Email: therestoringplace@lydiashen.com

An Exhausting and Impossible Path

-The perfect daughter who does not make trouble, the perfect student who excels in grades, and the perfect sister who selflessly cared for others. That’s who Lydia was trying to be, and that’s how she grew up, with the weight of expectations on her shoulders, striving to be perfect.

However, within a culture where emotions were seldom discussed, Lydia sensed that something crucial was missing from her life. Unspoken rules dictated that she must project an image of having everything under control, leading her to tirelessly pursue perfection in an attempt to make everything seem “okay.”

Breaking Free from Expectations

Living this way proved to be devoid of joy and ultimately unsustainable. The demands of maintaining an impeccable facade took a toll on Lydia, and she realized that the pursuit of perfection was not only exhausting but also impossible. Recognizing the need for change, she courageously decided to give up the charade and embrace who she truly is. Finding her voice for her emotions became the pivotal starting point for Lydia to regain the freedom to be her authentic self.

A Path Redefined: From Beijing to Dallas

After completing her master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience, Lydia made a life-altering decision as a single adult, leaving her life in Beijing to start anew in Dallas. Despite being on the cusp of entering a Ph.D. program in her field, Lydia’s path took an unexpected turn. Choosing to enroll in the biblical counseling program at Dallas Theological Seminary, she quickly discovered her deep passion for counseling. The joy she experienced while working with people surpassed anything she had previously found in lab work or data analysis. Lydia knew that she had found her true calling.

Love, Family, and Hobbies

Lydia has been happily married to her wonderful husband, Ang, for over a decade. Together, they are blessed with three adorable and energetic boys who bring boundless joy to their lives.

Beyond her counseling work, Lydia finds fulfillment in various activities. You may catch her on a refreshing run, gracefully swimming in the water, or indulging in the freedom of horse riding. Heartfelt conversations over coffee or tea with friends nourish her soul, while exploring different hiking and biking trails with her family creates cherished moments. Lydia also finds solace and inspiration by immersing herself in the beauty of nature.

A Journey of Healing and Self-Discovery

Through Lydia’s own journey of embracing authenticity and healing, she has not only found personal fulfillment but also discovered her true purpose in helping others on their own paths of self-discovery and acceptance. With her unwavering dedication and passion for counseling, Lydia is committed to walking alongside her clients, supporting them through their challenges, and guiding them toward personal growth and transformation.

I spent the first 5 years of my career devoted to the stabilization and treatment of eating disorders. I have been a therapist and in leadership at all levels of care in multiple treatment settings. I work with adolescents and adults who experience body image distress and minor to extreme eating disorder behaviors.My experience is that the more you lean into establishing your values and buildinging your relationships the less hyper-focused on your physical appearance you will become.

Over the past 4 years of having my private practice I have increasingly worked more with women and teens who are struggling with anxiety, depression, past trauma and the troubles of everyday modern life. From teens hurting from being left off the group chat to women struggling to make real connections in the throes of parenting, I am here to walk alongside you.

Finally, I have several teens and adults on my caseload who are neurodiverse (specifically ADHD and Autism). For these folks the goals are often different. The work I do with them can look a lot more like life coaching including improving school or work attendance, taking small steps to make connections and staying on track with medication management or daily living skills. My approach is working with the individual in session and collaboratively with the parents as appropriate behind the scenes.

I have my Masters of Science in Counseling from Oklahoma State University and am licensed in the state of Texas. We have clinicians in my practice who are in network with most insurances.

Contact:

972-200-0669

Roddycounseling.com