Hi, I’m Ting Ting. I’m a 1.5th generation Chinese immigrant who moved to the Southern US with my parents when I was a child and then to Canada when I was in high school. Growing up, I always felt the need to put on a mask in order to be accepted by those around me and even to be accepted by myself. I grew so accustomed to wearing this mask that it led me to make choices like how to respond in social situations, whom to be in relationships with, and what careers to choose based on what would get me acceptance from others. Of course, I didn’t know that at the time and I wouldn’t come to find that out until that mask fit so tightly that I couldn’t breathe. Seeking therapy to understand and work through my experiences of intergenerational and systemic trauma helped me to breathe again, listen to my true self, and live authentically according to my own values. This journey led to changes in many areas of my life, including my career: I left a financially rewarding career in marketing and tech to pursue a calling in psychotherapy and counselling, and I haven’t looked back since.

I believe that every individual holds the seeds of love, connection, and health within, and that our lived experiences can nurture these seeds or prevent them from developing to their full potential. This belief led me to pursue a trauma-informed approach to psychotherapy- in other words, I work with my clients to understand what happened to them to shape their identity and patterns of behaving/thinking/feeling, instead of pathologizing their experiences or looking at what’s wrong with them. Some common issues that I work with include stress and burnout, self-criticism, anxiety, and depression, as well as concerns related to trauma and acculturation and cultural identity. Many clients with whom I work struggle to find balance while meeting the rigorous demands of their jobs and families, and find that their personal needs often get pushed to the side.

I understand how isolating and exhausting it can feel to keep doing all that you have do while feeling like you’re barely hanging in there. Therapy can help to provide clarity in times of overwhelm, find calmness in the middle of turbulent emotions, and increase resilience. I strive to make therapy sessions feel like stepping into a safe space, where you’re being met with warmth, empathy and nonjudgement. A space where you can unburden yourself, explore freely, and share confidentially.

If any of the above resonates with you, I invite you to reach out and schedule a free initial consultation call for us to connect and see if we’d be a good fit for working together. You can reach me via email (tingting@ajourneyinwardtherapy.com) or book an initial consultation session directly at https://ajourneyinwardtherapy.janeapp.com.

Take care and I wish you well on your journey.