Background

​Hi! My name is Susan (she/her), and I am a counselling intern at Avery Therapy, currently completing my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. I am also a Registered Nurse with a background in mental health and addictions outreach in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES).

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For much of my career, I have had the privilege of working alongside individuals navigating complex mental health concerns, substance use, trauma, housing instability, and other significant life challenges. This work has taught me the importance of meeting people where they are—with compassion, curiosity, respect, and without judgment. It has also shown me how deeply our experiences, relationships, environments, and histories can shape the way we understand ourselves and move through the world.

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I am also a first-generation Canadian, born to Vietnamese parents who came to Canada as refugees after the Vietnam War. Growing up in a traditional Vietnamese household while navigating Canadian culture outside of the home gave me firsthand experience with the complexities of living between cultures. I understand how family expectations, cultural values, identity, belonging, and intergenerational differences can sometimes create tension between who we are, who we feel we are expected to be, and who we are becoming.

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These personal and professional experiences have shaped the way I approach counselling. I recognize that our struggles rarely exist in isolation. Anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, self-esteem, identity concerns, and patterns of coping are often connected to our past experiences, family dynamics, cultural backgrounds, and the environments in which we have learned to survive.

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Therapeutic Approach

My approach to counselling is warm, collaborative, and non-judgmental. I believe that you are the expert on your own life, and my role is not to tell you what to do, but to create a space where you can slow down, explore what is happening beneath the surface, and develop a deeper understanding of yourself. Together, we can explore patterns that may no longer be serving you, strengthen your existing resources, and work toward changes that feel meaningful and realistic for your life.

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I have a particular interest in supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, stress, trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions, cultural and identity concerns, family dynamics, self-esteem difficulties, and the impacts of substance use or addiction. I also welcome clients who may not have a specific problem they can easily name, but simply feel overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of what comes next.

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My years in nursing have taught me that healing is rarely linear and that meaningful change often begins with feeling genuinely heard and understood. Transitioning into counselling has allowed me to build on that foundation and support people in a way that creates more space for reflection, connection, and lasting personal growth.

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Starting counselling can feel vulnerable, especially if you are used to handling things on your own or have not always felt understood by others. My hope is to offer a space where you do not have to have everything figured out before you arrive. You can come as you are, and we can begin from there.

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My online booking link can be found here.