Strive Counselling

Hi! I’m Will (he/him); a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Mental Performance Consultant and founder of Strive Counselling. My clinical roots began over the span of a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where I worked extensively with people who use drugs. A simultaneous stint working with inmates at BC Corrections has allowed me to develop not only a deeper understanding of mental health and addiction, but to also foster a greater sense of empathy and compassion for what it means to help people. I have also spent a significant portion of time working at Vancouver Community College, both as an instructor and as a counsellor, where I helped many students with culturally diverse backgrounds work through equally-diverse issues. As a proud Taiwanese-Canadian, I am passionate about fostering cultural humility in my practice, and to learn about the interplay between culture and mental health. Currently, I am a member of the Mental Health Network under the Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport; a nationally-led organization comprised of highly-skilled mental health professionals from across Canada who specialize in various areas sports psychology. As a Mental Performance Consultant, I have had the exciting opportunity to work with high-level athletes from various organizations, including Douglas College Athletics, The Richmond Oval’s High Performance Program, and FightStory (Founded by former ONE FC Champion Angela Lee). In our sessions, you can expect an engaged, committed, and collaborative clinician to help you reach your goals. I am keen on empowering you with the insights needed to create lasting meaningful change. I am excited to help you achieve wellness and reach your potential. When I’m not seeing clients, I enjoy an active lifestyle predominantly occupied by practicing martial arts, including Muay Thai and BJJ. I express myself creatively through carpentry, and seek tranquility through my freshwater aquariums. I am a proud father of enthusiastic girls, and husband to an unconditionally supportive wife.

I’m Amber (she/her); I am an Asian, settler, cisgender woman living and practicing on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I welcome diverse clients of all cultures, genders, and sexual orientations. I appreciate that we all come with unique stories and histories, and I think it is important to recognize and celebrate how these shape the way that we experience the world. I feel honoured and privileged to walk alongside my resilient clients in their personal healing journeys. I am passionate about EMDR, art therapy, play therapy, and other trauma-informed practices because of their potential to support the transformation and healing of both ourselves and our communities. My role is to hold space for you to come as you are and for your experiences to be met with compassion, curiosity, and tenderness. I believe that we all have the capacity to heal and grow especially in relation to others. Together through our work, we can begin to undo the aloneness that often comes with having negative experiences. I have a deep compassion and respect for the experiences that my clients entrust in me and through a collaborative approach, I hope to honour your lived experiences. Together we will establish a direction in our work that feels supportive of your goals and values. I completed my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, my Bachelor of Education, and my Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology at UBC. I have additional training in the areas of trauma, attachment theory, emotion-focused therapy, and narrative approaches. In addition to counselling, I have also worked as an elementary school teacher in Vancouver. I have a special appreciation for the unique challenges experienced by children, adolescents, and their families. I believe connection, non-judgement, and trust are vital to building a strong therapy relationship.I think every piece of ourselves is important and together we will work with, rather than against, your experiences and emotions. It is important to me that you feel both safe and empowered throughout this entire process. In my spare time you can find me curled up with my dog Yuki watching musicals and reading fantasy novels.