Ellen Lu

as a queer, feminist therapist, i support other careworkers and community organizers who want to feel resourced and held in their work. i specialize in the areas of grief work, including disenfranchised, complex grief and sudden and traumatic loss, chronic illness and disability, existential concerns and feelings of overwhelm. i'm trained in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), somatic attachment therapy, and clinical hypnosis. i also support clients with things like OCD, body-focused repetitive behaviours, and fears and phobias. my work is experiential, embodied, and intuitive. what this means for therapy is that we’ll spend a lot of time together learning and practising new tools and skills that you can immediately apply in your daily life. my hope is for you to feelbetter resourced to handle the inevitable stress that comes with life under late-stage capitalism. and, as we work to clarify your values and unhook from systems of oppression, i hope you'll also discover a renewed sense of focus so you can get clear about how to best allocate your energy and time. i bring two decades of experience to my clinical work, primarily in the non-profit sector doing work in harm reduction, outreach, supportive housing and with people living with HIV. i currently work part time as a counsellor in hospice providing care to people in bereavement, as well as those at end of life and their caregivers.

Life can feel overwhelming when your mind won't slow down, when a habit has taken hold, or when burnout has quietly emptied you out. I work with adults navigating ADHD, addiction, suicidal thoughts, and work/life burnout — offering a grounded, judgment-free space to untangle what's been weighing on you. For many women, ADHD goes undiagnosed for years — mistaken for anxiety, depression, or "being too sensitive." That long road of masking and self-doubt leaves real marks. Having ADHD myself, I bring genuine understanding of what it's like to live with a busy, overstimulated mind. As an ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP), I blend the emotional depth of therapy with the practical focus of coaching. I use CBT, DBT, and ADHD-focused approaches to address both emotional patterns and real-life skills — in sessions that are structured, flexible, and ADHD-friendly. Areas I work with: rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), emotional dysregulation, executive dysfunction, procrastination, ADHD burnout and late diagnosis, addiction (substances, gambling, pornography, social media) and affected family members, suicidal ideation, workplace and life burnout, perfectionism, men's issues, and relationship challenges. You're not broken. Let's build something that actually works for you.

Do you ever feel like your mind is constantly “on,” jumping from one worry to the next? Perhaps your mind rarely feels quiet, pulling you into endless cycles of overthinking, self-doubt, and what-if scenarios that leave you feeling emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted. As a second-generation Canadian with a background in crisis counselling and behavioural therapy, my therapeutic space is deeply attuned to how sociocultural and systemic factors affect us as humans. Grounded in inclusivity, I offer a warm and compassionate space for individuals aged 14 and up to make space for change in their lives. As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and MA in Counselling Psychology student working under clinical supervision, I take a client-centred and collaborative approach rooted in psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness-based practices to foster insight, explore patterns, and support meaningful change. Much like a flower that blooms when given the right conditions, I see therapy as a space where growth unfolds when safety and understanding are present. Together, we can cultivate deeper self-awareness and draw on the resilience that already lives within you. If this resonates, I invite you to reach out for a free 20-minute consultation.

Are you someone who feels things deeply, maybe more than the people around you do? You may notice yourself feeling disconnected from others, finding it challenging to form the kind of relationships you want in your life. For many, this comes from living through experiences that can create a “before” and “after,” shifting their sense of safety, identity, or connection. These are often the quiet marks of trauma, even when we do not call them that. As a therapist, I explore how pain can shape us, offering a space where you can slow down, understand your story more deeply, and move toward change with care and intention. As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and MA Counselling Psychology student under clinical supervision, I work from a trauma-informed perspective, drawing on psychodynamic and somatic approaches to support clients in processing difficult experiences, strengthening distress tolerance, and reconnecting with their inner resources to help move forward. Together, we’ll work toward steadier moods, healthier relationships, and a renewed connection to the parts of yourself that may have been silenced. If interested, I invite you to contact me for a complimentary 20-minute consultation to explore whether my supportive services are the right fit for you.