I am a second-generation Chinese-American oldest child, born and raised in the Midwest of the USA. I have a B.A. from University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in Counseling Psychology. I am in an inter-racial marriage and am an adoptive parent. I have worked in and with many diverse settings, including starting up a non-profit organization. My primary theoretical orientation is Bowen Family Systems Theory and I serve on the faculty of The Bowen Center in Washington, D.C.
“Seminarians and ministers are strongly encouraged to consider a practice of regular therapy in order to maintain healthy psychological balance. I was anxious about following this recommendation because I have had a difficult time finding a therapist over the years, rarely going back after the first session. I was immensely fortunate to be referred to Dr. Chou. She was, without a doubt, a consummate expert on Asian mental health who was very respectful and very patient. Dr. Chou has an engaging personal manner. She is able to convey empathetic compassion, use humor appropriately, listen with patience, and create a safe space. I never felt that I was simply a factor in a pre-written formula. I have been so blessed by her wisdom and kindness. I am confident that her work has already enriched my life and, as a consequence, her work in turn will benefit those I seek to serve.”
“Dr. Elayne Chou is a person who changed my life. I think of my work with her as my “life education” – the types of skills I didn’t learn in school but were absolutely necessary for me to lead a happy life. I learned how to build and maintain healthy communication patterns with family, navigate interpersonal and organizational challenges at work, explore career options in the context of my own personality, values, and interests, and take better care of myself. Through my work with her I was able to change my career path to something I really enjoy, become more compassionate to myself, come to peace with communication with my father and mother, and find the love of my life.”
"Around the time my daughter graduated from college, she admitted she was depressed and had been for some time. Her Dad and I were shocked, as Helen had kept up appearances as though nothing was wrong. We were devastated to know she had been in such pain, and were angry with ourselves for not realizing what she had been experiencing. Fortunately for all of us, Dr. Chou began to work with Helen, and the beautiful and brilliant young woman we always knew returned and is now thriving in a new job in her chosen field. Dr. Chou’s professional insight, warmth and caring for her clients translates into effective results. She has a special knack for connecting with young adults going through life’s tough transitions. We will always be grateful to Dr. Chou and recommend her without hesitation."
“I cannot recommend Elayne enough as a career counselor/coach. She provided insight and knowledge that I could not get from my parents, friends, co-workers, or anyone else I know. She came to our sessions well-equipped with knowledge, insight, and a wide variety of tools. Elayne also helped me to see my career holistically. I was able to think of my career as not just my job, but as a vision for my entire life: work, leisure, relationships, and health. My career exploration ultimately was an opportunity to take control of my life and shape it into something that would satisfy and reward me. Thanks to my work with Elayne, I felt well-equipped with knowledge, strategies, and options.“
"Elayne has proven to be an essential partner throughout my career transition journey. She offers a unique mix of clinical skills, which served to draw out my vision for my life, career aspirations and personal insights, as well as very useful, concrete tools for identifying strengths and preferences, conducting a successful job search, and interviewing. I highly recommend Elayne to anyone undertaking career exploration and/or a career transition."
“I had the pleasure of working with Elayne after discovering her tips and advice on the career section of the UM Alumni website. After taking several high-quality online tests to measure aspects of my personality and skills, Elayne presented a thoughtful analysis of my results and then discussed with me ways to incorporate their findings into my larger career plan. Before speaking with her I was tentative to quit my job. Now I am pursuing a career move into the tech industry and going back to school. I want to thank Elayne for her belief in our ability to chart our own tomorrow.”