About Xenia
Hi there, I’m Xenia! Thank you for taking the time to explore whether we might be a good fit for your therapeutic journey.
As a relational therapist with a culturally sensitive and anti-oppressive approach, I strive to create a safe, welcoming space where you can explore what’s on your mind and gain clarity around how you’d like to show up for yourself and for others. I believe that you are the expert of your own inner world and experiences, and my role is to walk alongside you as we work together to uncover and nurture the changes that feel right for you.
I approach therapy with a collaborative mindset, incorporating a systemic lens that considers how you exist not just as an individual, but in connection with others, society, and the larger world around you. By exploring these dynamics, we can create meaningful change that is grounded in your values and experiences.
In our sessions, I strive to be authentically curious about your story, helping you make sense of past experiences, and supporting you in reclaiming your agency where you have control. I believe that everyone has their own inner wisdom and resilience, and I have found that bringing them to light can give clients the confidence to know that have been and are resilient beings.
I work with individuals navigating a wide range of concerns, including personal or cultural identity, anxiety and depression, interpersonal conflict, neurodiversity, grief and ambiguous loss, and life transitions. I also support couples around issues related to cultural differences, intimacy, infidelity, and parenting.
If you feel that my approach resonates with you, I’d love to offer a free consultation to see if we might be a good fit. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
How We Might Work Together
I can help with:
High functioning neurodiversity (e.g. ADHD, ASD, AuDHD)
Children of immigrants and immigrants
Individuals, couples, or families going through life transitions and/or grief
Interracial/intercultural couples
Individuals interested in discovering (or rediscovering) their personal identity
Clients with relational difficulties (e.g. in school or work, family, relationships, friendships)
Those who enjoy meaning making and are interested in understanding themselves better
Patterns & Topics That Frequently Come Up in Session
In a time of increasing uncertainty and conflict, I have heard many clients speak about feeling lost, confused, and frustrated. I have listened to clients share that they don’t feel like they are doing enough, that they aren’t good enough, or that they aren’t worthy enough. When I hear these things, I think about the stories, relationships, and environments that have shaped the beliefs we hold about ourselves and the world around us. I believe it is important to understand how our past shapes our present, so that we can have more choice in how we move forward and what we want our future to look like.
What Inspires My Work as a Therapist
My clients have taught me that healing is a lifelong journey, and that it is important to notice and celebrate the small wins along the way. I believe there is something powerful about holding onto hope for someone when they are struggling to find it themselves. Sometimes, simply having a safe space to be heard and accepted can make a meaningful difference. I feel grateful to witness my clients as they grow, discover who they are, and find ways to live more authentically and compassionately.
What I Value
Growing up in Canada as a child of immigrants has led me on a lifelong journey of understanding and appreciating the differences between my Western upbringing and my Chinese family and heritage. This experience has also fostered a deep fascination with the ways people differ, particularly in relation to culture, identity, and the environments that shape who we are.
In my own life, I have come to appreciate the importance of self-compassion and self-understanding. Oftentimes, we are doing the best we can with what we have, and our efforts are shaped by the resources, capacity, and support available to us. I believe it is important to recognize and take responsibility for the things we have the ability to change, while also learning to let go of the things that are outside of our control and not ours to carry. This is a practice that I have found helpful in navigating the ups and downs of life, and it is something I also encourage my clients to explore.
Modalities
Specialties
What's It Like To Work With Me
Sessions with me often feel very conversational, collaborative, and exploratory. I strive to show up in therapy with compassion and curiosity, and encourage my clients to also show up for themselves in this way. When it comes to giving "homework", I believe that it is important for the task to be tailored to you. This means that I prefer to get to know you better before offering any suggestions, and I also believe that having the difficult but vulnerable conversations themselves can be incredibly therapeutically beneficial.
Education
Languages
What Misconceptions About Therapy Do You Often Challenge?
Clients have taught me that healing is a lifelong journey and that highlighting and celebrating the little wins are important. There are always ups and downs with healing, and it's helpful to zoom out and remember that we're often trying to do our best and that we're constantly growing and changing with life. I feel that there is power in holding onto hope for clients when it is difficult for them, and that it can make a big difference for us to just have a safe space to exist and to be heard. It inspires me when I am able to witness the changes that my clients go through as they grow through their lives, and to support clients to discover who they are and encourage them to live authentically and compassionately.
What Do You Enjoy Outside of Therapy?
I'm a huge foodie, so I enjoy discovering new restaurants and sharing good food with my loved ones. I also enjoy journaling to process my internal world, which I pair with a healthy obsession with stationery.
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