SL Portrait of Siyi Lai

Siyi Lai, LMFT

Seasoned LMFT for anxiety and intimacy

4 years in practice · based in New York · sessions in English, Mandarin, Cantonese · online sessions

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About Siyi

Siyi Lai is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in New York. She draws on both professional training and life experience to help people manage anxiety, stress, relationship strain, and intimacy concerns. She speaks English, Mandarin, and Cantonese and works with adults on personal and relational struggles.

In sessions she focuses on practical steps people can use right away. Conversations often start with identifying what feels most urgent, then trying strategies to reduce anxiety and improve communication.

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Background and approach

She also helps people facing changes like separation, caregiving stress, or shifts in identity and intimacy. Siyi has four years of clinical experience and brings a down-to-earth style to therapy. She supports people dealing with body image, shame, and issues tied to family of origin.

Topics such as attachment wounds, abandonment fears, and avoidant personality patterns are explored with attention to daily life impacts. She also works with people who identify with kink, BDSM, or alternative sexual cultures to address communication, consent, and boundaries. Conversations about gender dysphoria, forgiveness, and rebuilding trust are handled with directness and respect.

Therapy sessions aim to strengthen coping skills and help clients make clearer choices. Sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Clients follow a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

Approaches for Anxiety, Intimacy, and Life Changes

Many of the techniques used focus on clear, evidence-based ways to reduce anxiety and improve relationships. One common approach teaches skills to notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, helping people feel less overwhelmed and more able to act on their values. Another approach looks at how attachment and past relationships shape current patterns, which can help when intimacy or abandonment fears get in the way of connection.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist works together with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, temperament, and daily life. Sessions begin with practical goals and adapt over time as needs evolve, so the plan is collaborative rather than fixed.

Offering video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging makes it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls let people read facial cues and have fuller conversations, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier during short breaks, and chat or messaging supports quick check-ins or ongoing reflections between sessions. This mix provides flexibility while keeping focus on progress and real-world changes.
Book with Siyi Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What concerns does Siyi commonly address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Additional topics include attachment, abandonment, body image, and caregiving stress.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
The approach is practical and conversational, focusing on immediate coping skills and clearer communication. Sessions balance problem-solving with exploration of relational patterns.
What background and experience does she have?
She has four years of clinical experience and combines professional training with lived experience in relationships and life transitions. That mix informs her work on intimacy and sexual well-being.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) licensed in New York and practices from that location.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
What session formats are available?
People can meet by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what suits them best.
How does billing and cost work?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
4 years
Licensed
New York
Languages
English, Mandarin, Cantonese

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