Body Image Issues Therapists in Canada

Hi! Thanks for being here and taking the time to find someone to support you on your counselling journey. I know how difficult it can be to reach out for support, regardless of whether or not you’ve accessed counselling before. To give you a better idea of what to expect when working with me, allow me to share a bit about my approach. In my work with clients, I endeavour to create a space in which you can talk about topics and concerns that are difficult or have felt taboo. I am a big proponent of accepting and experiencing the whole spectrum of emotions and developing more compassion towards ourselves. Counselling is a collaborative process where maintaining your autonomy is the most important part of our work. We go at whatever pace feels most comfortable for you, and you will never have to try an intervention or share something that you do not feel comfortable with or ready for. I help my clients accept themselves and their emotions and connect with their values and what matters to them. On a more personal level: I am a non-disabled, cis-het, South-Asian woman. I was born in BC and currently live and work in Vancouver on the unceded and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. Outside of my work as a counsellor, I am an avid reader and TV binge-watcher, I love baking, and try to soak in the sun whenever I can. I like spending time hanging out with friends and family, but also cherish times when I can unwind on my own. I also engage in my own counselling sessions and have lived experience with anxiety and panic attacks, body image concerns, and grief and loss. From my own experiences as a client, I know how much of a difference it can make to find a counsellor that feels like the right fit. I invite you to book a free consultation with me to see if I’m the right counsellor for you. I look forward to meeting you soon!

I’m Ellen, and I am currently completing my Masters degree in Counselling Psychology with Yorkville University. Given my educational background in Kinesiology, my counselling lens has been shaped by my work as a strength coach, an Olympic weightlifting coach, and as a Registered Kinesiologist. Spending seven years so far in these roles has deepened my understanding of the intricate connection between physical and mental health. I am a strong advocate for both as equally important forms of healing, and I am especially passionate about helping individuals reconnect to their somatic experiences and felt sense. Over the years, I have had the honour and privilege of supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds with issues including chronic pain, self-esteem, body image, identity, and imposterism. As a proud Taiwanese-Canadian woman and second generation immigrant, I also aim to support bicultural individuals by helping them navigate cultural and intergenerational challenges, expanding on their cultural narratives, and drawing on their unique cultural strengths and perspectives. In my work as an Olympic Weightlifting coach, I have also worked closely with youth and teen athletes on issues including performance anxiety, perfectionism, and belonging. As a counsellor, my approach is rooted in cultural humility, compassion, and curiosity. In our sessions, you can expect a warm, empathetic, and grounded clinician who works alongside you in collaborative exploration. I understand the importance of giving voice to your experiences and I hold space for you to show up as you are. I firmly believe in your internal wisdom and your capacity for self-actualization. Together, we can cultivate your natural intuition, strengths, and resources to help you feel empowered and embodied in your true self.

I believe in bringing the body into therapy. I strive to bring openness, curiosity, and compassion to my work with adults and couples. My work focuses on the relationship between the body and mental health, specifically chronic illness, life-limiting illness, and substance use. I also work with people living with anxiety and depression, as well as those navigating life transitions. I have had an indirect path to doing what I do, and this means that I draw on many influences and experiences in my practice. Before starting my path to social work, I was a creative arts therapist, a teacher and an actor. I worked for several years in a cancer clinic at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, before returning to school to study the relationship between mental health and exercise. I am licensed in the provinces of British Columbia and in Quebec. I currently offer virtual sessions for those in BC and am available in person in Montreal. with a PhD in Social Work (University of Ottawa), a Master of Social Work (University of Ottawa) and a Master of Creative Arts Therapies (Concordia University).

I offer therapy for adults who feel stuck in patterns with food, their bodies, or their relationships with themselves. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and self-aware, yet still find themselves caught in cycles of emotional eating, body dissatisfaction, or feeling like they’re “never quite enough.” You might understand the why of your struggles, but still feel pulled back into the same patterns—and that can be frustrating and exhausting. My approach to therapy goes beyond surface-level strategies. Together, we’ll take the time to understand the underlying patterns that are shaping your experience—often rooted in earlier relationships, life transitions, or ways you’ve learned to cope. I draw from a relational, psychodynamic lens as well as Internal Family Systems (IFS), which helps us gently explore the different “parts” of you—like the part that criticizes, the part that copes through food, or the part that feels overwhelmed. I work from a weight-inclusive, non-diet perspective, meaning we won’t focus on changing your body. Instead, we’ll work toward building a more compassionate and sustainable relationship with food, your body, and yourself. I also support clients navigating major life transitions, including the shift into motherhood. Returning to work, changes in identity, and the emotional complexity of this stage can bring up feelings that are hard to make sense of alone. Therapy with me is collaborative and paced in a way that feels manageable. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin—we’ll make sense of things together.