On 15th March 2025 , CandleX joined FOEN (Future of Education Now) at West Academy Beijing, to talk about Teens’ Mental Health, specifically sharing program experience on one of CandleX’s signature project,  Teens Empowerment Project . This event was a close circle joined by students traveled all the way from Australia, and teachers from WAB and other schools. This event was a 60 minutes cross-interview between  Xiaojie , psychotherapist and director of CandleX, and Xiaojie’s mentee for 2024,  Katie Lai , a G12 teenager that is based in Hongkong China, and was the most recent participant of Teens Empowerment Project.

作者： 秦小杰 日期：2025年4月5日 Xiaojie Qin April 5, 2025 清明节 一个我从来没有真正有过内心连接的节日， 几十年来，他只不过约等于一个小长假而已。而已不惑的我，在今年清明节第一次感受到这个节日的重要性，已经它对家庭、特别是一个中国传统大家庭的意义。 Tomb-Sweeping Day A festival I never truly felt connected to in my heart. For decades, it was nothing more than a short holiday to me. Yet now, in my forties, I’ve come to understand its significance for the first time—its importance to family, especially to a traditional Chinese extended family.  我是独生女，80年代的人，独生子女是一个常态。我身边的中国朋友基本上也都是独生子女。对于我来讲，更特殊的一点，我的童年里，几乎就只有爸妈这个概念，在很长的时间里，我并不知道这是特殊的。成长的过程中，我们一家人都住在绵阳，一个离大家庭所在地重庆很远的地方，因为80、90年代的四川，那个时候重庆虽然还都是四川的一部分，但很远，因为交通并不发达，回去一次算是一个长途跋涉。用‘回去’这个次，我感觉很牵强，我没有在重庆出生、生活，爸妈的老家也不是那里，爷爷奶奶也是随着西部大开发才从江南城市搬到了重庆。 I’m an only child, born in the 1980s, when single-child families were the norm. Most of my Chinese friends are also only children. But my situation was even more unique: my childhood revolved almost entirely around my parents, and for a long time, I didn’t realize this was unusual. Growing up, my family lived in Mianyang, far from our extended family in Chongqing. Back then, in the 80s and 90s, Chongqing was still part of Sichuan, but the distance felt immense due to underdeveloped transportation. Returning to visit was a major journey. Using the word "return" feels forced—I wasn’t born or raised in Chongqing, and my parents’ hometown wasn’t there either. My grandparents had moved to Chongqing during the Western Development Campaign. 在那遥远而模糊的记忆里，一年的春节，我们一家要去爷爷奶奶那里过年。我记得我们好像都不用从车站检票口过就可以找到捷径来到站台，那绿色的火车皮里，挤满了春运的人。我爸妈站在即将驶出车站的火车窗边，他们中一个往车上挤，一个用手托着我，把我从窗户里送到车里窗边陌生人手里，这样我就不会被耽误他们用力挤上这趟列车，也不会在拥挤中受伤，唯一的缺点就是，有些许可能把我弄丢吧。 In a distant, hazy memory, one Spring Festival, my family traveled to celebrate with them. Train stations back then were chaotic—I remember bypassing the ticket gates entirely, finding shortcuts to the platform. The green train cars were packed with people. My parents stood by the window of the departing train; one squeezed inside while the other lifted me through the window into the arms of a stranger. This way, I wouldn’t slow them down or get hurt in the crowd. The only risk? Maybe losing me.  好像这样的场景，现在只能在印度的电影看到了。我也有一次在斯里兰卡旅行时，站在绿皮火车的车上，车门在行驶中都一直开着，我站在门口上，有时候会将半个身体吊在车外，一种似成相识的感觉。谁知道呢，记忆总会在每次提取的时候，被再次修改，也许离儿时的感受很远了，但我的大脑宁可相信我仅存的些许记忆的。 Scenes like that now only exist in Indian movies. Once, while traveling in Sri Lanka, I stood in the open doorway of a moving train, half-leaning outside—a strangely familiar feeling. Who knows? Memories warp each time we recall them. Maybe my childhood impressions are long gone, but my brain clings to the fragments I have left.  几十年前，因为爸妈回趟家会如此劳神费力费钱，所以我几乎没有太多和大家庭相聚的记忆。因为不走亲戚，再加上爸妈也不承载传统的生活，作为一个土生土长的中国人，我的成长过程，没有太多中国传统文化的印记，似乎唯一的就是春节的时候，我要给爸妈磕头、然后他们给我红包。爸爸妈妈是普通的单位人员，过着简单和无限循环的的日子，我偶尔加入他们的活动，就是他们饭后散步了，至今，他们也会吃完饭要出去‘转路’，几十年如一日，雷打不动！所以，我不知道串亲戚的礼节，也不懂中国最深的‘关系’文化，也没有耳濡目染传统的待人接物传承。 Back then, visiting family was so exhausting and expensive that I barely have memories of reunions. We didn’t visit relatives much, and my parents didn’t uphold many traditions. Despite being Chinese, my upbringing lacked deep cultural roots—except for the New Year’s ritual of kowtowing to my parents for red envelopes. They were ordinary danwei workers, living simple, repetitive lives. My only occasional participation was joining their post-dinner walks, a habit they still maintain religiously decades later. So I never learned the etiquette of family visits, the intricacies of guanxi, or the unspoken rules of social conduct.  这几十年，给外婆上坟的次数也就是两三次吧。外婆走的早，我在小学的时候，她就离开了，我还记得外婆的脸，她和妈妈很像。我很幸运，家里其他的长辈，外公，爷爷奶奶都活到了90岁上下。但可惜的是，因为不在一个城市，他们生前我们接触也很少，到他们离世我都感觉和他们很疏远。只是我的理智告诉我，我应该更伤感才对，因为他们是我的亲人。他们三人都是在近五年离开的，一个接一个走了，给我最大的冲击是，没有了那一辈，下一辈就是接班的了，对于一个中年没有结婚的我来说，无意这是一个让我心里拔凉的感受。 In all these years, I’ve visited my grandmother’s grave maybe two or three times. She passed away when I was in elementary school, but I still remember her face—she looked so much like my mom. I was lucky that my other elders—grandfather, grandparents—lived into their nineties. Yet, because we lived in different cities, I rarely saw them. Even in their final years, I felt distant. Rationally, I knew I should grieve more—they were family. But when they passed, one after another in the last five years, the real shock was realizing: “With their generation gone, ours is next.” For a single, ‘middle-aged’ woman like me, that’s a chilling thought.  一年前，生活突然给了我一个连环杀，在一系列的不如意后，我感受到我的心境慢慢进入到低谷。于是，我提醒自己，该加量做我给来访（我是一名心理咨询师）的‘作业’了，感恩练习。为了能更好的坚持，我给好朋友发了消息，提议我们两睡觉前感恩。没想到，这一个约定，我们一直坚持到现在。也是因为这个例行，我发现了一个有趣的现象。 A year ago, life hit me with a series of blows. As my mood sank, I reminded myself to double down on the "homework" I assign my therapy clients: gratitude practice. To stay accountable, I texted a close friend, suggesting we share nightly gratitude lists. Unexpectedly, we’ve kept it up ever since. And through this ritual, I noticed something fascinating. 我的闺蜜，一个我认识了十几年的前同事，还是本家姓。每天晚上我们都会给对方发消息，总结一天的经历，感恩生活。她经常在总结中，都会提到她的家人，要嘛就是要回家看母亲了，要嘛就是她叔叔、堂姐、要嘛就是她弟弟。我才意识到，原来有人跟自己大家庭的连接是可以这么多的。她说，毕竟堂姐跟他们一起住了三年。闺蜜和家人有很深的情绪连接，会因为亲戚生病看病担忧，会因为弟弟工作不顺操心，会在妈妈陪着的时候心里踏实。我的表弟（或者叫堂弟？是的，我对一个大家族里各个人的辈分称呼也是稀里糊涂的），曾在北京住过半年一年的，我们都没见面过。唯一大家近年聚起来的时候，就是亲人过世的时候了，我也感觉很别扭，不知道如何待人接物，压力山大。闺蜜和家人的距离以及关系，让我体验到，原来血脉相连可以是这样的心心相惜，这让牵肠挂肚的焦虑，居然让我有丝许羡慕，在她的潜移默化中，我似乎对大家庭有了一丝好奇之心和向往。 My friend—a former colleague of over a decade, who even shares my surname—often mentions family in her reflections: visiting her mom, checking on her uncle, chatting with her cousin or younger brother. It dawned on me: Some people actually have this much connection with their extended family. She once lived with her cousin for three years. Her bonds run deep—she worries when relatives fall ill, stresses over her brother’s job struggles, and feels comforted just having her mom around. Meanwhile, my cousin (biaodi, or is it tangdi? I’ve never grasped the proper kinship terms) lived in Beijing for nearly a year, and we never met. The only times we’ve gathered in recent years were funerals, where I felt awkward, socially clueless, and overwhelmed. My bestie’s closeness to family made me realize: Blood ties can actually mean something. The way she frets over them, the warmth they share—it’s enviable, in a way. Slowly, her influence stirred a curiosity in me, even a longing for that kind of connection.  最近的一次聚会，是在外公的灵堂，那应该是2021年了。我坐在灵堂里，看着熟悉又陌生的亲人们，我静静的呆在那里。妈妈说，不要哭，送外公走不能哭的。一大会儿后，念佛团来了，他们围着外公一直走，记不得有多长时间了，妈妈一下带着欣慰的笑容走到我面前，说“外公被阿弥陀福接走了”，那一刻我妈妈心里似乎放心了下来。外公后来去到火葬的地方，我已经没有了外公进火葬场的画面了，也没有其他任何的记忆了，只是知道我在那里。后来，一家人一起去重庆的一个餐厅吃了饭，餐厅里七大姨八大姑都在，还有好些远房的我从未见过的亲戚。因为我远在北京居住，很少跟大家接触，这一切很陌生，但我们都讲四川话，乡音让这个气氛添加了莫名的幸福，也许这就是融洽血缘关系自带的吧。 The last reunion was at my grandfather’s funeral in 2021. Sitting in the mourning hall, surrounded by vaguely familiar relatives, I stayed quiet. My mom told me not to cry—it was forbidden when sending off the deceased. Later, a Buddhist chanting group arrived, circling his coffin for what felt like hours. At one point, my mom approached me, relieved, and said, “Grandpa has been taken by Amitabha Buddha.” When his body was cremated, I have no memory of the moment—just that I was there. Afterward, the extended family ate at a Chongqing restaurant, packed with aunts, uncles, and distant cousins I’d never met. As a Beijing transplant, it all felt foreign. But we all spoke Sichuan dialect, and the shared accent wrapped everything in an unspoken warmth—maybe that’s the natural ease of blood ties.  今年的清明节，爸爸妈妈去了重庆，妈妈那一辈姐弟一共五个，外公外婆的孩子们，都到齐了，去给我的祖父母和外祖父母上坟，一行人从重庆开车去到了祖父母曾经住过的房子，有一个上百年的房子，如今无人居住，已经破烂不堪，但那颗树还在，妈妈说以前外祖父，外公都在这颗树这里玩耍，度过了很多岁月，我看着那颗树，一种莫名的感动，生命的传承吧，也许。他们还去看了祖父母的房子，还在，也有人住。 This Tomb-Sweeping Day, my parents went to Chongqing. All five siblings from my mom’s side gathered to sweep the graves of our grandparents and great-grandparents. They drove to the century-old family home, now crumbling and abandoned, but the tree still stood—the same one my grandfather and great-grandfather once played under. Seeing it in my mom’s video moved me inexplicably. The continuity of life, perhaps. They also visited the old house, still standing, still inhabited.  我在微信上，看到妈妈发来的这些视频，给她打了视频通话，我特别希望那一刻自己也在那里，和这么多亲人在一起，尽管我不知道要说什么，也不知道什么是最好的礼节，但我就想在那里，听着四川话，听他们谈祖辈的故事。妈妈把镜头对向坟头的时候，我说我想叩拜一下，我甚至都不知道是外祖父母还是祖父母，但我知道他们是我从未见过的亲人，应该没见过吧，清明节其他要做的我不知道，但这个是我可以做的，表达对他们的感激，一辈一辈的言传身教。 Watching these clips on WeChat, I video-called my mom. For the first time, I wished I were there—surrounded by family, even if I didn’t know what to say or how to act. I just wanted to stand there, listening to Sichuan dialect, hearing stories of ancestors. When my mom pointed the camera at the graves, I said I wanted to bow. I didn’t even know if they were my maternal or paternal grandparents—I’d likely never met them. But I knew they were family, and this was something I could do: express gratitude for the generations before me.  我妈妈家有很重的人情味，外公外婆的几个孩子，都很孝顺，大家相处的其乐融融，这并非易事。他们一定很爱他们的孩子，外公外婆也肯定很爱我的妈妈，妈妈又把这份爱，在每一句话、每一个动作和每一个思念里传给了我，所以我很幸福的。 My mom’s family carries deep warmth. Her siblings are all filial, harmonious—no small feat. They must have loved their children deeply. My grandparents surely loved my mom, and she passed that love to me in every word, gesture, and memory. So I’ve been lucky.  明年的清明节，我也想让姨们儿再开车带我们一起去，下次，我想脚踏土地的站在那经历了百年变化的土地上，去感受风日孕育的这个家，我从没去过，却从那里来的这个家。 Next Tomb-Sweeping Day, I want my aunts to take us back. Next time, I want to stand on that land, weathered by a hundred years of change, and feel the wind and sun that nurtured this family—a family I’ve never known, yet come from all the same. Photos from Xiaojie 中文写作，英文由Deepseek翻译 Written in Chinese by the author, and translated by Deepseek

Xiaojie Qin Founder and Director of CandleX Beijing | March 2025   I woke up today and realized that in just 10 days, CandleX will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Ten years — it’s a milestone that deserves reflection, celebration, and pride. Yet, if I don’t pause to acknowledge it, it feels like just another day, another routine of doing and doing. But today, I sat in a vibrant café on a sunny warm spring day in Beijing and I am thinking to myself: CandleX has been a part of my life, and the lives of so many others, for a decade.  Typing away while drinking coffee Kindness Matters, So does Money The past few years have been a period of significant change, both for CandleX and for me personally. One of the most profound shifts has been the development of a commercial arm for CandleX. This journey has forced me to confront my own relationship with money — a relationship that has been shaped by my upbringing, my career choices, and my values.    Growing up, my family’s motto was “don’t be greedy.” The idea that taking is bad was so deeply ingrained in me that I didn’t even realize it was there. I remember a moment from my childhood when my aunt, visiting from Japan, took me to a supermarket and told me I could pick anything I wanted. I was thrilled and grabbed some snacks, only to have my mom take them out of my hands and put them back on the shelf, saying, “We have enough. Don’t take them.” That moment stayed with me, a small but powerful lesson in restraint and modesty. Along with many childhood experiences, I learned that money’s ‘not good’.   This mindset followed me into adulthood. In university, when I became president of the English Association, I organized a campus-wide event with a panel of teachers and entrepreneurs. I had no idea how to secure funding — it felt impossible. Why would anyone give money to a college association? But luckily, a teammate stepped up and secured the funds. I remember the joy of organizing the event, the thrill of being on stage as the MC, and the surprise at how naturally I took to public speaking. Still, the idea of asking for money felt foreign to me.    After graduating, I worked in the NGO sector for a decade, always in program roles where money was someone else’s concern. I was drawn to the mission-driven work but often felt frustrated by the influence of donors who seemed disconnected from the realities on the ground. When I founded CandleX in 2015, I registered it as a company but ran it as a nonprofit. It was all I knew, and it felt right. I had no intention of making money; I simply wanted to do meaningful work.  The Forced Change For years, this approach worked. I’ve always lived a minimalist lifestyle, finding joy in things that couldn’t be bought. But life has a way of challenging our assumptions. A few years ago, I left my full-time job and had to confront the reality of making a living. I struggled with the idea of charging for my services — yoga classes, mental health programs — because it felt at odds with my identity as someone who valued volunteering and generosity. But I realized that if I wanted to continue doing the work I loved, I needed to find a way to sustain myself.    This shift wasn’t easy. It required me to rethink my relationship with money, to understand my value, and to navigate the complexities of pricing and negotiation. I took online courses, practiced visualization exercises, and used one-on-one coaching to help me feel more comfortable when talking about money. I reminded myself that even if I were a billionaire, I would want to invest in people who are doing great work out of love and care — people like me. Slowly, I began to see that charging for my work wasn’t a betrayal of my values but a way to ensure that I could continue giving back.    This journey led to the creation of CandleX’s commercial arm, where we now offer workplace mental health consultations, workshops, and seminars, while continuing to provide community-level services. It’s been a balancing act, but one that has allowed us to grow and sustain our mission, and for me to live a decent life like everybody else. I am deeply grateful to our partners and corporate clients who have placed their trust in us. Though we may not be the biggest organization, their belief in the passion and quality of our work has been a driving force behind our ability to continue making an impact. Their support has not only sustained us but also affirmed the value of what we do.  Xiaojie 2024 The Balance Act: Alignment of Personal interests and Needs of the Community The past decade has also seen significant changes in our community programs. I’ve always been drawn to creating unique services — not for the sake of being different, but because I’m sensitive to the needs of our community and willing to take risks to meet them. One example is our loss and grief counseling program, which I started six months ago after experiencing the deaths of friends, acquaintances, and all of my grandparents within a short period. These losses forced me to confront the impermanence of life and the inevitability of aging. Holding space for others who are grieving has been deeply healing for me as well.    Our coaching program, led by a long-time team member, Sharon Liu, who transitioned from editor to coach, is another example of how we’ve evolved. I believe in creating a platform where our team can continue to grow, and I cannot be happier to support our member in their own personal growth. At the end of the end, it’s about finding alignment of the people’s personal growth, organization’s growth and the ever-changing community needs. At CandleX, we believe in the power of storytelling, and so many community members joined us and written their life stories on our “ Community Writings ”. In a world overwhelmed by information and AI, we focus on the irreplaceable value of human stories. Through mentoring and coaching, we help people piece together the fragments of their lives, creating a fuller, more coherent narrative.    Our teen programs have also grown significantly. What began as the Teens Open Letter project in 2020 has expanded into a  three-stage empowerment program that provides year-long mentorship and opportunities for teenagers to share their voices in workshops and consultations.    And then there’s Project A (although it’s not a project of CandleX), which I co-founded to support survivors of abusive relationships. I started to pay attention during the time that I was the facilitator of CandleX Mental Health Peer Support Group, when over the years, a few women in abusive relationships came in and seeked support. I wish I could do more than just empathic listening. Years later, as I started my own journey as a therapist, the right time came and I supported our Beijing community by providing group therapy for women who are recovering from their abusive relationship . It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the impact of this work.    Faces Behind the Scene None of this would have been possible without the incredible team that has stood by me for years. Despite the fact that we are spread out in different parts of the world, we are united by CandleX. Leslie, our graphic designer, joined us as a teenager and has stayed with us through her moves, college, and growing into a young adult, about to finish college. Sharon Liu, who started by helping us redesign our website, has grown into an editor, writer, and coach over the last five years. And Summer, our quiet and constant coordinator, has been with us for over six years, assisting me in keeping everything running smoothly.    As I reflect on the past 10 years, I feel immense gratitude — for the team, for the community, and for the journey itself. There have been moments of doubt, growth, and transformation, but through it all, CandleX has remained a beacon of hope and support. Here’s to the next decade, and to continuing to make a difference, one story at a time.

Author: Xiaojie Qin Time: 30th Mar 2025 World Bipolar Day (this article was edited by Deepseek)   The Day I Heard the Words It was 2012. I sat in that public hospital office, weeks of whiplashing between crushing lows and frantic highs piling up behind me. I knew something was wrong.   When the doctor suggested " bipolar disorder ," my first reaction was bewildered amusement. What a fancy term, I thought. I never heard it before. It sounded almost glamorous — certainly not like something that could explain the storms inside me. That detached reaction, I now realize, was my mind's emergency exit. If I could suppress my curiosity and minimize the shock, maybe I wouldn't have to feel the icy finger of fear tracing my spine when she mentioned therapy, medication, and countless hospital visits. The thing was, I didn’t even trust the treatments in that hospital who had nothing more than medications to offer.   "I'll be fine on my own," I declared — to myself, to the universe. Now, looking back across a decade, I recognize that moment for what it was: not defiance, but terror wearing hope's clothing. The kind of hope that isn't hope at all — just a placeholder until you're ready for the real work of healing.    When you fail to face it, life finds a way to force your hand. After an even deeper depressive episode — one that left no room for denial — I finally began the long-overdue work. But I did it in my own way: not alone in a psychiatrist’s office, but by gathering others alongside me. In a twist of irony, my hypomania became an unlikely ally, fueling the reckless courage needed to act on ideas without overthinking. That’s how CandleX   was born in 2015 — not from polished plans, but from the storm itself.  A page in Syzygy book by Pere Ibanez Breaking Silence with Portraits and Stories I remember that CandleX’s first mental health peer support group vividly. Seven or eight people showed up that evening, and what surprised me most was that over half of them were living with bipolar disorder. For the first time, I wasn't alone in this experience. Over the years, that group became something sacred - a confidential space where people could share their struggles and discover unexpected strength in each other's company.    But I came to realize that real change required moving beyond those safe circles. Stigma, after all, thrives in darkness. So in 2016, I created MoodLaB  - a bold attempt to shine light on bipolar disorder through portraits and personal stories. I'll never forget my initial fear that no one would want to participate. Yet person after person came forward, willing to be photographed and interviewed with raw honesty. Their courage still moves me deeply.    What began as a simple photography project soon breathed with its own heartbeat. Over five transformative years, MoodLaB blossomed beyond our walls — into stereotype-shattering workshops, photo exhibitions that crossed oceans to spark dialogue, and ultimately an award-winning book by the artist Pere Ibanz in collaboration with us on bipolar disorder. But the memory that still glows brightest for me is our community panel at the Camera Stylo launch event, the early summer in 2019. There, in one radiant collision of energy, photographer Pere Ibañez, my good friend and enthusiastic supporter of what I do, Helena as the panel discussion moderator, psychologist Dr. Theo on the panel, Enoch the interviewer and writer of our stories, CandleX's devoted volunteers, the brave MoodLaB storytellers who'd bared their souls before our lenses, and our support group's most active members — all gathered as witnesses and creators of this movement we'd built together.    The electricity in that room — the tears, laughter, and nodding recognition — captured everything I dreamed of when I first imagined MoodLaB: not just raising awareness, but forging real human bridges where before there'd only been silence.    The same year, we partnered with My Therapist 简单心理 for psychoeducation articles, and we’ve done quite a few talks and workshops on bipolar disorder in the community and in schools in Beijing. In 2021, I Interviewed a Chinese woman, Kelly, hospitalized for bipolar , her story smashing cultural taboos   Every step of our effort was guided by three principles: authenticity, honesty, and strength. We didn’t just "raise awareness" — we proved that living fully with bipolar was possible.    Photos from CandleX’s various MoodlaB events   From a Patient to a Therapist Years after that day of sitting in the psychiatrist’s office, I became a therapist myself. I would sit across from clients asking the same questions I once asked: will I ever recover completely? My answer is always the same: recovery isn't about erasing bipolar disorder — it's about learning to work with it. Those intense emotions, that boundless energy, the crushing lows — they're part of a spectrum that can be both superpower and setback. The goal isn't to "fix" ourselves, but to understand these forces well enough to steer them.    The work isn’t over. But look how far we’ve come.    Today, on World Bipolar Day 2025, I celebrate them. I celebrate us.

2025年3月21日，CandleX的创始人兼总监秦小杰女士受邀提供由香江扶轮社（Rotary）俱乐部主席Ferry金阳组织的心理健康讲座，在定期的午餐聚会时间举行，该活动收入由香江扶轮社捐赠到公益项目中。 活动在一个充满特色的在北京顺义罗马湖的台北香邨餐厅举行，该餐厅由俱乐部成员之一创办，环境温馨有很多的复古家具、首饰和装饰，菜品非常美味，且富有文化氛围，为活动增添了独特的体验感。 On March 21, 2025, Ms. Qin Xiaojie, the founder and director of CandleX, was invited to provide in a mental health lecture organized by Mr. Ferry, the president of the Rotary Club of Xiangjiang Beijing The event took place during the club's regular lunch gathering, and the proceeds were donated by the Rotary Club public welfare projects. The event was held at the Taipei Xiang Village Restaurant, located by the Shunyi Rome Lake in Beijing, a venue known for its distinctive charm. The restaurant, founded by one of the club members, offered a warm atmosphere adorned with vintage furniture, jewelry, and decorations. The delicious cuisine and rich cultural ambiance added a unique experiential touch to the event. 活动以放松的形式展开，结合午餐与心理健康探讨，此次活动是中文进行。在午餐前，秦小杰女士带领大家进行了一小时的向内探索，一如既往，CandleX的活动从简单到冥想练习，关注呼吸与自我觉知开始，为后续的讨论奠定了基调。参与者逐渐进入状态，开始关注内心的感受，并将这种自我觉察的概念贯穿到整个工作坊中。 本次活动共有20余人参与，背景多样，大家对心理健康的关注点也各不相同。因此，活动前期临时调整为让每位参与者分享自己关心的心理健康话题，并在现场将这些内容列出，找到其中的关联性，进而有针对性地解答常见问题。讨论内容涵盖以下几个方面： 角色与心理健康：探讨个人在社会、家庭中的角色如何影响心理健康。 家庭结构与心理健康：分析家庭环境对成员，特别是青少年心理健康的影响。 行为主义与教育：讨论惩罚与消退两种互动方式对青少年行为的不同影响。 自我观察与接纳：强调观察与接纳是提升心理健康的基本能力，并通过“积极关注”练习，引导大家观察桌上的奶茶，用五官感受当下，觉察内心。 The event unfolded in a relaxed format, combining lunch with discussions on mental health in Chinese. Before the meal, Ms. Qin Xiaojie led the participants in an hour of inward exploration. As is customary with CandleX events, the session began with simple meditation practices, focusing on breathing and self-awareness, setting the tone for the subsequent discussions. Gradually, the participants became more attuned to their inner feelings, carrying this concept of self-awareness throughout the workshop. The event was attended by around 20 individuals from diverse backgrounds, each with different interests about mental health. As a result, the initial plan was adjusted to allow each participant to share their own mental health topics of interest. These topics were then listed on the spot, and connections were drawn between them to address common questions more effectively. The discussions covered the following areas: Roles and Mental Health: Exploring how an individual's roles in society and family affect their mental health. Family Structure and Mental Health: Analyzing the impact of family environments on the mental health of its members, particularly adolescents. Behaviorism and Education: Discussing the different effects of punishment and extinction as interaction methods on adolescent behavior. Self-Observation and Acceptance: Emphasizing that observation and acceptance are fundamental skills for improving mental health. Through a "positive attention" exercise, participants were guided to observe a cup of milk tea on the table, using their senses to experience the present moment and become aware of their inner states. 作为一名心理咨询师、以及正念习练者以及引导者，秦女士到工作坊总是在一个有松有弛的节奏下进行：活动设计注重节奏的平衡，既有思考讨论，也有体验互动，帮助参与者在轻松的氛围中学习，避免过度消耗（burnout）。 作为嘉宾，我们CandleX也是参与者，很深刻的感受到香江扶轮社俱乐部到活动，给每一个人提供了宝贵的社会连接与真诚沟通的场合：活动为会员提供了面对面交流的机会，增进了彼此的了解。大家不仅分享了各自的热情与志愿工作经历，还建立了深厚的社会连接。参与者背景多元，但都展现出深刻的求知欲、开放的态度以及对心理健康的热爱，这种多样性为讨论增添了丰富的视角。 CandleX也为大家提供一对一的心理健康指导、心理咨询（包括成人和青少年）、青少年赋能项目等，请关注我们的公众号。我们也持续支持社区心理健康，并为香江扶轮社区开放两个名额，进行 哀伤辅导半公益心理咨询 。 本次活动不仅是一次心理健康知识的分享，更是一次身心的放松与连接。通过冥想、讨论和体验，参与者不仅学到了实用的心理健康技巧，也在轻松的氛围中感受到了自我觉察的力量。活动的成功离不开香江扶轮社俱乐部的组织与支持，以及每一位参与者的热情投入。 期待未来有更多类似的活动，帮助更多人关注心理健康，建立真诚的社会连接，共同营造一个更加包容与支持的社会环境。 As a psychotherapist, mindfulness practitioner, and facilitator, Ms. Qin always conducts her workshops with a balanced rhythm of relaxation and engagement. The event design emphasizes a harmonious pace, incorporating both thoughtful discussions and interactive experiences, helping participants learn in a relaxed atmosphere while avoiding burnout. As guests, we at CandleX were also participants, deeply appreciating how the Xiangjiang Rotary Club Beijing provided a valuable platform for social connection and genuine communication. The event offered members the opportunity to interact face-to-face, fostering mutual understanding. Participants not only shared their passions and volunteer experiences but also built meaningful social connections. Despite their diverse backgrounds, everyone exhibited a profound curiosity, open-mindedness, and a passion for mental health, enriching the discussions with varied perspectives. CandleX also offers one-on-one mental health coaching, psychological therapy (for both adults and adolescents), and youth empowerment programs. Please folow our official account for more information. We are committed to supporting community mental health and are offering two semi-public welfare counseling slots for  grief and loss counseling  to the Xiangjiang Rotary Club Beijing. This event was not just a sharing of mental health knowledge but also an opportunity for relaxation and connection. Through meditation, discussions, and experiential activities, participants not only gained practical mental health skills but also experienced the power of self-awareness in a relaxed setting. The success of the event was made possible by the organization and support of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong and the enthusiastic participation of everyone involved. We look forward to more events like this in the future, helping more people focus on mental health, build genuine social connections, and collectively create a more inclusive and supportive social environment.

‘Over the last eight years, I have encountered many challenges both as a facilitator and as the manager of our mental health peer support group . I’ve documented our experiences, trained our facilitators, and brought all our learnings together in creating a manual. I hope that by sharing this with others, more mental health activists can get a better start and do great work in China supporting our very own community. ’ - Xiaojie Qin Director of CandleX Training Details Date: 21st Apr, Sunday 2025 Time: 2:30pm-5:30pm Location: Online via Voov/Tencent Language: English Cost: 500rmb, no refund. Registration: Please contact Summer via QR code. Training Format: The training will be a combination of lecture, demonstration, group discussion, role-play, and hands-on activities. Participants may have the opportunity to practice their facilitation skills and receive feedback from the trainer and other participants. Opportunity to become a CandleX Support Group Facilitator Since 2015, we have welcomed four generations of facilitators into our program, and we provide a timeline of 1-2 years for each facilitator to develop a strong foundation of knowledge and skills. By participating in our training, attendees will be positioned to be considered as potential candidates for becoming a facilitator within our SG program. Here are some of the key benefits of becoming a mental health peer support group facilitator, listed as bullet points: Hands-on experience working with individuals facing mental health challenges, as a peer. Enhanced empathy and emotional intelligence through active listening and understanding of human emotions. Development of valuable skills in facilitation and project management, and strong foundation for future studies or work in the mental health field. Deeply rewarding experience of seeing the positive impact of your efforts on others. Opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to mental health awareness and support in your community. This year marks our 10th year of running our support group  in Beijing. Seeing increasing need from emerging community members for us to do more on mental health, we are now providing training to prepare individuals to get on the path of mental health advocates and group leaders. This upcoming training provides practical guidance and knowledge based on accumulated experiences from challenges our facilitators have encountered, ethical considerations, and issues we have had running the support group. We will also go over our internal training manual that outlines the structure of CandleX’s signature program - mental health support group - and the step by step tasks of facilitation. By doing this, we hope to empower more people to get an easier start on creating their own mental health groups and projects in China.   Who Should Attend: Mental health professionals including therapists and coaches Mental Health Peer support facilitators Community mental health advocates Anyone interested in get on the path of becoming a mental health professional   Learning Objectives: Understand the principles of group facilitation and group dynamics Learn effective communication skills Develop conflict resolution skills Develop strategies for creating a safe and inclusive space for group members Learn about self-care and how to manage burnout   Certificate You will get a certificate from us to indicate that you have completed this 3-hour training. More About the Training Content We created a question bank based on facilitator’s debrief, which we do  and document after every session. Over the years, we have engaged in discussions and mini-trainings amongst support group program team members as well as external experts to answer these questions.   Note: our 3-hour training does not intend to cover all topics due to limitation of time. To make sure that this training is relevant to the training participants, I’d like you to look at the questions, and pick no more than 3 as your own learning objectives. Training Questions Bank Facilitator’s Self Awareness and Management What's your style as a facilitator? What are the self-beliefs that could get in the way of facilitation? What is the skill that a facilitator needs to keep in mind when we are confronted with difficult situations? How to proceed with the session as a facilitator when feeling triggered by a topic that has been or is being discussed? What are the traps a facilitator could fall into when facilitating in a group?  Facilitator’s self-care: there are responsibilities in being a facilitator, as well as benefits of feeling the meaning of life by giving, learning new skills. How do you balance your responsibilities to the group without compromising your own wellbeing? Conflict Resolution Skills How to deal with conflicts amongst participants when happening in session? How to model disagreement respectfully? What should we do when we disagree with our peer facilitators? Group Dynamics Management Skills What general attitudes participants have towards facilitators? How to manage a participant who gives advices when not asked? What to do when a participant is in distress when sharing, intense emotional reaction during self-disclosure? How do respond to situations where a participant damages the progress of the session? How do we know when we need to take that person out of the room? What to do or not to do if there’s prolonged silence in session? Learn how to manage one or a few people who cannot stop talking or who interrupt others inappropriately? Improve the Operation What are the risks running a mental health group, and how do you mitigate such risks? Should the group sessions have a topic or it’s better to offer a topic free space? How do we get people to give feedback more? What negative feedback we’ve gotten so far? how do we improve? How to manage the expectations of participants towards the facilitator? About the Trainer Xiaojie Qin A psychotherapist, the director of CandleX, with more than a decade of experiences working with groups, as a researcher, an interviewer, a group facilitator, a group therapist, as well as manager of such groups. You can learn about her work on psychotherapy by reading Xiaojie’s therapy profile  here.

We do not live in the experiences we have, but the narratives of our experiences. Take some time to write it. We are here to guide you and support you in this beautiful but challenging process, so you can integrate moments of your life into a coherent story. Xiaojie Qin Psychotherapist, Director of CandleX 2024 Storytelling is a key part CandleX’s approach to raising mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and fostering authentic human connection. As early as 2016, we started  “My Story with Depression | Column Launch” , which brings together community-submitted stories about personal experiences with mental health. The initiative, which includes  Teens Open Letter  and  My Emotions, My Stories , has been away for members of the community to share their personal struggles through writing. When we are faced with life’s challenges, it can be difficult to process our feelings and vulnerabilities. Expressive writing is a healthy way to explore and give voice to the thoughts & emotions we hold inside. The process of storytelling helps us to find meaning in our experiences and to understand the narrative we tell ourselves, as well as those around us. It enables us to acknowledge difficult emotions, release stress, and gain clarity that promotes healing and growth. If you are interested in exploring your mental health story, knowing where to start can be difficult. To provide further support and guidance, CandleX is now bringing together our storytelling with coaching services through the Coaching Support For Your Mental Health Story program. In this program, the focus is on facilitating personal growth through coaching, with writing as an aid.  Coaching is a partnership in which you are supported in your personal development while working towards goals that align with your beliefs and values. Coaching centered around mental wellbeing can involve bringing mindful awareness to your emotional world, exploring the mind-body relationship, and shifting internal perspectives from inner critic to compassionate self.  Stories written in this project will be primarily for the personal use of our writers. You can choose to keep it private, or publish it to the CandleX platform to share your perspectives and stories with the international community in China. Mental health matters. Your stories matter. CandleX community matters. Check out some of our CandleX Community Stories: Chapter 4: Shimmering in the Dark | Katelyn’s Story Many Faces | One Model, One Story Meeting Myself on the Mat | Xiaojie’s story with Yoga Details & Registration Outcomes : Self-Growth: Coaching supports you with developing compassionate self-awareness, accountability to goals, and living in alignment with your core values & beliefs. Improve mental & emotional wellbeing, and discover empowering shifts in perspective. Community Empowerment: The opportunity to publish your story and become a community advocate for mental health awareness. A chance to get more involved in mental health projects with CandleX, such as being interviewed when we get press interview invites. Structure : 1 hour per session 10 sessions of one-on-one, weekly coaching over 3 months, with writing and revision in between. Fee : 3000rmb. Fee is non-refundable. Location : Online Language : English Registration : Scan QR code to connect with Sharon on WeChat Rules and Principles : All coaching will be conducted according to the International Coaching Federation’s ethical standards and guidelines. Everything shared within coaching sessions will remain confidential between coach, client, and supervisor  Xiaojie Qin . Project Overview Writing to Heal consists of 3 phases. Choose A Topic, Write Your Story, and Reflection. The number of sessions dedicated to each phase will depend on individual need.  1. Choose A Topic In this initial phase your coach will work with you to set the foundation for the next 3 months. Your coach will start by getting to know you, as well as your goals & expectations for this program. You’ll establish clarity on what storytelling means to you, what it is that you want to express based on your personal experiences and values, and how your coach can best support you. There’s no pressure to choose a topic immediately- what’s most important is to take the time & space for you to freely explore what’s present. We will move to the next phase when you are ready. 2. Write Your Story Once you have chosen a topic, you will start to write your story. Your coach will guide you through revisions and polishing until you feel it is complete. While writing is a therapeutic act, working with topics related to mental health can be emotionally demanding and difficult emotions may arise. Your coaching sessions are a safe space for you to bring any thoughts & feelings you would like support with during this process. 3. Reflection After your story is complete, you will connect with your coach for reflection. What has changed in you since the start of the project? How has coaching supported you in processing past & current emotions? What have you discovered about yourself? What does it mean to you to have written this story? Your coach will work with you in bringing awareness to what you are taking away from this experience, and how these insights may continue to support your mental wellbeing. Continued Support The coaching relationship will continue throughout any remaining sessions after your storywriting is complete. In these sessions, you may choose to continue exploring the takeaways from the past weeks and the impacts these insights have on your life. You may choose to use this space to set, review, or establish accountability for personal goals. There may be specific events or decision points that you would like support on. Any topics relevant to your mental health and wellbeing are welcome. Coach Profile Sharon Liu’s coaching practice supports clients' personal growth with a mindfulness-based & trauma-informed approach. Through deep listening, reflection, and inquiry- evoking mental, emotional, and bodily awareness- she holds space for contemplation and insight into the innermost self. Sharon holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Art and master's in Visual Cultures. She is currently in training for her Associate Certified Coach accreditation with the ICF. In addition to coaching she also works in UX design, with a focus on wellbeing and social impact projects. Her role at CandleX includes website designer, community writing editor, and media management. Fluent in English and Mandarin, Sharon has lived and worked in the US, UK, and China where she is currently based in Hainan. Supervisor Profile

国际学校教职工培训回顾 ｜ 青少年心理健康初步救援 As a service provider, CandleX Business was delighted to offer a comprehensive Teen’s Psychological First Aid Training for Staff in Chinese for WAB, a leading international school in Beijing, in November, 2024. The workshop was tailored specifically for the Chinese staff and conducted entirely in Chinese, making it an inclusive and relevant learning experience. 作为服务提供商，CandleX非常荣幸于2024年11月在北京顶尖的国际学校京西举办了一场全面的青少年心理健康初步救援教职工培训。该培训专为中国教职员工量身定制，全程使用中文进行，营造了一种包容且相关的学习体验。 Our experienced trainer, Xiaojie Qin, psychotherapist and director of CandleX led the session with a focus on psychoeducation related to teenagers, their typical developmental stages, and the warning signs of crisis that teachers and staff should be aware of. Xiaojie emphasized the importance of intervening when necessary and clarified the staff's role in providing psychological first aid in accordance with the school's policy. 我们经验丰富的培训师、心理咨询师、CandleX总监秦小杰女士，提供本次培训，重点讲解了与青少年相关的心理教育，包括他们的典型发展阶段以及教职员工应意识到的危机预警信号。秦女士在培训中强调了必要时进行干预的重要性以及相关干预方式，并明确了教职员工根据学校政策提供心理救援的角色。 To ensure maximum efficiency, we conducted two back-to-back training sessions, with careful attention to maintaining a manageable group size of 30-40 participants per session, which is 2.5 hours each. This allowed for a more personalized and interactive learning experience, fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. 为确保最高效率，我们同日连续举办了两场培训，并特别注意保持每场培训的参与者人数在30-40人，以便达到培训最好的效果。这种安排为学员提供了更加个性化和互动的学习体验，营造了一种支持和协作的氛围。 Candlex's training approach combined presentations, hands-on experiences, and focused discussions. Xiaojie utilized real-life cases from the participants' everyday work environments to facilitate engaging discussions and encourage the development of practical solutions. This approach not only helped to unpack complex concepts but also provided a clear and actionable framework for intervention guidelines. Candlex的培训方法结合了讲解、实践操作和专题讨论。小杰利用与教职工日常工作环境相关的真实案例来促进深入讨论，并鼓励学员分享实用的解决方案，讲学员已有的有效操作强化，并且延展出其他有效方式，这种方法不仅有助于分解复杂的概念，还为干预指南提供了一个清晰且可操作的框架。 Overall, the workshop was a resounding success, with participants expressing their appreciation for the valuable insights and skills they acquired. Candlex is proud to have contributed to the well-being of students at WAB by equipping the staff with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively support teenagers in crisis. We look forward to providing similar training opportunities in the future. 总体而言，此次培训取得了巨大成功，参与者纷纷表示对所获得的有价值见解和技能表示赞赏。Candlex为能够通过为教职员工提供必要的知识和工具，有效支持需要心理健康初步救援的青少年，从而为京西学生的福祉做出贡献而感到自豪。

From August to November 2024, Xiaojie Qin, a psychotherapist and the director of CandleX, was invited to provide technical support as a consultant for UNICEF's 2024 China's World Children's Day Campaign, themed "Mental Health in Schools." Moreover, she involved her mentee, Katie Lai, a high school student, in this campaign process to adopt a teenage-consulted approach.   In terms of adolescent mental health, Xiaojie's current scope of work includes seeing teenage clients as their therapist, managing and executing CandleX's Teens Empowerment Project, and providing various trainings in schools to both students and faculty on topics such as bullying, psychological first-aid, and mental illness trainings for teachers. Additionally, during her tenure with a renewed international NGO, Xiaojie served as the China representative on the International Task Group for Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing.   UNICEF China's World Children's Day campaign for 2024, themed "Mental Health in Schools," aimed to build upon the previous "Stronger Mind, Stronger You" initiative by focusing on mental health for both adolescents and younger, school-age children. In this context, Xiaojie was engaged to provide technical support to ensure that the campaign's messaging was professionally crafted and aligned with best practices in discussing mental health. Her role was crucial in reviewing video scripts, social media posts, promotional materials, and play scripts for the World Children's Day event, ensuring that they achieved optimal results.   Throughout the three-month process, Xiaojie provided valuable insights and recommendations, along with Katie’s input, ensuring that the messaging was clear, concise, and resonated with the intended audience. Xiaojie's expertise was instrumental in shaping the campaign's narrative and tone, making it more impactful and relatable. Her prompt and thorough responses provided clarity and reassurance to stakeholders and the audience alike, and were greatly appreciated. As a result, Katie Lai, a teenager consulted on a high-level campaign project with UNICEF, was empowered and gained valuable insights from real-life practice on mental health work. She worked on specific consultancy tasks with guidance from Xiaojie. This was a unique and special opportunity, and it aligned with CandleX's Teens Empowerment Project, which aims to provide teens with real-life experiences to help them understand the theory taught in schools and practice in day-to-day work, and better understand their own strengths and areas of interest.

In November 2024, Xiaojie Qin, psychotherapist and director of CandleX, was interviewed by two mainstream media outlets, Reuters and The Guardian, regarding the recent incidents of "anti-society attacks," with particular focus on the high-profile event in Zhuhai that resulted in dozens of casualties. These incidents have garnered considerable interest from Western media, who seem particularly intrigued by the underlying causes.   To read more about this, please visit Reuters and The Guardian’s article. Screenshot of the news by Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/china/mass-casualty-attacks-china-put-focus-mental-health-economy-slows-2024-11-19/ Screenshot of the news The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/22/china-deals-with-violence-amid-revenge-against-society-attacks?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other In her opinion, Xiaojie stated, "I am not a sociologist but a psychotherapist working at the grassroots level. Therefore, my insights may not have the same validity as those who can monitor and observe such phenomena on a national scale."   She further elaborated that societal stability is intricately linked to income disparity and social security infrastructure. "If you examine the Gini Coefficient Index, it has been hovering above 0.4, the warning threshold, for decades. Over the past ten years, we have observed a slight decline... The national social security infrastructure, including health, pension, and education, has consistently been a focus of attention for the government. Balancing the pursuit of excellence while maintaining the foundational blocks of economic, societal, and political stability is indeed a challenging endeavor. We cannot conclude that these incidents reflect a decline in China's societal stability, just as we cannot say that a person with the flu is unhealthy overall."

Updated in Nov 2024. Moving to a new country, going through a breakup, losing a job, or living with mental conditions are very challenging. Yet, there’s no reason to suffer alone when one can choose to join hands with others and let the power of connection and group support encourage and heal us. In the absence of such social support in Beijing, CandleX established the peer support group in October, 2015, with the goal to provide psychosocial support to Beijing community. It provides a safe and supportive environment for people living in and out of Beijing to share personal thoughts and experiences in small, confidential gatherings. To understand this project, or if yo u’d like to read our 1st , 2nd and 3rd year support group review, please visit https://www.candlex.cn/mental-health-support-group . CandleX Other Available Resources If you are in a crisis, please seek a professional immediately at the same time. Your will find useful information on our crisis page . If you’re more interested in how to navigate the mental health world and get more info on how to get support or get treatment, for you or someone you know, please check out our pretreament guidance   program. If you are looking for professional support, you can check out Xiaojie Qin , our director and psychotherapist’s page. Peer Support Key Information Peer support group Participants: Our support groups are for people living with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or suicide ideation. The support group is especially effective for newcomers who are in situations of lack of social support, experiencing shame and guilt of having depression or people who present an elevated risk of mental illness. Date: every second and fourth Tuesday (both offline by default) Time : 19:30-21:00 Location: near Dongdaqiao (Details will be communicated via a confirmation email after 4 pm, the day before each meeting) Language: English Max number: 7 people each session Fee: 88rmb, 30rmb for students, financial aid is available for those going through financial difficulties Registration via scanning QR code , or click on https://yoopay.cn/event/05475102 . Support Group coordinator will reach out via private message to confirm your registration after screening and payment. Peer Group Principles We gather to share our stories and feelings, help and give each other emotional support when dealing with the difficult emotions，recognize the importance of tending to and promote our own self-care. We use guided meditation and breathing exercises to create safe, peaceful and comfortable environment for sharing . We shall not be held responsible for group member’s safety. We all are peers. There are no professionals in this group. CandleX will not be responsible for people engaging in self-harm or suicidal ideations. By signing up to the peer support group, I understand and agree to release CandleX and its staff or volunteers from any or all liability connected to my own participation, including but not limited to any forms of self-harm or suicide. Confidentiality: All information shared with the group is strictly confidential. All new participants will need to register first for eligibility screening. Some information related to the group dynamics and facilitation may be used for an internal debrief between facilitators and the Support Group manager to improve the quality of sessions and to empower others to set up support groups during facilitator’s training. No graphic description of suicide, self-harm and death as it may trigger some of the attendees. Please note that this is a Peer Support Group , there will be one facilitator throughout the session to monitor the progress of each session and facilitate group interactions, no professional therapists will be attending. We have a WeChat group (that you may join after attending at least one meeting) where you would be informed of Beijing community mental health events, as well as other information that might be helpful for your recovery. Community Contribution: We conduct regular internal debriefs between facilitators and the Support Group manager to ensure continuous quality check, learning and improvement. Additionally, we offer facilitator training programs to empower others to establish their own groups. During these training and debrief sessions, we handle information related to group dynamics and facilitation with sensitivity and care. We also compile an annual report on the demographics of our attendees to help the Beijing and broader community better understand our efforts and establish complementary groups, ensuring that all our initiatives are aligned and cohesive. If you have any concerns or feedback of the support group, we welcome you to let us know by emailing it to xiaojie.qin@candlex.cn . The concern would be handled sensitively directly by CandleX’s director. All information can be found on our website under " Get Help ".

CandleX's founder and Director, Xiaojie Qin , is a psychotherapist. If you need psychotherapy, please contact her via her therapy email at xiaojieqin2020@163.com As mental health awareness grows, more and more people are curious about seeking psychotherapy. CandleX aims to provide learning resources to support those who may be navigating this space for the first time. In this educational video series you’ll find answers to commonly asked questions, practical advice, and nuanced insights from psychotherapist Qin Xiaojie that will help you make informed decisions along your therapeutic journey. Watch videos here !