Claire Li 李南星
She/Her
LCSW, SIFI
Trauma informed practitioner
EMDR Therapist
My Background
Opening up to someone new takes a lot of trust and vulnerability. I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation of a meaningful therapy experience. By sharing some parts of myself, I hope to give prospective clients a sense of whether we might be a good fit.
Before becoming a therapist, I studied in finance and navigated life as a Chinese immigrant woman trying to make sense of the the cultural expectations and inherited beliefs I carried. My own healing involved challenging the norms I was raised with, making space for my full story, and learning to listen to the parts of me I tried to hide. This lived experience shapes how I show up in the therapy room—with curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for the courage it takes to do this work.
Throughout my 9-year career as a therapist, I’ve had the privilege of working in a variety of treatment settings and supporting many individuals from all walks of life. Most recently I was the Acting Clinic Director for a large community mental health outpatient clinic in Brooklyn, supporting more than 500 clients as they navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship conflicts.
I was passionate about the craft of therapy, but saw issues within the field that could have been improved upon. I wanted to make therapy more trauma and culturally informed, more BIPOC, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ affirming, and more relational. I also wanted to create a collective space where both clients and therapists felt truly supported.
This led me to a team, to my own consultation, and today to Moment.
My Approach and Specialities
I am specialized in offering immigrants, BIPOC, First Gen-affirming/allied therapy services to support those seeking a sense of groundedness, meaningful healing, and long-lasting growth. Culturally responsive approach is also central to my work. Our personal histories and sociocultural environments shape the lens through which we view the world.
I believe healing begins in safe connection. You might be the first in your lineage to pause, to rest, to ask: What would it mean to be my authentic self? Whether you’re unlearning survival patterns, tending to old wounds, or simply trying to hear your own voice beneath the noise, I want you to know that you don’t have to do it alone.
I am trained in EMDR, sensorimotor psychotherapy, and psychodynamic approach. My work is relational and influenced by attachment and trauma theory. In somatic (soma is Greek for body), or body-centered therapy, we deepen our conversation by paying close attention to your experience of inhabiting a physical body in the here and now.
Academic Credentials
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, New York State/097406
Certificate: 2-year certified Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program with American Institue for Pyschoanalysis (AIP)
Certificate: Seminar Training in Field Instruction (SIFI), Hunter College
Certificate: 9-month Motivational Interviewing Program with The Training and Practice Implementation Institute (TTPI)
Somatic Resourcing in EMDR with Manhattan Center for Trauma Studies
EMDR basic training with Deany Laliotis
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - Level 1-Trauma Themes
One-Year-Evening psychodynamic psychotherapy with National Institute for Psychotherapy
Columbia University, Master of Science in Social Work
Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, BA
Moment Psychotherapy is built based on below principles:
Embodied Awareness
I honor the profound connection between body and mind—understanding that trauma, stress, and resilience are held not just in thoughts, but in the nervous system and in the body itself. I incorporate somatic awareness into our therapeutic approach, helping you build a deeper alignment with your body.
De-stigmatizing Therapy
I strive to create a space where therapy is seen not as a last resort, but as an empowering and accessible act of self-care. By honoring each person's cultural, emotional, and lived experiences, I work with you to challenge the shame and stereotypes often associated with seeking support—normalizing healing as a courageous and human process.
Intersectionality-Informed Practice
Identity is complex and layered. I approach therapy with an understanding that individuals are deeply shaped by their environments—family, culture, community, systems, and history. I hold space for the ways race, gender, sexuality, immigration status, ability, and other identities intersect that influence your lived experience.
WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS FIRST, THERAPISTS SECOND
I am committed to showing up as a real person first. I connect with you human to human—bringing warmth, authenticity, and a down-to-earth approach that includes humor, personality, and genuine care. While our clinical training guides me, I believe healing happens when you feel seen and heard by someone real—not buried under jargon, but in honest, relatable conversation.
Justice-informed Practice
I am trained with a clear awareness of how systems of oppression—such as racism, sexism, classism, ableism, xenophobia, and homophobia—impact mental health. My work is guided by a commitment to name, challenge, and unlearn these forces, both within ourselves and in the world around us. I hold space for your healing without separating it from the structural realities you face, offering care that is not only compassionate, but justice-informed.
All services uphold a foundation of anti-racism, anti-oppression, pro-justice for all. All services are inherently trauma-informed in nature and practice.
