Meet Kathy

Asian Canadian Trauma and Couples Therapist in Richmond Hill, Ontario

You grew up with the “typical Asian parents” who were emotionally unavailable. Love and emotions were rarely expressed, leaving you unsure whether you were truly seen, understood, or valued. Now you find it hard to trust that others will be there for you, you second-guess yourself, compare yourself to others, and feel like you’re not good enough.

Or you’ve been in relationships that break you. You become hyper aware of anything that signals a threat to the relationship - when they look at their phone while you’re talking, or spend more time with others than with you. When you try to express how you feel, nothing seems to change, and you’re left feeling even more afraid and helpless.

You’re not broken nor a bad person. And you should not handle this all by yourself. I’m here to help you make sense of why these things happen, and begin to step out of the cycle of blaming yourself or others. Together we can work toward helping you become the person or partner you would want to be, and build relationships that feel more secure and fulfilling.

Kathy put her right hand on her cheek and smiles

My Journey as a therapist...

I’ve been there, I know how heavy and lonely that place can feel: the quiet moments of questioning what went wrong, wondering why you couldn’t keep your cool with people you care about; becoming “prickly” on the outside while hurting deeply inside; wanting the other person to come to you, but when they do, pushing them away with a cold tone and more criticism.

There may be better days when you feel compassionate and understanding, until the next time you find yourself saying, “This is it, I can’t do this anymore.”

I want you to know that healing is possible, even in those moments. We can learn to surf the waves of emotion without being drowned by them.

A plant on a shelf

How can I help

I have helped many individuals and couples who once felt this same pain and now feel liberated from their trauma, reconnected with themselves and their loved ones. Emotions are not something we need to fear or avoid, they offer valuable insight into our inner and outer worlds. The key is to figure out the messages they carry.

I am there to help you make sense of how you feel, rather than simply placing another “disorder” label on your experience.

If Christian faith is a meaningful resource in your life, I offer Christian counselling to help you draw closer to God: the loving shelter, shepherd, and comforter. “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)

Or, if you share your life with a furry companion, I offer supportive counselling to help you explore how the human–animal bond can regulate your emotions and bring comfort. Therapy doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time — it can be transformational and restorative, while also feeling calm and grounding.

Kathy reading a book called Emotionally Focused Family Therapy

More about me :)

Outside of work, you’ll often find me gardening, decorating my home, enjoying a Boba tea, and spending time with my hubby and my two dogs (they happen to be two of the most popular breeds in Canada, aren’t they cute?) I’ve also recently started personal training, and it’s been tough!

I also enjoy being involved in my church community. My faith has brought me great comfort in life, and it’s where I’ve learnt the most about human brokenness and vulnerability.

Kathy sitting on the grass with two of her dogs

Learn more about my education & trainings