Ting Meng

My path to counseling has been shaped by curiosity, experience, and a willingness to keep revising what I think good counseling looks like.

Before beginning my graduate training in the United States, I explored mental health work in several settings in China, including text-based support, helpline work, supervised individual counseling, and public mental health education. My first long-term counseling experience gave me confidence that this work could be a meaningful fit for me, but it also taught me humility. Over time, I have become less interested in what a counselor is “supposed” to look like and more interested in what is actually helpful to the person in front of me.

Across these experiences, I have come to value trust, genuine curiosity, flexibility, and respect for client autonomy. I am especially interested in how early relationships and family environments shape well-being over time, which has drawn me toward work with children, adolescents, couples, and families. At the same time, I want to remain open to different populations and approaches, and to having my assumptions challenged as I continue to grow.

I am currently pursuing my M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at George Mason University and preparing for supervised practicum in Summer 2027. I hope to become a counselor who genuinely cares about clients, adapts thoughtfully to what each person needs, and never loses sight of the person behind the theory.