Kay Yu Yuan Chai, Ph.D.


Kay Chai portraitTherapeutic Style: My style is highly experiential and based on psychodynamic and existential-humanistic approaches. I try to help students become more aware of and begin to remove internal obstacles to have more satisfying work, love and play. I am also trained in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Professional Interests: I am greatly interested in psychotherapy integration and psychotherapy outcome research. I believe that the willingness of the psychotherapist to be human and vulnerable in the room, as well as creative, flexible and responsive to the needs of the student, is much more important than the treatment model they subscribe to. My interest in the person of the psychotherapist is what motivated my doctoral dissertation on psychotherapists’ experiences of vulnerability. In addition, prior to coming to Syracuse University, I completed my pre-doctoral internship at Hutchings Psychiatric Center, where I developed a strong interest in psychotherapy for individuals who present with psychosis.

Educational Background: I obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Duquesne University.

DEIA Trainings: Disability, Gender Identity, Indigenous/First Nation Students, International Students, Neurodiversity, Racial/Ethnic Identity, Sexual Identity and Socioeconomic Status.

Languages: Mandarin Chinese

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers