Just as we all need to know how to perform CPR in case of a cardiac emergency, it is equally crucial that we learn how to support someone who is suicidal. Xiaojie Qin Psychotherapist and Director of CandleX We understand that supporting a friend, family member, or colleague who is experiencing suicidal thoughts or attempts can be an overwhelming and isolating experience. You may feel helpless, confused, or even frightened. But you are not alone in this journey. We are conducting an online workshop in Aug 2024 from Beijing, exclusively for those who are providing support to individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts or attempts. Event Details Date: 3pm-5pm, Friday, 25th Aug 2024 Content: 40-60mins webinar and 60 mins interactive workshop Platform: Online Registration: Helen Ya (QR code below) Who should Participate: you have or are dealing with a colleague, a friend or a family member who is suicidal Fee: 380rmb, no refund (financial aid available for those with limited income) Presenter and Facilitator: Xiaojie Qin  (profile in the end) Suicide happens more often than we think. Check out this new interview video: Real Answers: A Look at Suicide 2024 If you are hesitant about attending group sessions to discuss sensitive topics, at CandleX, we offer a pre-treatment guidance session , which is one on one. We provide this private session as an option. Xiaojie,, partially volunteers her time to offer this support. Please be advised that each person is only eligible for one such session, with a maximum duration of 60 minutes. Expected Outcome Understanding of Suicidal Stages: Attendees will develop a basic understanding of the psychological stages associated with suicidal ideation. This knowledge will help them identify when someone may be in crisis and in need of immediate intervention. Ability to Differentiate Real Suicidal Risk: Participants will learn to distinguish between genuine suicidal expressions and those made for attention or other reasons. This skill is crucial in ensuring that true emergencies are not overlooked or underestimated. Awareness of Do's and Don'ts: Participants will gain clarity on the appropriate actions to take when supporting someone experiencing suicidal thoughts. They will also learn what not to do, avoiding potentially harmful reactions or statements. Resources Available for extra support: Participants will get a list of resources available in China both professional and psychosocial support, including those for English-speaking residents in China. About Facilitator  - Xiaojie Qin Psychotherapist, director of CandleX. She has been promoting awareness on suicide, engaging in suicide prevention community work since 2015, through conducting and engaging in panel discussions, workshops and webinars, interviews and media outreach, providing individual support to people as a therapist. Check out some of what we have done on the topic of suicide since 2015: Making Up for My Existence | Depression Stories Event Review | Panel Discussion on Opening up About the Taboo In the Moment of Blur | Sam’s Story with Depression Lesson 6.3 Caring for a friend with depression- reacting to suicide/crisis situations Suicide Awareness: My Reflections | Community Writing Talking about suicide: what I have learned | event review Awareness Raising Partners

In July 2024, CandleX I interviewed four individuals well-known in the wellbeing community in China. The intention was to raise awareness of a topic that we do not discuss sufficiently. They were not aware of the questions beforehand. These questions were challenging, and after the interviews, they were given time to consider whether they wished to continue participating in our awareness-raising initiative in Beijing for the community regarding suicide. We are grateful that they chose to join us in focusing attention on suicide. If you have lost someone to suicide or are experiencing suicidal thoughts or attempts, please get in touch with us by scanning the code below. In the meantime, you can visit our website to learn more about the psychosocial support available at CandleX and beyond. From July to September 2024, we will be conducting support groups and webinars to support those in need. 2024 Suicide Awareness Raising Partners

15th July 2024, Xiaojie Qin, Psychotherapist and Director of CandleX joined Qi Social Innovation Center on their opening day of their year-long fellowship program for youth innovation. Xiaojie, as a psychotherapist, and mentor of youth, have extensive experiences working with teenagers. Xiaojie, as a social entrepreneur, shared her experiences designing projects and the formula of a long lasting drive and source of innovation by bringing the attention to the inner world of the innovator. We are very excited to see Qi Social Innovation Center launching the year-long program to high school students, and providing them an environment and intensive support to explore their potential and build their awareness, and promote social services that will be driven by this generation. We encourage you to subscribe to their channel, and know more about what they do as a social enterprise, and don’t miss the next opportunity you have to grow with them.

Xiaojie Qin Psychotherapist, Director of CandleX April 2024 On long journeys, our hearts yearn for clarity, hoping to find answers that guide our way. May these travels enlighten our minds, and bring us closer to the truth we seek. As poetic as it is, many of us returning home disappointed with the fact that clarity seems to be just in other people's stories. As someone who happen to have both successful and unsuccessful experiences, I know traveling, this act it self, doesn't bring clarity. what's missing in that equation? I want to attempt to answer that question reflecting on my most recent trip in Brazil in March 2024. I went to Atlantic Forest in Brazil and stayed in the raw tropical jungle for about 3 weeks, disconnecting from the unnecessary stimuli in the city. During this time, I gradually regained the sharpness of my senses. The serene mind and grounding experience of being one with nature in the wilderness revitalized me to the extent that I felt lighter, more at ease and whole, and more joyful. Upon returning home to the hustle and bustle of Beijing, a megacity, the first two weeks after coming home have been particularly challenging. I did not feel as though I had gained any clarity, and instead, I encountered a significant amount of confusion in trying to comprehend each day as though something doesn't feel right. Prior to my trip, I had a daily structure and underlying principles that drive my days forward with a momentum. However, post-jungle trip, I feel even more uncertain about certain things, let alone the ambiguous things, which has led to frustration, confusion, and even a sense of defeat. As someone who is accustomed to getting things done quickly, I know that I must resist the temptation to return to my normal working schedule despite the urge to do so. Fortunately, I have a supportive boss who trusts me in always trying to best at work, and that boss is me. I continue to remind myself to do less than what I expect of myself until the confusion fades in its own time. Oh, the irony! Did it not take years of practice to simply learn to PAUSE? A pause after a relaxing jungle trip? Yes, indeed! In that disorienting space, I finally began to comprehend that the foggy feelings I am experiencing is an essential phase for integrating my emotional jungle experience into the logical mind that dictates my schedules and activities that make up my life. I have always held the belief that our body and mind possess the incredible gift of syncing with each other, allowing us to evolve into the next version of ourselves. However, this evolution cannot occur unless we take a pause. Kinda like a you can not use your phone when new software is being installed. We must learn how to pause, and most importantly, to be brave enough to pause, and the magic will ensue naturally. Two significant turning points in my career occurred after extended revitalizing rests in Thailand and India. Both times, I embarked on a path that didn't know that exist. Actually they did not exist. I created those paths for myself, not right away after my trips, but months and months after my trip. Did I know I was creating those path. during those months, I didn't. I simply slowed down and give up finding solutions to issues, and start devoting my energy in areas that I feel called for, aka, what I want to do. Looking back, the dots all align. As Steve Jobs famously stated: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards." He described a phenomena with such precision. I can not agree more. We can not THINK about what we want. We can not use the logic mind to fix a problem that the logic mind creates in the first place. Therefore, we must pause, take a significant, daunting pause. Allow yourself to see the world through the eyes of your heart, and wait patiently. As time passes, clarity will emerge in your vision. Deep within my heart, I know that in the coming months or even longer, things will settle into their rightful places, and if I remind myself to pause, they will find even better places. I have experienced this before, and I will again. So there it is. Have you grasped the concept? The other half of the equation is pause. So, pause.

"I don't know how to talk about it." When we lose someone to suicide, suddenly, we find ourselves without words that could help us understand what's happening inside us, and the thought of discussing it with others is stressful. I also cannot fully say that I know how to talk about it on the community level either, even though I have done many talks, presentations, and workshops around this topic, and I am a therapist who works with clients who are suicidal or who have lost someone to suicide. My heart goes out to people whose lives have changed when they lose someone to suicide. Xiaojie Qin Psychotherapist, Director of CandleX In 2024, the month of World Suicide Prevention Day (10th Sep 2024), CandleX invites you to step into a space where we sit with the fact that we do not know how to talk about losing a loved one to suicide, and see where facing it might lead us. Event Details Date : 19:00-21:00, Sat 27th July 2024 Fee : 150rmb. Financial aid available for people with financial constraints- please contact admin. Location : Online from Beijing Language : English Registration : Scan Yoopay QR code to register The registration includes a screening form, consent confirmation, payment, and participation confirmation. Contact person : Helen Ya will send you a meeting link once confirmed Facilitator :  Xiaojie Qin  (profile at the end) What to expect: A 120-minute online event that aims to provide a safe and supportive space for those who have lost loved ones to suicide. This isn't a typical psychoeducational workshop; it's a shared journey where we'll all participate and work together to discover more about this sensitive topic. Who should attend? Individuals and families who have lost a loved one to suicide. Why should you attend? The grief that accompanies such a loss is often complex and layered, making it difficult to navigate. When suicide is involved, the grieving process can become even more complicated, often leading to trauma- and stressor-related disorders (TSD) or other mental health challenges. How should you prepare yourself for the event? Facing the topic of suicide can be daunting, especially for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. There may be hesitation, fear, and doubt in participation. The best way to prepare yourself is to take a leap of faith, and connect with others with similar experiences. The following resources are available to help you continue with your healing journey: Support Group Pre-Treatment Guidance Therapy Crisis Hotline We have been working on reducing stigma around suicide, and provide psychoeducation and psychosocial support since 2015. Please check out some of our articles below: Making Up for My Existence | Depression Stories Event Review | Panel Discussion on Opening up About the Taboo In the Moment of Blur | Sam’s Story with Depression Lesson 6.3 Caring for a friend with depression- reacting to suicide/crisis situations Suicide Awareness: My Reflections | Community Writing Talking about suicide: what I have learned | Event Review What are the principles of the event? By coming together in this space, we can offer each other empathy, support, and understanding. We'll create a confidential and non-judgmental environment where you can share your stories, experiences, and perspectives. There's no pressure to talk, and everyone is encouraged to approach the topic with self-compassion and empathy. Together, we'll work to navigate the complexities of grief and trauma after losing a loved one to suicide. We may not have all the answers, but by sharing our stories and experiences, we can gain valuable insights and perspectives that will help us move forward. You will find details of group principles and event guidelines that need your consent in the yoopay registration link. About the facilitator:

If you or anyone around you is in a situation where you are in need of advice or help, here are three suggestions as to what you could do to resolve the situation. Learn how you can help yourself: We’ve completed our online “Classroom”, which are articles we’ve written with the goal to support the community in taking care one’s mental health and giving guidance on how to respond to depression. If you are a friend or a family member of someone who is in a crisis, please go to our website and find “classroom”. Read “Lesson 6 Caring for A Friend with Depression” If you are experiencing a depressive episode, please go to our website and find “Classroom”. Read our 3 articles on “I have Major Depression” for self-help. 2. Go to CandleX’s Mental Health Peer Support Group in Beijing This is our website: www.CandleX.cn 3.Reach out to the crisis hotlines listed below For anyone in need of assistance in times of crisis, or just a listening ear, below are some recommended hotlines. They all offer anonymous, confidential support services and some of them offer it in the form of live chat. All services are free of charge: callers only need to pay the normal phone call rate. In addition to these, below are some that offer English services. You can call them to make an appointment with the doctors. For specific fees and rates, please contact the hospitals directly. In times of crisis, one may feel lost about what to do. Make a daily plan. Do one thing at a time. You can also read our blog on people in our CandleX community who have struggled with depression and shared their experiences. visit: www.candlex.cn/my-story-with-depression Please always believe that you're not alone, there're always people could be leaned on. And also, we love you. Please never ever give up hope.

When you or your loved ones feel depressed or are dealing with severe anxiety, it’s challenging to navigate your options for self-care and treatment resources in Beijing. In an effort to further support our mental health community, CandleX initiated this new service in 2020, pre-treatment, one on one consultation sessions with a qualified professional. Working with the community since 2015, we have seen a tremendous need to provide more tailored guidance for people that are overwhelmed by where to start. These one on one sessions will aim to provide sufficient information on the options available while making a plan for seeking mental health treatment. During the session, you will get sufficient information that take your preferences and unique history into consideration so they feel confident of your plan to seek treatments. The consultation is offered through a video call or voice call via Voov (Tencent call). You come in with questions, and we provide you with the best knowledge we have. Some basic questions include: I am seeking counseling/therapy treatment, but I do not know where to begin. This is my budget in terms of treatment, what options do I have? I have heard many different perspectives on medication; I am unsure whether medication is a good idea, what do you think? I ran out of medications, and I do not know where to get them in China. Can you help me? There are many types of therapies, how do you know which ones would be appropriate for me? If I go to a Chinese hospital, what would they do with my diagnosis, and would that affect my visa? Besides treatments, what are the resources available here to alleviate my symptoms? I have a close friend or a family member who is currently depressed, what can I do to support them? I have international insurance to cover my bills, but I am not sure if it’d be covered if I go to XYZ place. Note: We are not psychiatrists, so we do not advice you on which medication but to provide you psychoeducation on meds. This is not an exhaustive list. You can form your own questions We are not experts on everything. It is possible that we do not have answers to some of your questions, or it is not ethical for us to answer some questions. Fee and policy: 30mins: 300rmb 60mins: 500rmb The fee is not refundable, but you can transfer your time to another person and inform us. Who will you be speaking to: Xiaojie Qin Psychotherapist, and director of CandleX will be volunteering part of her time on this project. You will be speaking with her. please check out the following links and pages regarding her credentials and work in mental health. Psychotherapist: Xiaojie Media interviews of Xiaojie Psychoeducation video channel: Procedure: 1. You will fill out this form here (https://www.wjx.top/jq/90811632.aspx). 2. Add our coordinator Summer on your WeChat for scheduling. 3. One on one Guidance session Language: We provide this service in English and Chinese. In the meantime, we highly encourage you to check out these resources on our website. We developed them over the years to make sure everyone has the knowledge to deal with their mental conditions, and understand the services available in Beijing and in China. CandleX’s Resources Are you or a friend in crisis? Crisis Support Educational Resources CandleX Classroom Depression stories from our community members CandleX Column | My Story with Depression A CandleX production on Depression The Tiny Little Box | A Documentary on Depression Psychosocial Support Events Support Group Sign Ups - Biweekly

When you or your loved ones feel depressed or are dealing with severe anxiety, it’s challenging to navigate your options for self-care and treatment resources in Beijing. In an effort to further support our mental health community, CandleX is pleased to announce that we will be expanding our services to include pre-treatment and one on one consultation sessions. Working with the community since 2015, we have seen a tremendous need to provide more tailored guidance for people that are overwhelmed by where to start. These one on one sessions will aim to provide sufficient information on the options available while making a plan for seeking treatment. During these sessions, each person will get focused information that take their preferences and unique history into consideration so they feel confident with their plan to seek treatments. The program will be offered in two modes: text-based or phone call/Voov audio call based. Some basic questions that will be answered include: I am seeking counseling treatment, but I do not know where to begin. This is my budget in terms of treatment, what options do I have? I have heard many different perspectives on medication; I am unsure whether medication is a good idea, what do you think? I ran out of medications, and I do not know where to get them in China. Can you help me? There are many types of therapies, how do you know which ones would be appropriate for me? If I go to a Chinese hospital, what would they do with my diagnosis, and would that affect my visa? Besides treatments, what are the resources available here to alleviate my symptoms? I have a close friend or a family member who is currently depressed, what can I do to support them? I have international insurance to cover my bills, but I am not sure if it’d be covered if I go to XYZ place. Note: We are not psychiatrists, so we do not give advice you on which medications would be best for you. Instead, we aim to provide you general psychoeducation. This is not an exhaustive list. You can and should form your own questions that may be more relevant to your situation. We are not experts on everything. It is possible that we do not have answers to some of your questions, or it is not ethical for us to answer some questions. We are currently pilot testing to ensure we meet the community needs. The protocols and fees will be adjusted after the pilot period. Below are simple steps to follow to access our service for now. Fees and policy: Appointments are a minimum of 15 minutes (125 RMB per 15 minutes, 15-minute minimum). The fee is not refundable, but you can transfer your time to another person and inform us. Disclaimer: We might not have all the answers to all the questions you have. If we provide no response to your questions at all, we will refund your fee. It is possible that some questions that you ask are too specific and require us to do further research or consult our partners. The cost will be different for these specific situations. We will let you know upfront the price before you make the decision whether or not to use our services. Procedure: You will fill out this form here, and send us an email to info@candlex.cn with the estimated time needed for your session. After your details have been reviewed, you will be scheduled for a meeting time, and the method of preferred communication will be confirmed. One-on-one Guidance session (either via text or audio call) You will fill out the Feedback form Language: We provide this service in English and Chinese. In the meantime, we highly encourage you to check out the resources available throughout our website. We've developed them over the years to help ensure that everyone has the knowledge to deal with their mental conditions, and understand the services available in Beijing and in China.

Xiaojie, Psychotherapist and director of CandleX delivered a talk at Canadian Embassy in Feb 2024. Katie Lai , Participant of CandleX’s Teens Empowerment Project and Mentee of Xiaojie, was given the opportunity to join her and speak from her a teen’s perspective on this topic. We’d like to give special thanks to Canadian Embassy for co-creating this space for teen’s empowerment.   Katie Lai (17 years old) Hongkong China 2024 Friday, 2nd of February of 2024, I joined Xiaojie via Zoom from Hong Kong China, to participate in a mandarin talk with the Canadian Embassy situated in Beijing China; Xiaojie shared her remarkable journeys and experiences in shaping her balance to become a successful psychotherapist she is now. I was also honored to deliver a talk as a CandleX Teen Representor, discoursing my development, training, and growth in the Empowerment Program. With approximately 80+ audience online and 30 joining in Beijing and China, everyone was engaged; Even only participating through my laptop screen, I could feel the eagerness and enthusiasm of everyone involved.   It was a transformative and eye-opening experience for me; not only did I speak to a large audience pool which I had never done before, but I also learned an incomprehensible amount of knowledge from Xiaojie’s stories. One of the many things I have absorbed was the importance of prioritizing oneself’s well-being over anything. Personally, as a teenager, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of spiraling into non-stop stress and seemingly never-ending tasks to complete, expectations to fufill, and standards to meet. Xiaojie shared a personal experience of hers where she took the initiative and disconnected from work in Beijing to prioritize her mental health by traveling to Thailand. Which then, resulted in major positive outcomes and led to a transformation point of her life. I couldn’t help but feel inspired by the great leap in decision, but more of the courage and determination behind it; Xiaojie’s story taught me that walking away and taking a break is also a crucial step towards growth. On top of that, another essential reflection that I had accumulated was the significance to decidedly communicating and listening to more of others’ experiences through support groups. I found it interesting when Xiaojie laughed at her own self-tortures when she could put her situation in perspective attending peer support group sessions. The realization that everyone continues to thrive and live through similar, or even more severe misfortunes, indeed does create a sense of unitedness but also a motivation to blossom through hardships. This instantly made me think of the quote “Someone else in the world will always have it harder than you do”, a classic line my sister would always remind me of whenever I felt hopeless. It’s only by actively sharing and participating in discussions, that we get a closer dive into other people’s lives and remind ourselves of the society we live in; we are never suffering alone.   Perfectly aligning with my current situation, one crucial lesson that helped me a lot was learning and letting life events flow. Throughout the whole talk, I felt an unusual sense of calmness. I sat back and wondered why afterward to conclude that it was because everything purely felt natural and candid as if it was all meant to be. We always put ourselves in uncomfortable, even unsuitable positions in the name of maturing and gaining experience. However, disregarded and showed mistrust in life and its orders; many sought-after opportunities, big or small only come at the right time while we are in the right headspace. Personally, everything occurring seems so urgent and forcefully implemented, that I lose track and fall into the loophole of anxiety and wish to get everything done as efficiently as possible to take larger, wider leaps. This experience taught me that it’s perfectly fine to take things at my own pace and that only I have the utmost control over my every decision. As an empowerment teen participant, it is my consistent role to engage in monthly training sessions on mental well-being, self-awareness and personal management. In these meeting sessions, I collaborate with other teen leaders and share our progress, suggestions for further updates and innovative ideas. Additionally, I contribute as a poster designer and video editor for a selection of CandleX’s content related to mental health awareness. In September 2023, upon newly joining the team, I published a reflective article on acceptance and responsibility: “Inevitable Path to Freedom”.   There are many ways to get involved and to seek help and assistance. CandleX provides individual help, but also weekly mental health group workshops consisting a range of activities that soothes the mind; sessions are accessible across the website and public CandleX WeChat account. Speaking from experience, I reached out to Xiaojie in late July and have since begun our journey up until today, which still feels surreal and incredible to me.

Do you find there’s something missing in your relationships at work? Are you concerned about your connection with colleagues and senior leaders? Has a role in leading others presented more challenges than expected? Does work seem devoid of intrinsic value and meaning? Group Details Group Schedule : 40-Minute Pre-Group Individual Session (May 4-5, 2024) Prior to participation, each candidate will participate in a free 40-minute individual consultation with the group facilitator to understand motives, desired outcomes, and to address any questions participants might have regarding group work. Group Sessions May 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, June 6th and 13th (Thursdays, 1900-2100) Location : 798 area, Beijing Group Size : 6-9 adults Language : English Fee : 2480rmb for all 6 sessions and the pre-session interview. No refund. Registration : 1) Get in touch with Achor Therapy; 2) Fill out the intake form; 3) Pre-participation interview; 4) Payment and confirm of registration   Life in China for international professionals is unique in many ways, often holding elements of excitement and adventure alongside unexpected hurdles and hardships. Language barriers can often hinder effective communication, making it difficult to build rapport and establish meaningful connection with Chinese colleagues. Moreover, cultural differences in workplace norms and practices can easily lead to misunderstandings and conflict. Additionally, professionals might face challenges in adapting to a fast-paced and competitive work environment, where long hours and intense pressure to perform are the norm.   Chinese professionals with prior experience working in international settings may find comfort in working close to home and within a familiar environment, but also perceive stark operational differences and cultural expectations unique to professions in China. While exposure to Western work culture provide them with valuable skills and perspectives, they may find themselves grappling with the need to reconcile their experiences abroad with the traditional beliefs and practices prevalent in Chinese workplaces. Moreover, returning Chinese expatriates may face skepticism and resistance from colleagues who perceive them as having become too “Westernized”, leading to potential challenges in building trust and credibility within their teams.   This brief six-week multi-cultural group provides international and Chinese professionals with a confidential and exploratory space tailored to examining workplace relationships. In these sessions, we’ll delve into the intricacies of interpersonal dynamics within professional settings, fostering an environment of curiosity to analyze your experiences, gain valuable insights, and develop strategies for navigating these challenges. Together, we’ll search for underlying factors that shape your relationship to work, with the goal of clarifying new pathways toward greater fulfillment and satisfaction in your career.   Additionally, due to the interconnected nature of relational patterns, you might intuitively make connections to life outside of work, using this dialogue as an opportunity to share and reflect on who you are as a whole. Group members can expect to reach a deeper awareness of their reactions to professional life in China, as well as their own interpersonal styles of coping and making relational connections. Through the influence of group dialogue, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals facing similar struggles, sharing perspectives and resources that encourage resilience and inspire breakthroughs.   Topics may include meaning, relationship conflict, culture shock, moral uncertainty, isolation, and issues of satisfaction and belonging.   Potential Outcomes Drawing upon my expertise as a psychotherapist and extensive experience in cross-cultural settings, I provide a unique blend of cognitive-behavioral and dynamic perspectives to empower you on your path toward personal and professional growth. Based on our work within a valuable community of peers, you are likely to: Build a deeper awareness for relating to others and explore whether these tendencies also contribute to both successes and challenges in the workplace. Foster a stronger sense of curiosity toward your unique style of interpersonal connection. Experiment with new ways of communication that may expand your ability to manage relationships. Relieve pressure by saying the unsaid in a secure and professional environment.   Who Should Attend? Chinese and international adults drawn to engaging in a series of group dialogues aimed at addressing professional challenges, experiences, uncertainties, and aspirations.   Group Requirements Members are required to be on time and committed to participating in all 6 in-person group sessions. Additionally, each individual will sign a contract which outlines confidentiality and group communication.   Group Facilitator Taylor Hamilton is an American psychotherapist practicing in Beijing. He received a Bachelor of Science in Chinese from the United States Naval Academy. Following graduation, Taylor served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy. During his decade of service, he worked extensively with foreign navies and governments throughout Northeast, Southeast, and South Asia.   In 2017, Taylor left the US Navy to pursue a master’s degree in psychology at Tsinghua University. He received his clinical training from the Tsinghua University Center for Counselling and Psychological Development, working with both individuals and groups during a two-year clinical internship. Currently, he offers psychotherapy for adults and adolescents at Anchor Therapy.  Taylor provides care for range of mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, cross-cultural challenges, interpersonal conflict, identity, and suicidality.   Email: AnchorTherapy.Taylor@Gmail.com

Our CandleX’s Weekly  Silent meditation refers to meditation without verbal guidance. In today’s fast-paced and often disconnected world, finding a moment of stillness and connection can be a challenge. As more and more people are practicing meditation to find that improve their mental health, CandleX is excited to announce that we have created a space in Beijing, China for those who want to experience non-guided/silent meditation. The “Silent Meditation Circle” is a weekly event that offers individuals the opportunity to find peace, growth, and community in the comfort of a home environment. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. More importantly, meditating without external guidance gives people a space to observe their spontaneous inner self more clearly and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. Our meditation time will be supported by singing bowls and meditation music. The meditation circle fosters a sense of community through shared experience. This practice is not just about quieting the mind; it’s about opening oneself to awareness of and connection with others. We humans have been circling since ancient times, back when we were hunter gatherers sitting around the fire at night – talking, bonding, or just watching the stars. It’s important for us to continue finding our circle and combat the isolation that often creeps into our modern lives. Sitting in a home environment, participants can share experiences, insights, and learnings, nurturing our collective need for compassionate presence. Event Details: Price: 99rmb/session (no refund) Time 19:30-21:00 every Wed Location: South of Chaoyang Park (address will be shared to signed up participants) Structure: 10mins arrival and settle in + 40 mins meditation + 40 mins sharing circle (not sharing is okay) Age: adults (or above 16 years old) Important Notice: If anyone arrives later than 19:40pm, the admission will be denied to make sure we have a non-disturbed environment once our session starts Registration: Helen (via WeChat) What makes it different from other meditation group practice in Beijing? Non-guided/silent meditation In-person sharing circle Peppermint tea to calm the mind down for bed Facilitator: Xiaojie Qin Director of CandleX, psychotherapist, and mindful practitioner with over a decade of experience working with groups and her own mindfulness practice. Her expertise and guidance will ensure a safe, nurturing, and transformative space for all participants. Some sessions may be led by other facilitators when Xiaojie is unavailable.

Xiaojie Qin Director of CandleX I am a mentor, besides being a psychotherapist. I like being in the role of a mentor because it gives me space to interact with teens without worrying about the therapist-client boundary, where I could use my platform, CandleX, to provide them precious opportunities to influence other teens through talking to them in person, experiencing being in the spotlight of an advocate. Leo Yu, my mentee, came with me to a workshop that I was invited to conduct in an international school (Day Star Academy) in Beijing. Leo wrote a summary of the framework and steps that every teen could take to do something on mental health. Author: Leo Yu (17 years old) Time: Feb 2024 It was on Nov 29 when I attended an offline event called Project for Change at Daystar Academy as a mentee and guest speaker of Xiaojie , founder of CandleX and the main speaker of the day. That day, I opened my heart to a group of students around three years younger than me, aspiring to promote mental health awareness. I shared my personal story about the process of communicating with my parents. In contrast, Xiaojie shared her personal experience in starting CandleX and introduced several methods for project creation. If you are a teenager who does not know where to start/directionless, you can follow these three steps. First of all, having a mentor is very important. The mentor could be your favorite teacher, school counselor, or parent. In my case, it’s someone who’s not in any of those roles. My mentor is an independent adult who doesn’t play any other role in my life other than mentor. And very fortunately, she’s a psychotherapist. Let me guide you through my experience, which I recommend to you. Step 1: Write Your Struggles We all have struggles and challenges, specifically about sharing our experiences and personal stories. I had a complicated and challenging process trying to communicate with my parents that I would like them to balance expressing love vs providing advice when they communicate with me. During this struggle, I found it hard to speak with them because of the fear of being criticized and reprimanded. Sometimes, although I gathered my composure so that my parents and I could have a peaceful communication, the words I used to express myself limited what I truly intended to say in the first place. We can find our inner voice through free writing when we write what we are currently thinking. I believe that writing during this process serves as a therapeutic tool, allowing us teens to process our emotions that we often find difficult to convey in mere words when communicating. Through writing, we gain insights into our resilience and discover new perspectives that we could incorporate into our articles and lives. By recognizing and acknowledging our stories, we can develop a stronger sense of identity and better understand who we are. This is my story: ( ‘What do I 'Want to Do When I Grow Up’ | A Teenager’s Reflection ) Step 2: Communicate with a mentor I turned my writing on parental expectations and parenting styles to Xiaojie, my mentor in my path towards promoting mental health awareness. She provided me with an area of my writing where I could improve, where I could allow the audience to see and correlate with me in a broader picture. Many teenagers may say they cannot find such a mentor within their environment. I suggest seeking school counselors- they are a resource I believe needs to be more utilized. School counselors are in place initially to address student academic and behavioral performance issues. Still, one could use counselors as mentors in writing, as they are experienced in a way that allows us to express more and have a clearer picture of who we are. Step 3: Revise your own story. When I was communicating with my mentor on my written work, we went through several cycles of editing, revising, and improving the personal story that I was writing. During this process, it initially tended to be frustrating how there seemed to be flaws even when I was trying to express myself in written words. But revising helped me to express more of myself in descriptive details and memories that have long been hidden in my subconscious memory. I started to enjoy revising as I clearly understood who I was. Through revising our written works, we examine and identify patterns, insights, and areas for personal growth, allowing a process of self-awareness. Step 4: Share Your Writings This step is scary because you need to learn to be vulnerable. By reading and listening to each other's personal stories, we can gain insights into different perspectives, experiences, and struggles of others. The initial step taken from a person’s comfort zone in sharing their story may be difficult. Still, we could always start sharing with someone close to us, friends and family, to promote an environment of compassion and authenticity with one another. In the process of sharing our work, we are open to connection with other teenagers. We connect with others on a deeper level. Through writing, revising, and sharing, we can foster empathy, understanding, and community among participants as we realize we are not alone in our challenges.