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What patients are saying
Overall rating
5.00
Average wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
5.00
“Irene is a gentle and kind soul with excellent bedside manner who brings art therapy to clients in a warm, professional, and meaningful manner- highly recommend her services!”
LRLess than 1 month ago
“She shows caring and professionalism throughout the visits. She’s very easy to talk to and makes me feel heard. She curates a safe space for me to be conformable to open up. I’m able to heal and make significant progress with her help. ”
JLLess than 1 month ago
About Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou
Focus areas
Anxiety
Dissociative Disorder
Women's Mental Health Issues
Attachment Disorder
Existential Anxiety
Young Adult Issues
BIPOC Mental Health Issues
Life Transition
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Groups
Seniors (65+)
Treatment approaches
Art Therapy
Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
Humanistic
Attachment-based
Integrative
Compassion Focused
Identity
Gender
FemaleEthnicity
Asian
Languages spoken
Chinese (Mandarin), English
Getting to know Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou
I’m Irene, a bilingual (English and Mandarin) psychotherapist and art therapist offering both in-person and virtual sessions at Transcendent Self Therapy in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I work with people navigating life transitions, loss, identity, grief, anxiety, and displacement, among other things.
My approach is humanistic and person-centered — I believe every individual holds the potential to find their own answers, and my role is to help create the conditions where that becomes possible. My work is holistic and attachment theory-informed, with psychodynamic sensibilities throughout. I incorporate dream work and invite a lot of curiosity into sessions, and I pay close attention to the nervous system and the here-and-now experience, helping clients build a felt sense of safety and regulation.
Creativity runs through how I work, though no art experience is ever needed — I see creativity as something already present in everything in life. For me, the therapeutic relationship itself is the heart of our work — a place to practice showing up, being seen, and building trust, in ways that can ripple out into the rest of your life.
My own cross-cultural background, spanning Taiwan and the U.S., gives me particular sensitivity to how culture, identity, and family shape a person’s story, and to what it feels like to move between worlds — including the intergenerational dynamics and search for belonging that can come with an immigrant or bicultural experience.
What should a new client know about working with you?
I work best with clients who are ready to slow down and get curious about themselves — not just to manage symptoms, but to understand the patterns, feelings, and parts of themselves that are harder to access alone. You don’t need any art or creative background to work with me; I bring in creative and expressive tools when they’re useful, but our sessions can be just as much about talking, sitting with silence, or exploring a dream — art making is one tool I bring in, but it’s never the point on its own.
I bring a lot of warmth and presence into the room, and I don’t expect anyone to have things figured out before we start. I’ll follow your pace, and I care as much about how safe and regulated you feel in your body as I do about insight. I also bring a particular understanding to clients navigating immigration, cultural displacement, or the experience of moving between identities and worlds.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
My approach is flexible and tailored to each person rather than following a fixed structure. Early on, I focus on understanding your history, your relationships, and what's bringing you to therapy right now — your emotional patterns, what feels hard, and what you're hoping might shift.
As we build trust, we start noticing patterns together — in how you relate to yourself, to others, and to what comes up in the room. Depending on what's useful to you, our work might include creative and expressive tools, movement, or simply talking things through. I pay close attention to the nervous system alongside insight, so some sessions may feel reflective and exploratory, while others focus more on regulation and what's happening for you right now.
I see therapy as a space where insight, relationship, and creativity can come together — not to become someone different, but to relate to yourself with more understanding and freedom.
Is this doctor in your insurance network?
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In-network insurances
Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou, MPS has 50+ in-network plans.
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It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more
Out-of-pocket fees and assistance
Initial session: $200 for 45 minutes
Ongoing session: $200 for 45 minutes
- Sliding scale: Offers lower out-of-pocket fees on an individual basis, typically based on your ability to pay
More information on payments and coverage
In network with Aetna
Out of network/private pay for individual therapy: $200 for 45-min sessions
Offer sliding scale rates (lower out-of-pocket fees) on an individual basis, typically based on your ability to pay
Office location
Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou, MPS also offers online video visits for patients
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- Pratt Institute, Master's in Professional Studies
- Virginia Tech (Bachelor's)
Professional memberships
- American Art Therapy Association, Inc.
NPI number
1295654291
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
5.00
Wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
5.00
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
15 reviews
Most relevant
Irene was very professional but also very warm and brings energy around during every conversation and visit.
Less than 1 month agoDW
Irene is incredibly compassionate, thoughtful, and insightful.
100% recommended!
Less than 1 month agoYYH
Irene is a gentle and kind soul with excellent bedside manner who brings art therapy to clients in a warm, professional, and meaningful manner- highly recommend her services!
Less than 1 month agoLR
Irene is such a thoughtful, intelligent, and very organized person. Working with her has been such a pleasure and she blends evidence based practices in her art therapy.
Less than 1 month agoKS
Irene has very comforting presence and that quality really impacts how open and safe I feel around her and with her. She has supported me in questioning the systems and my identity in relation to them. Working with her has helped me instill hope for liberation and self-expression.
Less than 1 month agoRK
She shows caring and professionalism throughout the visits. She’s very easy to talk to and makes me feel heard. She curates a safe space for me to be conformable to open up. I’m able to heal and make significant progress with her help.
Less than 1 month agoJL
Shenyu made me feel completely comfortable and welcome. Listening to my story with such genuine warmth was so sweet. I highly recommend this to anyone dealing with cross-cultural or identity issues!
Less than 1 month agoAJ
I have grown so much since working with Irene. It’s my first time in therapy, and she has helped me feel more and more comfortable opening up, which is normally not the easiest thing for me. She is a great listener and very compassionate but also not afraid to push me in the right moments, which I really appreciate. She takes a holistic approach and has helped me improve in different areas of my life; I have developed deeper relationships and made some important life and career decisions while working with her. I highly recommend her to anyone, especially if you are in a difficult transition or just generally feeling overwhelmed or lost in life. She has really helped me to find my way :)
Less than 1 month agoYE
I really enjoyed the experience!
Less than 1 month agoCG
I really enjoyed the experience!
Less than 1 month agoCG
Irene is a fantastic provider, she is committed to work with you and meet you where you’re at. She has a fantastic bedside manner.
Less than 1 month agoCS
She always listens to me professionally and offers thoughtful, professional insights. She is incredibly patient and full of passion and positive energy.
Less than 1 month agoKHL
Irene is amazingly professional and supportive. Her thoughtful, passionate, and warm nature has truly helped me rebuild my confidence in relationships and recover from burnout. Would highly recommend to others looking for genuine support!
Less than 1 month agoTL
I've had a wonderful experience working with Irene. She creates a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where I always feel safe to express myself. Her thoughtful guidance, creativity, and genuine compassion have helped me process difficult emotions in ways I didn't think were possible. I always leave our sessions feeling heard, supported, and with new insights.
Less than 1 month agoCC
Irene was super professional and patient throughout our conversation.
I could feel how she really puts herself in my shoes when listening to my stories and guiding me through the difficulties. And she has always been incredibly supportive.
Less than 1 month agoDW
How soon can I make an appointment with Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou?
Generally, Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou accepting new patients?
Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou work with?
Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou works with Transcendent Self Therapy.
Where is Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou's office located?
Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou has 2 office locations in Brooklyn, view full addresses on Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou's profile.
What are common reasons for patients to see Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou?
Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou on their profile.
What languages does Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou speak?
Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou speaks English and Chinese (Mandarin).
How do patients rate Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou in reviews?
15 patients have reviewed Shen-Yun (Irene) Chou. The overall rating for this doctor is 5/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 5/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.