About Nadia
Masters of Education, Counselling Psychology
Registered Clinical Counsellor,
BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
Welcome!
I identify as a cisgender female and use the pronouns she/her/hers.
I started off with a real passion for working with young children and families. My career in mental health began in behaviour therapy with neurodiverse children and youth. While I loved this work, I wanted to learn more about human psychology, the complexities of emotions, and changes across the lifespan. I thus began my career in counselling. This started with general adult counselling and eventually I went back to working with children and youth.
I continue to work with neurodiverse children and youth and find this work very rewarding. However, in the last couple of years, I really focused on working with young people with significant mental health challenges including anxiety and mood disorders, perceptual disturbances, substance use, and self harm. This population often encounters serious impairments to their day-to-day functioning including school avoidance, relationship conflicts, crisis situations, and extreme emotion dysregulation. To effectively address these concerns, I work closely with caregivers and co-developed a caregivers skills group which I have been running for the past 2 years.
In addition to direct client work, I think it is super important in my capacity in the mental health field to engage the community in learning more about specific issues within mental health. In my role within the health authority, I often liaise with schools, hospitals, community agencies, and have presented workshops on general mental health, suicidality, and self harm.
As an immigrant, I have personally experienced the beauties and challenges of living within a mosaic of different cultures. I aspire to have my counselling work reflect my cultural sensitivity and passion to learn more about others. I speak English, Cantonese, and Mandarin so I provide services in those languages. However, I have also loved working with people of all cultural backgrounds as well as the LGBTQ2S+ community.
On the side, I love playing and experimenting with music. I have a more recent interest in learning about dog behaviour. When I’m not working, I’m usually seen out and about with my dog Ivy.
My Approach
DBT-Adapted
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
I have training in DBT skills and DBT comprehensive therapy so I will often draw from DBT in my work. I value DBT’s perspective of balancing acceptance and change. I integrate validation and what I call “coping with the present” skills with practical change strategies that draw from my client’s strengths and existing skillful behaviours.
Client-Centered
Collaborative
We are co-leaders in this journey. We both contribute input and ideas and have an impact on each other in the therapeutic space. In my opinion, this is the only way therapy can be effective for each unique individual and ensure that meaningful change happens in every day life.
Trauma-Informed
Safety, Trust, Empowerment
We all come with different stories and with it, a range of experiences. This consideration is interwoven in every single therapeutic encounter to create and maintain a safe space of trust and transparency. It is within this space that empowerment of the client can happen which I supplement with strength-based approaches.
Hands-On
Interactive Learning
Who says counselling can’t be fun? I love integrating games, hands-on activities, role-plays, and in-the-moment practice. I think the best way to learn is to directly engage with the material. We retain knowledge more effectively when we are having fun.
Letsstart@counsellingwithnadia.com