About Me
Hi, I’m Dr. Xi Liu (they/them), an internationally recognized Schema Therapy practitioner, trainer, and supervisor. I specialize in trauma, grief, mood and anxiety disorders, cultural and racial identity, and gender-affirming care. I am deeply passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals, neurodivergent people, People of Colour, and other underrepresented communities. I completed my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Macquarie University, along with degrees in Organisational Psychology and Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) from the University of New South Wales.
I had the privilege of training under Dr. Jeffrey Young, the founder of Schema Therapy, and Wendy Behary, a world expert in narcissism at the New York/New Jersey Institute for Schema Therapy. I am also proud to be the first Chinese-speaking accredited Schema Therapy trainer and supervisor globally.
My journey as a Psychologist
Since being introduced to Schema Therapy by its founder, Jeffrey Young, at the 2009 World Congress of CBT, I was deeply inspired by its emphasis on the therapist’s genuine care as a cornerstone of healing. In 2013, I trained with Jeffrey in New York and also completed an internship at Columbia University’s Centre for Prolonged Grief.
During COVID-19, I trained therapists worldwide to adapt Schema Therapy for online care - with organisations like the Australian College of Clinical Psychologists, helping make therapy accessible during challenging times. I now serve as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
I’m currently completing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training and co-authoring an academic paper exploring the integration of Schema Therapy and EMDR.
As Director of Life Therapy and Co-founder of SchemXcollective, I focus on making therapy inclusive, relevant, and impactful for under-represented communities.
Evolving Therapy for Real-World Complexity
Currently, most evidence-based psychotherapies—such as Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—fail to adequately address the profound impact of social, cultural, and systemic factors on mental health.
My work focuses on evolving Schema Therapy to better address the needs of diverse communities and integrate social, cultural, and systemic factors:
Professional Training: Offering workshops, conferences, and academic contributions to help therapists incorporate systemic and cultural awareness into their practice.
Creative Outreach: Publications and performances to make therapy concepts accessible and engaging for broader audiences.
Community Collaboration: Working alongside under-represented communities to ensure therapy practices resonate with their lived experiences and unique challenges.
By bridging theory with real-world challenges, I aim to make therapy inclusive, relevant, and transformative.
So, transform yourself first... Because you are young and have dreams and want to do something meaningful, that in itself, makes you our future and our hope.
Keep expanding your horizon, decolonize your mind, and cross borders.
Yuri Kochiyama, Civil Rights Activist
