Hey! How's it going?!
You can call me Susan – it’s the English name I've used my entire life. My first name is actually Hai-Ha. My parents named me after the cities they are from (Hai Phong and Ha Noi, respectively), so I would always feel connected to my roots. I was born in Vietnam, and immigrated to Canada when I was a baby.
As a settler, and a person of colour, I have always been aware of my surroundings, and have often felt a disconnect, knowing that I was not the same as those around me - feeling as though I was not Vietnamese enough, or not Canadian enough. I moved around a lot during my childhood, which allowed me to learn and adapt quickly.
Due to these experiences, I developed an interest in learning about people and places, which is why I pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Sociology/Anthropology, with an extended minor in Psychology. I also have a Bachelor of Social Work.
I am a Registered Social Worker and Registered Clinical Counsellor in the province of British Columbia, Canada. After many years of working with families affected by abuse, addiction, and other systemic barriers, I found that what I enjoyed most about my work were the purposeful conversations I had with those I worked with. So, with that in mind, I completed a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, where I knew I would be able to continue engaging in therapeutic connections.
Outside of work, I am a mother of 4 young children, who I enjoy spending time outdoors with, either near some body of water, or hiking one of the many local trails, in the Greater Vancouver Area and the Fraser Valley. When the rain comes, which it often does, we like to bake and do crafts.
My goal as a therapist is that you feel seen, heard, accepted, and understood. I will work collaboratively with you to ensure that your needs are met, and will continue to check-in with you to see whether we need to adjust any part of our process, so we can continue moving in the direction you want.
If you think my approach to therapy is what you are looking for, I invite you to please go to my Contact page, and reach me however is convenient for you, so we can talk about the next steps.
I look forward to working together toward your personal empowerment, growth, and self-discovery.
why I love what I do
I am passionate about this work, because I love connecting with people. The moment when a person’s demeanor changes, either because they’ve had a realization or finally come to accept something – they have that mind blown energy that is infectious. That is what keeps me wanting to help people; I enjoy being there as they explore various parts of themselves. When people talk about what they feel inside and connect dots that they weren’t able to see on their own, there is a sense of coming home; and when someone does this with self-compassion, it’s a beautiful thing.
Often times, a person cannot get to this place unless they take a journey to their past; to reconcile whatever it is they need to – accept an event, take ownership for their part, let go, or however their healing journey may look like. The past can be dismissed as something no longer important, because that is not who the person is anymore; but I believe it holds so much information. From how their caregivers interacted with them as children; to what they were taught throughout their developmental years; to even early adulthood, when they were just trying to figure out who they are, what they want to do with their lives, and how they fit in the world. It is at these critical times that shapes a person’s self-image.
It is an honour to get to listen to these stories. Learning about someone’s past helps me to understand who they are, and how they got to where they are. The information informs the work; it is used to identify strategies that will help individuals find healthy ways of coping with whatever it is that makes them feel dysregulated.
As a therapist, I focus on what the person thinks and how that effects the way they live their lives. At the same time, as a social worker, I view people as a product of their environment; that they are affected by what is around them, be it their personal life, their work life, or the community in which they live. I understand that there are influences beyond what a person thinks and feels about themselves.
Experiencing difficulties and challenges is a part of life; but it is when a person gains a sense of control back in their lives, that everything begins to feel manageable. It is my hope that those who come to me feel more confident about who they are, which in turn will help them to achieve a better quality of life, that is filled with joy and purpose. When a person rediscovers their resiliency, they realize they are not broken or need fixing. They are, and have always been, whole.
You, too, are capable of transforming your life, and to grow from adversity and overcome challenges. Whatever your story is, it is a unique one that matters, and is important. There is so much potential in every person, and I would love to learn about your story to help you achieve your counselling goals.