Zhangya

·2011-2014: Ph.D., School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University.

·2002-2005: Graduate studies, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University.

·1998-2002: Undergraduate studies at Fudan University's Medical College (formerly Shanghai Medical University).

·2020-present: Associate Professor, Department of Applied Psychology, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University.

·2016-2019: Lecturer, Department of Applied Psychology, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University.

·2013-2015: Deputy Director, Psychological Counseling Center, East China Normal University.

·2005-2015: Full-time Psychological Counselor and Supervising Psychologist, Psychological Counseling Center, East China Normal University.

Dr. Zhang Ya, Associate Professor and Master's Supervisor at the School of Psychology and Cognitive Science at East China Normal University, has been engaged in psychological counseling since 2002, accumulating nearly ten thousand hours of consultation with adolescents and adults. She is a registered psychologist (X-09-063) and supervising psychologist (D-18-012) in the professional registration system of the Chinese Psychological Society for Clinical and Counseling Psychology. Dr. Zhang has received extensive training in various psychological approaches, including psychodynamic, hypnosis, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Primarily utilizing hypnosis as a catalyst, she adopts an integrative approach to address issues related to adolescent development, and emotional and conflict-related problems such as anxiety and depression in adults. Since 2016, alongside her clinical counseling work, she has been exploring the efficacy factors and mechanisms of action in psychological counseling.

·The Mechanism of Action in Hypnotic Suggestion

·Interpersonal Brain Synchronization during Psychological Counseling Process

·The Effects and Efficacy Factors of Conventional Psychological Counseling

·Psychological Interventions for Social Anxiety and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Psychological Assessment, Group Psychological Counseling, Interview Techniques in Psychological Counseling, Case Study Method, Integrated Approach to Psychological Counseling, etc.

·July 2017 - March 2021: Ministry of Education Humanities and Social Science Youth Project (17YJC190031): A Study on the Effectiveness Assessment and Influencing Factors of Conventional Psychological Counseling for College Students (Concluded).

·January 2020 - December 2022: National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Project (31900767): The Neural Basis of the Counseling Relationship in Psychological Counseling: A Study Based on the Brain Synchronization of Clients and Counselors.

·September 2021 - September 2023: Director of the Key Laboratory Project for Psychological Health and Crisis in Shanghai: A Predictive Model of Adolescent Suicide Risk Based on Machine Learning and Neural Representation Signals.

Primary Papers (Past 5 Years: 2020–2025)

• Chen, L. Y., Yan, J. N., Kecong, L. T., & Zhang, Y.* (2025). Intervention effects and mechanisms of online single session therapy on test anxiety in university students: A randomized controlled trial. Internet Interventions, 41, 100839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2024.100839

• Dai, X. Y., Chen, L. Y., Zhou, Q. Y., & Zhang, Y.* (2025). Effects of preference alignment and client-rated attachment style on therapy: The moderating role of interpersonal synchrony. Psychotherapy Research, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2025.1789456

• Zhou, Q. Y., Cai, Y. Q., & Zhang, Y.* (2025). Empathy simulation by large language models: Assessment, enhancement, and challenges. Advances in Psychological Science (accepted). https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1042.2025.LS.00064

• Wang, W. Y.#, Chen, L. Y.#, Hu, Y. Y., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning study in psychological counseling. Journal of Visualized Experiments, (215), e67183. https://doi.org/10.3791/67183

• Zhang, Y.*, Fan, J., Lu, Y. F., Yang, X., Zhang, Q., Li, S. J., & Chris, E. (2024). Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Young Person’s Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (YP-CORE). British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 53(1), 17-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2023.2289478

• Yang, J. Y., Li, S. J., Wu, W., & Zhang, Y.* (2024). Use of Thematic Apperception Test for suicide risk identification: A machine learning study based on speech and text features. Psychological Science, 47(2), 485-493. https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240210

• Dai, X. Y., Li, X. Y., Xia, N., Xi, J. Z., & Zhang, Y.* (2024). Client-counselor behavioral and inter-brain synchronization among dismissing and secure clients and its association with alliance quality and outcome. Psychotherapy Research, 34(8), 1103-1116. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2024.2356789

• Hu, R. Y., Dai, X. Y., Xi, J. Z., & Zhang, Y.* (2023). Hypnotic and direct suggestions affect attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 66(3), 214-230. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2023.2194567

• Zhang, Y. X., & Zhang, Y.* (2023). Revision and psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 31(04), 836-842. https://doi.org/10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2023.04.017

• Dai, X. Y., Hu, Y., & Zhang, Y.* (2022). Interpersonal synchrony phenomenon: Exploring a new perspective on the therapeutic alliance in psychological counseling. Advances in Psychological Science, 30(9), 2078-2087. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1042.2022.02078

• Zhang, Y.*, Meng, T., Yang, Y. X., & Hu, Y. (2020). Experience-dependent counselor-client brain synchronization during psychological counseling. eNeuro, 0236-20.2020. https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0236-20.2020

• Zhang, Y.*, Hu, J., Jin, L. W., Wu, M. Y., Wang, C. Y., et al. (2020). Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 48(3), 289-299. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2019.1679352

Other Papers

• Zhang, Y.*, Wu, M. Y., & Wang, Y. J. (2019). Effects of counseling outcomes and their relationship with client attachment style and working alliance among university students. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 33, 653-656. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1000-6729.2019.08.010

• Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., & Ku, Y. X.* (2018). Hypnotic and non-hypnotic suggestion to ignore pre-cues decreases space-valence congruency effects in highly hypnotizable individuals. Consciousness and Cognition, 65, 293-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2018.09.007

• Zhang, Y., Meng, T., Hou, Y. Y., Pan, Y. F., & Hu, Y.* (2018). Interpersonal brain synchronization associated with working alliance during psychological counseling. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 65, 293-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2018.05.004

• Zhang, Y., Hu, J., Zhang, E. T., & Wang, G. H. (2015). The influence of spatial representation on valence judgements: An event-related potential study. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 27, 218-226. https://doi.org/10.1080/20445911.2014.982131

• Zhang, Y.* (2020). Virtual reality exposure therapy based on psychoanalysis: A self-help intervention for social anxiety. Theory and Practice of Psychological Counseling, 2, 383-395. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.2096-026X.2020.02.012

• Zhang, Y.* (2019). A case report about death anxiety and discussion of life education in Chinese undergraduates. In L. Hoffman, M. Yang, M. Mansilla, J. Dias, M. Moats, & T. Claypool (Eds.), Existential psychology east-west (Vol. 2, pp. 123-135). University Professors Press.

• Zhang, Y.*, Yang, W. S., Liu, M. B., & Wu, M. Y. (2016). Challenges and difficulties about college counseling in China: Response to Portnoy (2013). Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 30, 64-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2016.1124632

Major Works and Translations

• Zhang, Y. (Author). Theories, practices, and cases of hypnotherapy. Shanghai: Shanghai Education Press (forthcoming, 2025).

• Zhang, Y. (Author). Parenting matters: Ten psychological lessons for middle school parents. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Literature Press, April 2023.

• Zhang, Y. (Translator). Handbook of clinical hypnotherapy cases. Shanghai: Shanghai Education Press, March 2020.

• Hu, Y., Zhang, Y., & Zhu, H. (Eds.). College students' mental health education. Shanghai: East China Normal University Press, April 2019.

• Zhang, Y. (Translator). Facing the sun: Conquering the fear of death. Beijing: China Light Industry Press, January 2015 (reprint).

• Zhang, Y. (Author). Hypnotherapy records. Shanghai: Shanghai Education Press, January 2009.

• Zhang, Y. (Author). The hypnosis mind scripture. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Popularization Press, January 2008 (reprint).

·2023: East China Normal University Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award.

·2022: East China Normal University Outstanding Instructor for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.