixin. I’m really glad you’re here.
If you’ve found your way to this page, you might be carrying something that feels heavy, confusing, or hard to put into words. Maybe you’ve been feeling stuck in certain patterns, disconnected from yourself, or overwhelmed in ways that others don’t fully see.
You don’t have to hold that alone.
I would be honored to walk alongside you as you begin to make sense of your experiences, reconnect with yourself, and slowly build a sense of steadiness and trust from within.
My journey into becoming a therapist is both personal and shaped by my own lived experiences. Growing up, I navigated attachment wounds, high expectations, bullying, and the challenge of adapting to a new culture. I often found myself trying to understand where I belonged, how to be “enough,” and how to make sense of emotions that didn’t always feel safe to express.
Those early experiences stayed with me. They shaped the way I listen, the way I understand pain, and the way I sit with others now.
Over time, this curiosity led me to therapy—not only as a client, but eventually as a therapist. Becoming a therapist felt less like choosing a profession, and more like continuing a path of understanding, healing, and being present with others in their most vulnerable moments.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Illinois, offering both in-person and virtual therapy. I work with adults and adolescents, and I offer therapy in both English and Mandarin Chinese (普通话).
Contact Me
My Approach
At the heart of my work is the belief that healing happens in relationship.
Many of the struggles we carry—whether it’s self-doubt, anxiety, emotional numbness, or difficulty in relationships—often have roots in how we were seen, understood, or cared for earlier in life. Because of this, I pay close attention not only to your story, but also to how your patterns may gently unfold in our work together.
I aim to create a space that feels steady, non-judgmental, and deeply respectful of your pace. You don’t have to have everything figured out when you come in. You don’t have to explain things perfectly. We can take our time.
My work centers on supporting people who feel impacted by:
Attachment wounds and relational trauma
Cross-cultural identity and the complexity of belonging
Patterns in relationships that feel difficult to shift
Feelings of shame, self-doubt, or not feeling “enough”
Emotional experiences that feel overwhelming, distant, or stuck
I often invite clients to approach their inner experiences with curiosity instead of criticism. Instead of asking “What’s wrong with me?”, we begin to ask, “What makes sense about this?”
Many of these experiences don’t have simple labels. They can feel layered, confusing, and deeply personal.
I approach therapy as a collaborative and relational process. I don’t believe there is a single “right” way to heal. Instead, I take time to understand who you are, what you’ve been through, and what feels safe and possible for you.
In our work together, we may:
Gently explore how your past continues to shape your present
Notice patterns in how you relate to others—and to yourself
Sit with emotions that may feel difficult to access or express
Create space for parts of you that may have been pushed aside
I often invite clients to shift from self-judgment to compassionate curiosity—to begin understanding their reactions not as flaws, but as meaningful responses shaped by their experiences.
Therapeutic Approaches I Use
My work is integrative and guided by what feels most supportive for you.
I draw from:
Psychodynamic therapy
Gestalt therapy
EMDR-informed strategies
Mindfulness and self-compassion practices
Somatic awareness and body-based approaches
Expressive arts (such as visual art, movement, or creative exploration)
Attachment-informed and culturally responsive psychotherapy
Some sessions may focus on understanding patterns and making meaning. Others may focus on slowing down, feeling, and processing what has been held inside.
There is space for both.
My Path Through Education and Clinical Experience
My path into this work has been shaped not only by formal training, but by the people I’ve sat with—their stories, their struggles, and the ways they’ve learned to survive.
From early on in my academic journey, I found myself drawn to understanding not just behavior, but the deeper emotional patterns underneath it—how our early relationships shape the way we see ourselves, how we connect with others, and how we carry pain that often goes unseen.
I began my studies at University College London, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology with Education. During that time, I became especially interested in how identity, environment, and early experiences shape a person’s inner world.
I then continued at UCL to pursue a Master’s degree in Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies. This was where my understanding deepened—learning how early attachment experiences, unconscious processes, and relational dynamics continue to live within us, often outside of our awareness.
But it was through my clinical work that these ideas truly came to life.
During my training at the University of Pennsylvania, I worked in community and school-based settings with individuals and families navigating complex and often overwhelming life circumstances.
I sat with young children who struggled to express their emotions in words, and instead showed their distress through behavior, withdrawal, or dysregulation. I worked with adolescents facing bullying, family instability, and the pressure of growing up in environments shaped by stress and uncertainty. I supported families trying to rebuild connection, and adults who carried long-standing patterns of self-doubt, relational pain, and emotional disconnection.
Many of the people I worked with had experienced trauma—sometimes in ways that were visible, and other times in ways that were quiet, chronic, and harder to name.
These experiences shaped how I understand healing.
I came to see that what may look like “symptoms” on the surface often has deep meaning underneath. That people are not broken—but are responding in ways that made sense in the context of their lives. And that real change doesn’t come from fixing, but from being deeply seen, understood, and met with the right kind of support.
My work has taken place across schools, community mental health settings, early childhood programs, and private practice. Each setting offered a different window into how people adapt, cope, and try to make sense of their world.
I deepened my clinical work through a psychodynamic fellowship, where I received ongoing supervision and training focused on understanding relational patterns, sitting with emotional experiences, and gently exploring the ways our inner world unfolds within the therapy space..
Alongside this, I have pursued additional training in EMDR, humanistic counseling, family therapy, and expressive approaches—modalities that allow me to work not only with thoughts and insight, but also with emotions, the body, and experiences that may not yet have words.
Across all of these experiences, what has stayed with me most is this:
That people carry so much more than what is visible.
That their struggles make sense when we take the time to understand them.
And that healing becomes possible when someone is finally met with care, patience, and genuine understanding.
Outside of the Therapy Room
Outside of my work, I continue to engage in my own inner practice.
I am a dedicated practitioner of Buddhism and Daoism, which have been an important part of how I understand both life and healing. I spend time meditating, chanting, and reflecting inwardly—practices that help me stay present and grounded.
Cooking is one of my creative outlets. I enjoy experimenting without recipes, allowing things to unfold naturally. It’s a small but meaningful way I practice acceptance and balance.
I’m also deeply curious about people and the world. I spend time reading about sociology, philosophy, and economics, and reflecting on how larger systems shape our inner lives. I value conversations that are thoughtful, reflective, and real.
Credentials & Training:
Credentials & Training
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Illinois
M.Phil.Ed. in Professional Counseling, University of Pennsylvania
M.S.Ed. in Counseling and Mental Health Services, University of Pennsylvania
MSc in Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies, University College London
BSc in Psychology with Education (First-Class Honours), University College London
Additional Training:
EMDR Basic Training (EMDRIA-approved)
Eco-systemic Family Therapy
Certificate in Integrative Humanistic Counseling
Training in play therapy, expressive arts, and trauma-informed care
Want to Work Together?
Starting therapy can feel like a big step.
You might not know exactly where to begin. You might feel uncertain, hesitant, or even a little overwhelmed.
That’s okay.
If you’re navigating trauma, identity, relationships, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself, I’m here to support you.
We can move at your pace.
We can make space for all parts of your experience.
And together, we can begin to build something that feels more grounded, connected, and whole.
You don’t have to do this alone.