About Jonathan
EMDR Certified | CVAP & FNHA Approved | Licensed in BC & Alberta
I am a cisgender male, Asian-White immigrant settler living and working on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the Coast Salish First Nations, with ancestral roots in Hakka Chinese communities of South Africa and in England.
I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto (2014) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia (2009). I am licensed to provide mental health therapy in both British Columbia and Alberta.
My therapeutic approach is grounded in evidence-based, trauma-informed, and systems theory frameworks. I am a certified EMDR therapist, trained in Level 1 Internal Family Systems (IFS), and have a foundation in behavioural therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). I am also trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples.
Over the past decade, I’ve worked in diverse clinical settings, including BC Children’s Hospital and Family Services of Greater Vancouver. Since 2020, I have been managing my private practice, supporting individuals and couples in navigating complex life experiences with compassion and care.
Nourishing Growth for Optimum Wellness
Professional Mental Health Counselling & Psychotherapy
Why Choose Counselling?
When we set out on life's journey we all have expectations of what life is going to give us and how life is going to turn out. We all have a sense of how life operates and what we need to do to get on in the world. However, as we move through life our initial views can be altered and our worldviews can be shaped unexpectedly leaving us at a loss.
Does this resonate? Are you feeling like life looks different than you expected? Are you finding it difficult to engage in life in a meaningful way? Then it's important for you to know that you are not alone.
Working together you can expect a therapeutic approach that is sensitive to your experiences, your worldview and to what matters to you. In my practice I create a safe place for you to share your story, process that which has you feeling stuck so that you can engage in your optimal life.
Areas of Expertise:
Anxiety
Anxiety is a common and natural response to stress, uncertainty, or overwhelming situations—and you’re not alone in experiencing it. While it can feel disruptive or exhausting, anxiety is also something we can learn to understand and manage. Counselling offers a supportive space to explore the roots of your anxiety and develop effective tools to reduce its impact, helping you feel more grounded, present, and aligned with yourself.
Depression
Depression can feel heavy, isolating, and difficult to put into words—but you don’t have to face it alone. I offer compassionate, non-judgmental support to help you navigate the challenges of depression. Together, we’ll explore strategies to ease emotional pain, build resilience, and reconnect with a sense of hope, meaning, and possibility in your life.
Self-Exploration
Counselling offers a supportive space for self-discovery and personal growth. It can help you better understand your thoughts, emotions, and patterns—deepening your connection to yourself and clarifying what truly matters to you. Through this process, many people gain greater self-awareness, confidence, and a stronger sense of direction in their lives.
Relationship Issues
Relationship challenges can be deeply stressful and emotionally draining. Through counselling, I help individuals develop effective tools to navigate conflict, communicate more clearly, and manage relational stress. The goal is to foster healthier dynamics and support a more balanced, connected, and fulfilling life.
Trauma Counselling
Trauma can shape how we relate to ourselves and others, often leaving us feeling disconnected, reactive, or overwhelmed in relationships. My trauma-informed counselling sessions provide a safe, supportive space to explore these impacts and begin the healing process. Together, we work to rebuild trust, foster emotional safety, and create healthier, more fulfilling connections.
Addiction
Addiction is a complex and personal struggle that can feel overwhelming, isolating, and difficult to manage alone. Addiction counselling offers a supportive and non-judgmental space where you can explore your experiences at your own pace, with guidance, understanding, and care. Together, we’ll work to understand the roots of your addiction and help you build a path forward that fosters healing, resilience, and meaningful change.
