English-speaking therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists in Shanghai

The three routes to care

• Psychiatry + medication: international hospitals (below) have psychiatrists who prescribe — the only route to medication in China, and the route for ADHD (see below).
• Talking therapy: private therapists and counselors (many Western-trained) offer ongoing therapy in English, often online (video sessions are the norm and work well).
• Public system: Shanghai Mental Health Center (上海市精神卫生中心) is China's best public psychiatric hospital — excellent, cheap, but Mandarin-first; bring a bilingual friend or use it for medication reviews with translation.

International hospitals with psychiatry & counselling

For medication (antidepressants, anxiety meds, ADHD meds), the international hospitals handle prescriptions and refills smoothly in English. Costs are private-hospital-level (consult ¥800-1,500), usually covered by international insurance.

Private English-speaking therapists

• Shanghai has a real community of Western-trained and bilingual therapists in private practice — search "therapist Shanghai English" or "counselling Shanghai expat" and you'll find practices and directories (e.g. Psychology Today has a China filter, and expat forums list recommendations).
• Typical pricing: ¥600-1,200 per 50-minute session; some offer sliding scales.
• Ask about their training, licensing (e.g. licensed in their home country), and modality (CBT, psychodynamic, EMDR for trauma) before committing — a 15-minute intro call is standard.
• Online-first therapists based in other cities/time zones are also viable; many expats in Shanghai have ongoing remote therapy with a home-country therapist, which keeps continuity if you relocate.

Online therapy — and why it works well

• Home-country therapists via video: your previous therapist or a new one in your home country — continuity, no language barrier, and your home insurance may cover it.
• Global platforms: BetterHelp and similar have international access; check whether your card (foreign or local) works and whether sessions fit your time zone (Shanghai is UTC+8 — evening sessions with US/Europe therapists need planning).
• Chinese apps: 简单心理 (Jiandan Xinli) and 壹心理 have English-speaking counsellors too, and accept Alipay/WeChat — useful if you want local payment.
• Note: prescription medication cannot be delivered online — medication requires an in-person (or video, per hospital policy) psychiatric consultation at a licensed hospital.

ADHD: assessment and medication in Shanghai

• Assessment: international hospital psychiatrists (Jiahui, Parkway) conduct ADHD assessments in English. The process: clinical interview + questionnaires; some use computerized tests. Cost typically ¥2,000-5,000.
• Medication: stimulants (e.g. Concerta/哌甲酯, Strattera/托莫西汀) are available but strictly controlled — red-prescription (红处方) drugs. Prescriptions are short (often 1-2 weeks supply) and require a hospital pharmacy; you may need monthly visits.
• Importing meds from home: personal-use quantities can sometimes be brought in with a prescription, but controlled substances (including most ADHD stimulants) face serious customs scrutiny — do not attempt to mail them. Get your care in China instead.
• Costs: assessment + initial treatment ¥3,000-8,000 out of pocket typically; insurance coverage for ADHD varies widely — check your plan.

Costs and insurance

• Psychiatrist consult (international hospital): ¥800-1,500; follow-ups less.
• Therapy session: ¥600-1,200.
• ADHD assessment: ¥2,000-5,000.
• Insurance: international plans typically cover outpatient mental health at international hospitals (often with a session cap). Local social insurance covers public hospital psychiatry at low cost but not private practice.
• Ask for direct billing at Jiahui/Parkway/United Family — they handle most major insurers.