We direct bill counselling to Pacific Blue Cross, GreenShield, Canada Life & Sun Life; details here.
We direct bill counselling to Pacific Blue Cross, GreenShield, Canada Life & Sun Life; details here.
(She/Her)
…you think about things deeply and take on a lot of personal responsibility for things that are out of your control.
…you like to reflect and enjoy seeing things from a new perspective.
…you need somebody in your corner who will support you through anything life throws at you…often with some humour involved.
Hello, and welcome!
My name is Renee, and I am a practicum counsellor currently pursuing my Masters in Counselling at City University. I am a Chinese-Diasporic half-gen settler born in Tianjin, China, identifying as cis, working-turned-middle class, non-disabled.
I work with reflective, insight-oriented people navigating self-doubt, cultural complexity, relational trauma or cultural grief. My approach is collaborative, honest, and grounded in understanding your full context: your relationships, your culture, your experiences, and the systems around you. In our work, we cultivate a space where your thoughts can slow down and actually start to make sense. Together, we make space for the parts of you that feel conflicted, stuck, or unseen—so you can move toward clarity, self-trust, and a way of living that actually feels like your own.
I take on an approach that is direct, but not directive. I tend to be very straightforward in my communication, while remaining collaborative so we can work through how new ideas integrate with your life as it works for you. You know yourself best, after all, and my role is to be your support in navigating your goals. I like to try many different methods in our sessions, but especially in the beginning while we figure things out. Part of therapy is seeing what works for you, and in our work together, we can figure out what can be worked on within ourselves, but also the societal burdens that we don’t have to hold responsibility for, in ways that are unique to your life circumstances.
Outside of counselling, I like exploring new hobbies and gaining new experiences. Unfortunately, I cycle through interests quickly, but it allows for renewed joy when old hobbies circle back around! I value growing with the people important to me, learning from new people, and reflecting on myself. I also have three little cats with very different personalities who rule over my household. You might catch a glimpse of them once in a while!
As a counselling intern, I am passionate about continued learning and values the opportunity to grow alongside diverse peers, communities, and perspectives. Above all, I hope my work can help people feel a little less alone in the complexity of being human. If you’re looking for a space where you can be met with both care and depth, let’s connect!
You’re looking for someone with “the answers”.
You’re looking for direct advice, or someone who will take an expert stance. Instead, we’ll work through your thoughts, feelings, actions, and life, in ways that are more aligned with who you want to be at this moment in time. Counselling with me tend to center more on introspection than a quick solutions.
There’s no one-size-fits-all.
Healing could look like anything, and often takes place without us noticing. You could be wake up one day and suddenly notice that you have been feeling different lately. That you haven’t felt the same heaviness that’s been weighing you down.
It’s also not a linear process, and there’s no shame in revisiting the same topic again.
