Esther Chu
MA, RCC, CCC

Hello! My approach is guided by the understanding that we, as people, are a walking mosaic of our lived experiences as well as the experiences we were denied. Whether your area of concern be surrounding mental health challenges, exploring the many parts of your identity that make you who you are, processing traumas, religious deconstruction, or learning new personal skills, together we will journey towards clarity, understanding, and moving forward.

I bring creativity and cultural sensitivity to meet you where you're at - to heal and learn in a way that embraces who you are as a person. My work is person-centred and holistic, grounded in an attachment-based framework supported by various therapeutic modalities such as experiential work, EMDR, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, DBT, and Somatic Experiencing. I bring a direct, yet gentle, approach to my work as a counsellor that focuses on the “roots” of issues as opposed to the branches that extend from them; I observe patterns that are present and invite you to dialogue with me to learn more about them and how they can better serve you. Working eclectically through a creative balance of talk-therapy and experiential therapy work, we may occasionally step outside the box and help you in a way that is meaningful to you.

If you are looking for a counsellor who will ask you the hard questions, be honest with you, teach you new skills and perspectives, as well as advocate for you - welcome home. I dream of a world where “good” mental health is no longer considered a luxury to some and strongly advocate for the accessibility to mental health care. I take an integrative approach involving communication with other health care practitioners, care team consultation (e.g. school and social workers), and family consultations when appropriate as I truly believe it takes a village to get through life; we are stronger together than we are alone.

As a counsellor I specialize in navigating complex, multi-layered areas of life such as intergenerational and interpersonal trauma, cultural stress, as well as identity exploration. Additionally, those who struggle with depression (including post-partum depression) and grief hold a soft spot in my heart. I am skilled at working with PTSD and trauma. At this time, I currently only work with individuals 13+ and Family Clients on a case-by-case basis. I can speak both English and Tagalog. I am honoured to have walked many clients through many stages and transitions in life.

We all deserve to feel understood, to heal, and move forward from the wounds we carry. It's never too late to change your path and redirect yourself towards where you'd like to be.

About My Work