About Patricia
I hold space for you so you can slow down, process your emotions and find clarity.
Values
Compassion. Connection. Community.
Kindness. Integrity. Spirituality.
My path has been a long journey of unlearning and transformation to become a better friend, partner, and human being.
I have spent many years learning to sit in the discomfort of doing what my heart knows rather than follow the path
set for me by my parents as the youngest child in a Chinese family.
I was born in Singapore and immigrated to Canada in the 90s. I am of Chinese ancestry. I have lived in Australia, Japan, and Los Angeles.
I am strong, and a good listener. I can hold space when clients and friends are in need. I am calm in stressful situations, and I can easily adjust to what is needed in each situation. I have spent the last few years breaking down social and family expectations.
I cry often, and I laugh a lot. I am nourished by my small group of friends who are brilliant at showing up and holding space. Hence, I am fiercely protective of the people I love. I am supported by my clinical supervisor, therapist, and nature.
I am most at home in nature, especially in the forest or near the ocean. I am an avid reader, I love coffee, and I have been married to a wonderful man for over 10 years. We have a Bernedoodle named Bailey Huckleberry.
People often describe me as grounded, calm, intuitive, and warm.
My lived experience as a trauma survivor and a thriving human informs my work immensely. I am a person whose life experiences have helped to mature me into a solid community member and a well-attuned healer.
On a professional note…
I am a registered clinical counsellor (BCACC) and I am currently working with my clinical supervisor toward my registration as a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP). I am also a retired Acupuncturist and co-owner of a wellness clinic. I have over a decade of experience in the health and wellness field as an acupuncturist, yoga teacher, crisis line volunteer, and craniosacral therapist.
I am mindful and compassionate. I am willing to be vulnerable but firm at the same time. Clients seek me out because they know I have done the work. I have been through a difficult journey, and that helps me understand your struggles.
I have worked with clients from diverse backgrounds and identities. I am keen to support clients from all backgrounds, especially those who identify as Asian, and, more broadly, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour).
I will laugh and cry with you in sessions. I will support and guide you in your challenges, but I will also call you out if you sabotage yourself. Don’t worry, I do it in a very loving way.
I have experience working with clients who face various forms of systemic oppression, struggle with anxiety and depression, experience stress and fertility issues, and more…
My goal is to help you reconnect with yourself in a deep and meaningful way, so you can begin to remember what it feels like to feel safe and grounded.
You belong here.
Professional Background
Greatest Teachers
My greatest teachers include Elders who are older and wiser than me. They include Elders who were residential school survivors, and Elders in the Buddhist community (I am an ordained Buddhist).
I have participated in multiple wilderness quests, sometimes solo, sometimes with a close friend.
I have supported various clients through palliative care as well as people who struggled with addictions in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. These people were some of my greatest teachers.
Education
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology
Dip. Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Bachelor of Commerce
Additional Training
Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) - in training
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) & Trauma Level 1 & 2
PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy) Training with Stan Tatkin
Emotionally Focused Therapy® (EFT) – Externship
Indigenous Cultural Safety Training - Mental Health
Student of Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorders (ERED)
Somatic Mentoring with Patti Elledge
The Polyvagal Theory in Practice with Deb Dana
DARe - Dynamic Attachment Re-patterning experience with Diane Poole Heller
Unravelling the Mystery of Memory in the Treatment of Trauma with Diane Poole Heller and Peter Levine
Frontline Workers Training on Diversity and Inclusion
My Life Philosophy
Life is short. Give hugs, share what you can, and feed your community.
Say prayers, speak your truth, and tell your people you love them. Every day.
Most importantly, be kind to yourself and others.
“Patricia has a gift for holding space, deep listening, and a strong understanding of how systemic issues impact people’s emotional, mental, and interpersonal well-being.”
She is warm and personable, can be firm when needed, and brings a variety of therapeutic modalities to her practice. I especially appreciate how Patricia is grounded in her cultural ways while making space for mine to be witnessed and celebrated authentically.
BIPOC folks looking for culturally relevant therapy – look no further!
~ LTB