Welcome to Heartspace
Hello! I'm Stephanie.
I am the founder and therapist of Heartspace Counselling and Art Therapy.
Heartspace is where we hold space for ourselves so we can show up authentically as the humans we are, and meet what we are feeling with allowance and acceptance.
It is where we intentionally practice embracing ourselves with compassion and with understanding; connecting with ourselves in meaningful and creative ways. That is the heart and mission of Heartspace Counselling and Art Therapy.
compassion
connecting creativity
Stephanie Ng (she/her)
Registered Clinical Counsellor #19095
Canadian Certified Counsellor #10006859
Registered Art Therapist #398-R-24
Certified Play Therapist #2084
Human first and therapist second
It is my goal to work from a place of compassion to provide a safe space for you to be seen, heard and understood. I view the work I do with humbleness and a privilege to witness and hold space for you and your lived experiences. I remain committed as a human first and a therapist second so I will be alongside you with empathy and without judgment during this journey.
Intersectionality
I am second-generation Canadian-Chinese. I identify as a Third-Culture Kid having lived on three continents in England, Hong Kong and Canada. I am multilingual and speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
I am a cis-gendered, able-bodied woman settler in so-called Vancouver, on the stolen, unceded, ancestral territories of the Coast Salish Peoples - xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
As a fellow human...
I understand what it feels like to have experiences and emotions invalidated and dismissed, to struggle with processing traumas (both little “t” AND big “T”), and to cope with multicultural, societal expectations and oppressive systems.
This is why I strive to meet people where they are, acknowledge the problem as the problem (not the person!), hold space and empower clients to voice their needs, set boundaries and build authentic, healthy relationships with themselves and others.
Areas I work in
My specializations:
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Trauma
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Anxiety
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Stress/burnout
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Family concerns
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Interpersonal issues
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Relationship challenges
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Child (ages 3+) and youth counselling
I take a special interest in working with BIPOC women, university students and working individuals in their early 20s to 30s on:
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Personal growth
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Self-esteem + Self-concept
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Perfectionism + Creative blocks
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Inner Critic + Imposter Syndrome
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Procrastination
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Parts that no longer serve us
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Breaking intergenerational trauma
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Exploring relationships with others and/or self
I also provide
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Psychoeducation
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Self-care and mindfulness exercises
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Take-home prompts (as needed)
Approach
I use an integrative model to best tailor your goals, lived experiences and needs, as I believe one approach does not fit all.
Approaches I draw influences from:
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Person-Centered Therapy
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Trauma-Informed Practice
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Mindfulness-Based Somatic Therapy
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EMDR Therapy + Brainspotting
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Art Therapy
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Sandtray + Sandplay Therapy
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Child-Centered Play Therapy
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Emotionally Focused Therapy
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Gestalt Therapy
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Inner Child Work
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Internal Family Systems (Parts work)
Working with me
Working with me is a collaborative approach, so we are both on the same page and understand how we are moving forward.
I will walk you through the process from the beginning so that it feels comfortable and natural with every step.
(See FAQ for more information.)
You might notice in our sessions that I often use analogies as I see and conceptualize through metaphorical images, which is helpful in both talk therapy and art therapy!
Adjectives that describe me and my counselling style:
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warm + empathic
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open + inviting
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intuitive + creative