Hi, my name is Leanna. I am a philosophical counsellor certified by the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA), based in Toronto.
My therapeutic approach shares similarities with existential psychotherapy, ACT and mindfulness-based modalities, with the advantage of multicultural sensibility, appreciation for spirituality and academic training in Western and Eastern philosophies.
My offering is a result of my personal journey, where my initial moral struggle precipitated into a critically pathological depression after a prolonged period of lacking support and orientation. Carrying a bursting amount of life’s ultimate questions, I engaged feverishly in dialogues with the world’s wisdom traditions, both in academic and monastic settings. I’ve gained the knowledge of the answers provided by saints and philosophers of the past; I’ve gained the philosophizing skill to grasp the process of meaning-making regardless of word usage; I’ve gained the lived understanding of the importance of my daily meditation practice, which helps me cultivate the moral qualities needed to move on with my life, to be of benefit to people around me and to hold space for clients.
Previously, I earned a BSc in psychology from HKU, an MA in philosophy from CUHK, and a graduate certificate in Spiritually-Integrated Psychotherapy from St. Stephen’s College. I am most influenced by Existentialism, Christian theology, Stoicism, Jungian Psychology, Erik Erikson’s Psychology, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. I also learnt Buddhism directly with monks/nuns at the monastery and have been practicing Vipassana for 6+ years.
I’m here as a fellow human being offering companionship to your journey. While I cannot promise to take away your pain, I want you to recognize that your struggle is more painful when you don’t understand what it means, and when you have no one there to support you. Through our work together, I’d guide you through the process of re-orientation, helping you transform your pain into a meaningful force of growth.
If the above resonates with you, I invite you to reach out to schedule a chat. You are also welcome to check out my Psychology Today profile.
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Art of Humaning 