About Ashley

MEET ASHLEY NG

REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR

I deeply value collaborating closely with folks to support them in their journey and growth. My approach is warm, trauma-sensitive and empathic, and I am honored to hold space for you as we work together to make sense of the challenges you may be facing and connect to your inner wisdom and resilience. I have a particular expertise in working with folks who have difficulty voicing or understanding what they are feeling and thinking. I specialize in helping clients learn emotion regulation skills, especially folks who can feel disconnected from themselves/others or feel lost in intense feelings of rejection, inadequacy, anger, frustration, sadness, grief, anxiety, numbness and fear.

I have experience supporting neurodiverse children, teens, parents and young adults work through a variety of concerns, including challenging interpersonal relationships and family dynamics, academic-related pressures, childhood abuse and neglect, intercultural challenges, life transitions, stress, difficulties with self-regulation, traumatic life experiences, and more. I have provided counselling services at a variety of settings, including Vancouver Coastal Health, DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, Cameray Child and Family Services, and the TELUS Health-Mental Health Centre of Excellence. As well, I have provided counseling training and supervision to counsellors and teachers in Nepal.

In terms of training, I hold a Masters in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist, and an EMDR trained clinician. I also incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. My clinical training in the use of non-verbal approaches also makes me a good fit for folks who would like to engage in therapy but may have trouble communicating their concerns verbally.

I offer virtual and in-person sessions, though I will be transitioning to an online practice after a few months. If you think we might be a good fit, I invite you to send me an email or give me a call. Thank you, and I look forward to connecting with you!

CURIOSITY

I believe that curiosity can be a form of love—an ability to lean towards rather than avoid or push away. Curiosity towards ourselves and others is a powerful foundation for openness and empathy. When we can ask questions about experiences, rather than judging our feelings, thoughts, or behaviors, we create the conditions for authentic and supportive dialogue, can better see the underlying reasons or needs fueling behaviours, and create more space for new choices.

CONNECTION

Establishing deep connections to oneself, others, and life is very important to me, and I strive to feel ever more alive in pursuit of those connections. As well, assisting others finding in a sense of home within themselves, connecting to whatever makes them feel alive and abundant, and strengthening their bonds, both with themselves and their loved ones, brings me deep fulfillment. I believe the relationships we make within and around us can help anchor us to feel a grounded sense of safety, to feel deeply okay even when things are not okay, and to see our inherent value and brilliance more clearly.

MINDFULNESS

I strive to be as present as possible with myself and my clients. To me, the therapy room also serves as a meditative space, where I cultivate the practice of warmly and deeply welcoming whatever feelings, thoughts, and experiences that show up in the therapy room. Being able to wholeheartedly be with whatever is in the “here and now” and to clearly and fully see the situation as it is, in both its benefits and challenges, can have a profoundly therapeutic effect. Mindfulness practices can also help us to uncover our unconscious and automatic patterns and beliefs and to create greater freedom and ability to make new choices.

MEET ASHLEY NG

MY SPECIALIZATIONS