“What’s so special about your practice? What makes you (Julie) unique and the right fit for me?” I’ve been asked this question by new clients from time to time in inquiry calls and first sessions and I’ve always felt a bit stumped at first because of my cultural background that has ingrained into me theContinue reading “What’s so Special about Your Practice? An unabashed(?) Confession of Vancouver-based Psychotherapist”
Tag Archives: mental health
The Importance of Indigenous Issues for East Asians
I’ve been talking to clients about the meaning of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and noticed distinct cultural differences in people’s reactions, which is in line with an ongoing psychoeducational discussion with some of my East-Asian clients. I have two primary groups of East Asian clients, one group that endorses more traditional value;Continue reading “The Importance of Indigenous Issues for East Asians”
Avoidant Attachment vs. Avoidant Personality Disorder: What’s the Difference?
Professionally and personally, I have recently become tired of seeing misleading advice on how to deal with so-called “avoidant personalities”? The terms “avoidant attachment” and “avoidant personality disorder” are often used interchangeably, especially on the popular Chinese social media, “REDNote (xiaohongshu),” but they represent distinct psychological concepts. In this post, we’ll explore the differences betweenContinue reading “Avoidant Attachment vs. Avoidant Personality Disorder: What’s the Difference?”
A Moment of Connection: Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Repression from Cultural Influences
Last month in sessions, I almost cried twice. One of those times was during a parent-child/family session. My main client was a very young child of kindergarten age who could not sit still and often became distracted during sessions. Initially, the child kept watching their father’s reactions to see if it was okay to fidgetContinue reading “A Moment of Connection: Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Repression from Cultural Influences”
Some Embarrassing Moments as a Therapist
A recent personal embarrassment reminded me that, coincidentally, several of my clients and I have been working on overcoming moments of embarrassment this summer. Some clients struggle with the cultural aspect of “face” and feeling embarrassed when they think others would secretly judge themselves or their partners for not being able to articulate a good-enoughContinue reading “Some Embarrassing Moments as a Therapist”
Predictors of Divorce: Gottman’s Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
I see quite a few couples in my practice. From those who come seeking premarital counselling to those whose relationships have become shaken by distress bombs such as infidelity, children, finances, illnesses, or other stressors. Couples I can see having strong bonds share healthy characteristics in their communication patterns and passionate love for each other;Continue reading “Predictors of Divorce: Gottman’s Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”
5 Ways to Improve the Attentional Focus of Your Child with ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects many school-age children. Children with ADHD often find it challenging to sustain attention on tasks, leading to academic and social difficulties. Developing strategies to help these children pay attention is crucial to their social, interpersonal, and scholastic success. Here are five strategies thatContinue reading “5 Ways to Improve the Attentional Focus of Your Child with ADHD”
I just cried in front of my client in therapy
What happens when your therapist cries in front of you?
Interview with Fit for Joy: “Defining Life, Love, and Happiness: Insights from a Psychotherapist”
2022 has been indeed a busy year for me with school, work, busy school, full-time work, endless school, and nonstop work – did I mention school AND work? Anyway, between the barrage of school and work life, I was able to do another interview, this time with Valeria Teles, creator of Fit for Joy IContinue reading “Interview with Fit for Joy: “Defining Life, Love, and Happiness: Insights from a Psychotherapist””
Interview: The Absolute Best Sex Position, According to Experts
Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everyone! I’m pleased to update that I was recently interviewed for a monthly column on Best Health, titled “The Absolute Best Sex Position, According to Experts.” Our target audience is all beautiful people with vaginas/vaginae and clitorises/clitorides. For those of you who want a more in-depth read about achieving theContinue reading “Interview: The Absolute Best Sex Position, According to Experts”