Professional Affiliations

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
• Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA)
• NY Coalition for Asian American Mental Health (NYCAAMH)
• AcademyHealth
• Nationally Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)

Background

Chiaying Wei, PhD

Chiaying Wei, PhD, is a CBT trained clinician and specializes in evidence-based treatments for anxiety, depression, and related disorders. She weighs contextual (e.g., family, sociocultural) influences on individual work and strive for a fluid therapeutic process that is tailored to individual needs, taking into account one’s unique familial and sociocultural background. She emphasizes Socratic questioning to cultivate insight and integrates acceptance and mindfulness-based as well as interpersonal/dynamic oriented approaches.

Dr. Wei’s practice is firmly rooted in scientific evidence. In line with her private practice, Dr. Wei is a clinical research scientist who has held research, teaching, and supervisory positions in academic/medical institutions such as Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital, and Yeshiva University. Currently she is a senior research scientist with NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Temple University working with Dr. Philip Kendall on evidence-based treatments for childhood anxiety disorders. She completed predoctoral internship at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center (NYP/WCMC) and was the Chief NIMH T32 Research Fellow in Child Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center/New York State Psychiatric Institute.

Dr. Wei has published many peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters on psychopathology and related treatments. Her research interest lies broadly in the developmental and contextual (i.e., familial and socio-cultural) considerations in the implementation of evidence-based treatments for anxiety and depressive disorders. She is particularly interested in promoting evidence-based treatments for populations vulnerable to underutilization of mental health services, such as young adults and racial/ethnic minorities. An important area of her work is the integration of mental health and primary care to improve access to treatment for anxiety and depression. She has received prestigious awards for her work, including the 2013 Beck Institute CBT Scholarship, the 2016 New York State Office of Mental Health Policy Scholar award, and the 2017 Child Intervention, Prevention, and Services (CHIPS) Fellowship award.