What is Therapy?
It takes a lot of courage to look for a therapist. Especially because you always feel responsible to have it all together. I'm excited to support your pursuit for authenticity and joy!
For a lot of us who grew up with families that didn’t understand mental health, there can be a lot of confusion and mysticism around therapy.
So I want to take this time to share with you how I approach our therapy together.
Our Approach to Therapy
If you’re not really sure what to expect for therapy, you’re not alone. The fear of the unknown can be a barrier to your mental wellness. This is why I want to be clear in explaining how we will approach our therapy together.
I work with clients to progress through 4 stages of therapy, which I call F.R.E.E. Usually, therapy starts off in this order. But as we start to do deeper work, we will shift between these phases, based on your needs at any particular moment.
Feelings
F
Feeling
We all experience different feelings and emotions. Some of these can be painful and difficult. We’ll take some time to dive deeper into understanding how your emotions manifests in your body, and why that can be such a painful experience.
Regulating
R
Regulating
In therapy language, “emotional regulation” is referring to the techniques we use to help us “regulate” the emotions we feel. In this phase, we will build a good toolbox of strategies to help you manage the day-to-day.
Exploring
E
Exploring
We’ll explore your past experiences, to understand how that’s linked to your triggers today. This means making connections to your particular family and life situations, and structural oppressions you may have experienced. This will help us connect the dots to move you towards healing and meaningful change.
Envisioning
E
Envisioning
We’ll be exploring what a happy and meaningful life means to you, and help you commit to making that life a reality, through committed action and deep mindset change.
The Truth About Therapy
Growing up with multiple cultures is hard. It seems like every moment, you’re trying to figure out what everyone is expecting you to do and be. You spend so much time and energy fulfilling expectations and trying to fit in, you lose your own self in it all.
Therapy is a space away from the constrictions of expectations. It is a space to listen to your own voices, and the courage to heal past wounds. It is embracing your curiosity to rediscover yourself through that healing – and living creatively, in a world that tells you not to.
And to do this, we have to dig deep. That’s where we’ll find your true self.
Just when you think you've reached your core...you'll soon discover there is a new layer. Because you will begin to realize that you are on a journey to becoming the person who you never thought you could be, living a life of alignment you never thought possible.
What Therapy Isn't
Therapy isn't about changing your expectations to adjust to your life. It is about taking courageous action to embrace your true authenticity. We're not here to play it safe. We're here to SHOW UP for yourself.
This means therapy isn't about finding a quick fix. It is an inner revolution.
Therapy is not about waiting to be ready to take this journey. It is about jumping into the journey, and learning to trust yourself.
It is not easy. It is an investment. It requires your time, energy, and resources. Are you ready to embrace your BIGGEST, BADDEST version of who you choose to be?
We'll Integrate Therapy Into Your Life
Let's make "showing up for yourself" a habit
Consistency = Life Changing
Research shows that consistent, frequent sessions is what will create sustained and lasting changes in your life. We will be working together weekly, to create life changes for now and for your future.
Built In Downtime
Changing your life is exciting, and also intense. That’s why we will have built in breaks in our work together. We will see each other for the first three weeks of the month, and take the last week off.
Protected Time
No more wasting time and energy trying to book your appointments. You’ll have a reserved time slot, to save you all the trouble, and ensure consistency in your mental health.
Ready for a Consultation?
A consultation is simply a conversation for us to get to know each other better. It'll help us get a feel for each other, and see if we're a good fit to work together.
While there’s no “right way” to have a consultation, here are a few things that you can think about that might be helpful:
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Why now? What is the reason that you have decided to look for a therapist at this current moment in your life?
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What do I hope my life would look like in the future?
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What do I want in a therapist? What questions do I want to ask this therapist?
And seriously, feel free to make the most out of this consultation time. I’ve even had someone ask me to define “model minority,” to make sure we’re on the same page about it!
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How will we meet?We will meet virtually, on a secure video platform. Once we have decided that we are a good fit, I will send you details on how we will meet. As long as you live in Ontario, then we are able to work together.
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How long can I expect to be in therapy?If I can have it my way, I wish everyone would have life-long therapy support. But I know that’s not realistic for everyone. And that’s really too bad…because the therapeutic relationship is one where you allow yourself to be truly seen. It’s a space where you can feel safe to take risks with the most tender and fragile parts of yourself. So practically speaking, therapy can be anywhere between 6 months to multiple years, to the rest of your life. Or you may take a break, and return to therapy. There’s no simple answer to this question. It depends on you. And in our therapy journey together to explore your deep selves, you’ll find that answer for yourself.
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Can I claim my insurance/work benefits?Yes, most extended health benefits or employee benefits should cover my services. You can check your insurance provider to see if they cover social worker services. After each session, I'll have a receipt ready for you. You can use that receipt for your claim.
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Why do you only work with Asians?I find that in my therapy work with Asians, I have an innate understanding of Asian experiences. And in my own professional development, I find myself drawn to learning about larger societal forces (e.g. on-going history of racism and xenophobia), and how that plays out in our daily mental health. There’s, unfortunately, only a handful of scholarship written about Asian mental health in the context of North America. So part of what I do is to piece things together. The trick is to find the balance between understanding where our commonalities may lie, but also not stereotype our individual experiences. Because as Asians, we are freaking diverse. So, in short, why do I work with Asians? Because it's where my heart takes me.
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I think you're a great fit for someone I know. How do I refer you to them?So great of you to be thinking of the well-being of those close to you! Please feel free to refer them to my website. Once they feel ready, they can schedule a free consultation.