Together we will find a way
to move forward.
I am an integrative counsellor & psychotherapist registered with the BACP, offering weekly individual therapy sessions in central Bristol for adults on a short-term or long-term basis, in English and Mandarin. I have several years of experience of seeing private clients since completing my MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling at Regent’s University London, in 2015.
I developed a special interest in working with clients who find it difficult to cope with work stress or peer pressure. Many people constantly compare themselves to others, for example on social media or mentally, feeling they are not good enough…whilst others 'seem' to have everything. Cultivating self-value and self-compassion can lead towards a more fulfilling life.
I also have extensive experience in working with anxiety, panic attacks and depression, cultural identity/belonging, multicultural relationships, life transitions and loss/bereavement as well as women struggling to become a mother.
I took extra training to work as a bereavement counsellor during my MA course and have been supporting clients to go through loss, crisis as well as transitional life stages. Losing someone dear to us can unsettle and influence our lives on many levels. Seeking help during this time can help you find new meaning and direction in life.
My client groups range from university students to older adults, across diverse cultures. I believe culture matters and at the same time everyone's situation is unique. I am committed to provide a safe and supportive space for you to explore your concerns and together we will find a way moving towards positive changes.
We could work either short-term or long-term; face-to-face or online. Nowadays, many people live and work in different cities or countries. How to make meaningful new connections and find a sense of belonging is a crucial step to overcome loneliness, which could affect one’s health and happiness slowly but substantially.
Apart from my private work, I am also a writer. Clients who want to explore or make use of their creative talents could consider the support of therapy. My latest book about counselling and psychotherapy was published in Taiwan in March 2018 (available in Mandarin). It covers experiences of dealing with losses on personal and collective levels. Loss is an inevitable experience that, sooner or later, we all encounter. In East-Asian cultures it is all too often a taboo subject. We neither know how to be with the intense emotions which are triggered by grief (such as anger, sadness, and fear), nor how to offer empathic company to others who are bereaved. Working through losses is, however, essential for being able to feel love, connection and hope in life again.
Areas of counselling I work with include:
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Anxiety & Panic attacks
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Depression
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Self esteem issues
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Loss & bereavement
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Work stress
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Miscarriage / termination / birth trauma / infertility
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Relationship issues / marriage breakdown
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Childhood issues and family conflicts
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Redundancy / life transitions
Languages: English, and Mandarin
Sessions: face-to-face and Skype
Professional training & Qualifications:
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MA in Psychotherapy & Counselling (Regent's College, London), 2009-2014.
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Post- Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Guidance through Transpersonal Dreamwork (Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education, London), 2013-2014.
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I have experience of volunteering in bereavement counselling in a hospice as well as some charities offering low-cost counselling service. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) .
Counselling & Psychotherapy
There can be an old stigma associated with seeing a counsellor, a preconception of being asked "What's wrong with you?". Nowadays in the therapy room, however, we ask clients "What happened to you?". Every mental health difficulty, from depression, anxiety disorder, OCD to schizophrenia, can be seen as an understandable response or way of coping in order to survive. That is why it is pointless for your friends to tell you "don't think too much/don't be so anxious". What you really need is to be supported in making sense of how you are affected by whatever happened to you physically, emotionally or psychologically (due to e.g. a trauma, sudden change or adversity), so that you can then replace destructive patterns with a healthier coping strategy.
Even when your life is crowded by work and/or family life, you may experience loneliness or a sense of emptiness, rejection or isolation which can cause all kinds of problems. Many clients come to therapy because they have been trying so hard to be accepted or to meet the expectations of others, but deep inside they feel worthless, not lovable or never good enough. Particularly in modern days, people can feel addicted to smart phones without being aware that this often is due to their essential need to belong and feel connected to others.
When clients come to counselling, most important for me is to really listen and understand what is going on in their world. I meet a person with respect, empathy and sensitivity, including if you are from different cultural or religious backgrounds. No matter what issues concern you, there must be some significance behind them. I aim to support you to understand what is stopping you to feel connected with yourself, people around you and the outside world, in order to explore and live a life that is surrounded by love, meaning and real fulfilment.
My training background is integrative, meaning I do not have a fixed model to work with you; instead, I aim to understand your worldview and work to meet your individual needs. I provide a trustworthy, non-judgemental and compassionate space for you to explore issues that you find difficult to deal with. In particular, I have a strong interest in working with dreams to help you be in touch with deeper feelings, the characters which have been repressed or dissociated, or your inner resources, such as intuition or spiritual guidance. Clients are encouraged to record dreams and bring them to therapy sessions.
I have experience in supporting clients in:
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coping with stress, anxiety, worries, negativities, or depression (from study/work/relationships, etc.);
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going through crisis, loss, bereavement or life transitions/uncertainty;
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going through IVF or coping with miscarriages/infertility issues;
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gaining clarity on thoughts, feelings and real needs in order to make difficult decisions or major life changes;
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working through anger, shame, guilt or self-criticism/doubts to improve confidence, self-acceptance and self-worth;
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recognising talents, potential, strength, resilience and other inner resources;
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integrating mind, body and feelings, particularly by using dreamwork;
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dealing with family or relationship issues to develop a deeper sense of inner security, belonging and intimacy. It takes a lot of effort to build up and maintain good relationships. Often we need to learn how to love ourselves before we know how to love and take care of others.
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reconnecting with love, meaning and joy in life to improve your well-being.
Sessions and Availability
I provide counselling to individual adults in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
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I offer a free initial meeting or telephone call. This is to discuss your needs and find out whether we could work together. This meeting usually involves information gathering which might last 30-50 minutes.
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Sessions could be short-term (i.e. 6 to 12 sessions ) or long-term (open ended), which we discuss together in our first session and then review on a regular basis.
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Sessions are weekly at the same day and time, and last 50 minutes. It is important that you commit to attend regularly in order to gain the most out of your sessions.
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I offer face-to-face sessions in the daytime and some evenings in central Bristol (Queen Square) or North Bristol (Gloucester Road). Please contact me for more details.
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I also have extensive experience with and offer Skype sessions.
Fees
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Free initial meeting or telephone call for 15-30 minutes.
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£60 per session thereafter (concessionary rates available).
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Fees are payable by bank transfer. I can provide an invoice at the end of month.
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Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice require full payment.
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