About Horizon Counselling

Phyllis is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with good standing and a Community Engagement Advisor. Phyllis has over 15 years of counselling and community engagement experience. She has extensive training and experience working with people with addictions and with individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, family issues or trauma. She completed her master’s degree in counselling psychology at the University of British Columbia.

She was trained directly by world-renowned experts in the psychotherapy field. She received cognitive behaviour training from Dr. David Burns and couples therapy training from Drs. Julie and John Gottman.

For trauma training, she has formal Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training as well as training from a clinical psychotherapist, Dr. Janina Fisher. She also uses DBT skills in helping her clients to manage their moods and emotions.

About Me

Education & Training

I am a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). Canadian certification is a national service that identifies to the public those counsellors who CCPA recognizes as qualified to provide counselling services in Canada. Obtaining the status of Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) includes recognition of standards of professional preparation, continuing education, and a formal code of ethics.

I have extensive training and experience working with people with addictions and with individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, family issues or trauma. I completed my master’s degree in counselling psychology at the University of British Columbia. My counselling approach is collaborative, based on compassion and mutual respect.

I create a comfortable, safe and confidential environment where you can share your challenges with me. I use evidence-based psychotherapy to assist you to observe and reflect on your thoughts, emotions and belief systems to help you to reach your goals.

I was fortunate to be trained directly by the world renounced experts in the psychotherapy field. I received cognitive behaviour training from Dr. David Burns and couple therapy training from Drs. Julie and John Gottman.

For trauma training, I have formal Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training as well as received training from clinical psychotherapist, Dr. Janina Fisher. I also use DBT skills in helping my clients to manage their mood and emotions.

Work Experience

I have worked for the Vancouver School Board to provide support for parents who have challenges in parenting their teenagers. I organized and facilitated parenting workshops for parents on how to communicate with their teenagers.

In addition to my private practice, I work as a counsellor for Vancouver Coastal Health to provide concurrent disorders counselling for people who have substance use/alcohol and mental health issues. I also hold a contract with the BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program and I am part of the Worksafe BC provider network.

Community Involvement

Besides being a counsellor, I am also very active in my community. I was the spokesperson for StopOverdoseBC Campaign for the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions for the Canadian Chinese community in 2019.

I created and implemented various community initiatives such as Parent-teen Gaming Dialogue, Mental Health and Addiction screening day and Golden Players drama for different communities.

I have delivered professional training and presentations for different organizations and communities such as VCH, addiction physicians, UBC and SUCCESS.

I also sit on different boards and advisory councils such as Richmond Inter-cultural Advisory Committee (RIAC) and Richmond Chinese Community Service (RCCS) to contribute back to the community.

Media Coverage

I have been interviewed by the National Post, Richmond News, Omni TV, Fairchild TV, LS Channel, AM1320, AM1470 and Toronto A1 radio, Sing Tao and Ming Pao newspapers on mental health and addiction topics. I was the columnist for the SUCCESS Evergreen Newspaper.

Richmond News:  https://www.richmond-news.com/standout/counsellor-helps-pen-positive-chapters-in-her-clients-book-of-life-3511214