Psychoanalysis and DBT in China: Looking Back and Forward
Psychoanalysis and DBT in China have followed a path that many outside the country did not expect. In 2011, journalist Evan Osnos ended his article Does Psychoanalysis Have a Future in China? with a prediction that the “Freud fever” would not last.
Fifteen years later, that prediction clearly missed the mark.
A 2023 study found that 36% of Chinese mental health professionals identify psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapy as their primary orientation—the largest group in the sample. If anything, that number feels low. Psychoanalysis in China did not fade. It took root.
Early Training in Psychoanalysis in China
Reading the article brought me back to my earliest clinical training. Osnos describes conversations with Dr. Jie Zhong, my professor at Peking University and my first clinical supervisor. He led our year-long group supervision in a psychoanalytic frame.
That room shaped how I learned to listen and how I learned to think about patients. Those early experiences continue to influence my work, even as my clinical focus expanded beyond psychodynamic therapy.
The article describes an almost “evangelistic” enthusiasm around psychoanalysis in China. Having trained there during those years, that description feels accurate.
What Fueled the Psychoanalytic Wave
One key factor the article does not fully capture is the role of the China-American Psychoanalytic Alliance (CAPA). CAPA offered free, weekly, multi-year, one-on-one consultation for clinicians who were fluent in English and willing to commit to the work.
That opportunity pulled an entire generation of clinicians toward analytic thinking and practice. It shaped careers. It shaped training pathways. And it reshaped the field.
DBT in China and a New Wave of Training
Now, I’m watching another wave emerge.
For the past eight years, my colleagues and I have offered DBT training and consultation across China. The current enthusiasm for DBT feels familiar—perhaps the closest parallel to the earlier psychoanalytic surge.
Psychoanalysis and DBT in China are no longer separate stories. Increasingly, they are intersecting ones. Clinicians are integrating analytic, behavioral, mindfulness-based, and systems-focused approaches in thoughtful ways.
I find myself thinking often about what DBT can learn from CAPA’s model, particularly around accessibility, affordability, and long-term consultation that fits the realities of clinicians in China.
Looking Ahead
This article left me nostalgic and deeply grateful for the years I spent training in China. It also left me curious about what the next fifteen years will bring.
For those interested, Evan Osnos’ original article, Does Psychoanalysis Have a Future in China?, is available through The New Yorker:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/01/10/meet-dr-freud
As a psychologist working with children, teens, and adults across Sawtelle, Mar Vista, Venice, and Santa Monica, I see how global movements in psychoanalysis and DBT in China continue to shape local clinical practice. These traditions influence how clinicians approach anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, self-harm, and identity-related concerns.
If you’re interested in therapy, consultation, or training grounded in evidence-based and culturally responsive care, you can learn more about our work or reach out through our contact page (/contact/) to connect with Youth & Family Institute.
