Hi there, I'm Jonathan, a gay queer, Chinese Canadian male intern counsellor. I am currently completing my Master’s of Counselling at City University and have a decade of experience working closely with newcomers, refugees, queer and trans folks, people of colour, youths, and students in the mental health and non-profit sectors.
My approach to counselling comes from a pluralistic, systemic, person-centered and strength-based perspective. I seek to understand who you are by listening non-judgementally about your unique background and worldview. As we work together in ways that fit your needs, I welcome feedback and openness in shaping our path forward.
I believe that healing unfolds within a safe and collaborative therapeutic relationship. Together in an empathetic and non-judgemental space, I support you in exploring your emotions, thoughts, and behaviours to foster growth and meaningful change. I am appreciative to be a part of your journey and the time that you invest in our work together.
Depending on your concerns, goals, and needs, I utilize a variety of clinical approaches and techniques to assist you. Including but not limited to:
The focus of person-centred therapy is always on you and not on any diagnosis or categorization. As a Clinical Counsellor, I provide a climate conducive to personal growth and change. Through empathy and trust, our relationship will be productive, genuine, and non-judgemental. Together, we explore your thoughts and feelings, positive or negative, without the risk of rejection or judgement.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the way you think (cognitive) and act (behavioural). CBT helps you to identify the relationship between your thoughts and your feelings. By making small changes to the way you think, you can ultimately change the way you feel.
A key component to solution focused therapy is helping you identify your strengths, resources and problem-solving skills. Together we can discover solutions that build on what you are already good at. We will utilize your existing strengths and skills as a basis for problem-solving and growth.
Systemic therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on how an individual's personal relationships, behavior patterns, and life choices are interconnected with the issues they face in their life. The concept of systemic therapy springs from systems theory, which looks at how parts of a system affect one another to sustain the stability and equilibrium of the whole.
Strength-based therapy is a type of positive psychotherapy and counselling that focuses on your internal strengths and resourcefulness, rather than on your weaknesses, failures, and shortcomings. The tenet is that this focus sets up a positive mindset that helps you build on your best qualities, find your strengths, improve resilience, and change your worldview to one that is more positive.
