WREN ZHU, REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR IN VANCOUVER, BC.
Healing starts with comfort
Let’s quiet the self-doubt so you can show up with more confidence and less apology.
all of us are full of good parts yearning to be seen & set free
You've been resilient for so long, not because you wanted to, there simply wasn't ever a choice. You're used to being the person who always helps, but relying on others never seems to cross you mind. You're no stranger to facing challenges alone, but lately you've been feeling stuck between the mounting exhaustion and the rising anxiety.
I work with people who want to undo a lifetime of shame, fear, and isolation, are often diagnosed as neurodivergent later on in life. And like you, are used to getting through their problems alone.
Maybe you've tried therapy before and left disappointed, feeling like you only managed to talk in circles without making any real progress like you wanted. Maybe you were told medication helps, but it hasn't seemed to make a difference. Now you find yourself on your own again, but this time you're craving something deeper. Something that actually gets beyond the symptoms and goes for the heart of the matter.
let’s find the freedom to choose yourself for a change
My healing work is grounded in comfort and encouragement, because trauma puts us through hardships and discomfort, so healing needs to provide the opposite in order for us to see and do differently than our conditioning. I believe gentle, collaborative effort, where you really feel the freedom to take off your filter and be yourself.
Together we'll make sense of the experiences that shape your internal landscape, and slowly deepen to provide more possibilities for how you relate to yourself and others. Effective healing doesn't have to mean recalling your worst memories, it means undoing the aloneness you felt when they happened, and every part of our collaboration will be validating and encouraging to provide space for change.
As a fellow neurodivergent person, I know traditional therapy can be a deeply frustrating experience and make you feel worse. That's why I sought out training for somatic and evidence-based approaches including Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Engaging the body in therapy provides an experience beyond symptom relief and embraces your complexity and all the life experiences you're carrying.
Counselling with me feels:
bespoke
I keep my practice small, so I never have to feel rushed, and have plenty of time for reflection and grounding between sessions. If we work together, it means I'm confident I have the skills to give you the best support possible and help you experience change. If I’m not the right person, I will always find you to someone who can.
comforting
I truly believe comfort is indispensable in healing. Cultural obligations and trauma can leave us in discomfort and pain, so creating comfort itself is an avenue for change. When we lacked safety and comfort for so long, taking it in more necessary than ever when we need to break out of old patterns.
deeply relational
I'm not someone you'd work with, if you're only looking to practice coping strategies. I believe healing is truly relational and transformative, and that it requires the therapist to truly be in the session with you, and sees the good in you, no matter what you've been through.
Education & Licensure
Registered Clinical Counsellor - British Columbia #21205
M. Counselling - City University
B. Sc. Biochemistry - University of British Columbia
B. Sc. Computer Science - University of British Columbia
Professional Training
AEDP Institute (New York) - Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy - Level 1
International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) - Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy - Level 1
Frank Anderson - Internal Family Systems - Trauma Treatment Program
Janina Fisher - Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Training Level 1 & 2
Ellen Frank - Social Rhythm Therapy
Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist
ADHD Clinical Services Provider
Counselling With Wren
Specialized counselling services for anxiety & depression, neurodivergence, and trauma, available in-person in Vancouver and online across BC.
As an uninvited guest on stolen, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), I commit myself to the continued work of assessing and responding to the ongoing impact of colonization.