Stephanie Ng

Human first and therapist second
It is my goal to work from a place of compassion to provide a safe space for you to be seen, heard and understood. I view my work with humbleness and a privilege to witness and hold space for you and your lived experiences. I remain committed as a human first and a therapist second so I will walk alongside you with empathy and without judgment throughout this journey.

As a fellow human, I understand what it feels like to have experiences and emotions invalidated and dismissed, to struggle with processing traumas (both little “t” AND big “T” and everything in between), and to cope with multicultural, societal expectations and oppressive systems.This is why I strive to meet people where they are, acknowledge the problem as the problem (not the person!), hold space and empower clients to voice their needs, set boundaries and build authentic, healthy relationships with themselves and others. 

Areas of focus
I work with adults who have experienced anxiety, stress and burnout, trauma, family and intergenerational trauma, and interpersonal relationship issues. I am particularly passionate about helping BIPOC women, university students and working individuals in their 20s to 30s explore personal growth, self-esteem, perfectionism and creative blocks, inner critic and imposter syndrome, as well as working through parts that no longer serve us. I am drawn to working with people to connect better with joy and authenticity, nurture their inner child and enable growth and healing. 

Modalities

I use an integrative model to best tailor your goals, lived experiences and needs, as I believe one approach does not fit all. I use a trauma-informed and strength-based approach and draw influences from: 

- Art Therapy
- Brainspotting
- EMDR Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Inner Child Work
- Internal Family Systems (Parts work)
- Narrative Therapy
- Sandtray + Sandplay Therapy

I have connected with the expressive arts since I was young and use various mediums such as pen and ink, watercolour, collage, mixed media, oil painting, creative writing and poetry. I further pursued studies combining Psychology and Art; and completed my Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology: Art Therapy at Adler University. Before being in the mental health field, I had worked across different roles in a performing arts organisation specializing in performing arts and musical theatre: from coordinating social media platforms and coding on websites to working hands-on as an assistant stage manager and co-ordinating for full-scale musical theatre performances, intensive camps and workshops. 

I am a second-generation Canadian-Chinese and identify as a Third-Culture Kid having lived on three continents in England, Hong Kong and Canada. I am multilingual and speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin. I am a cis-gendered, able-bodied woman settler in so-called Vancouver, on the stolen, unceded, ancestral territories of the Coast Salish Peoples - xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.