Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
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Hi, I'm Yi-Jia (pronounced as ee-jah) Shao, I use He/They pronouns.
I specialize in supporting people healing from trauma and CPTSD. You may find that your romantic relationship evokes intense emotions, which could be a sign that you need to address your childhood trauma. Everyone has their unique way of healing. I want to support you in experiencing meaningful connections and equip you with the necessary tools to thrive.
As a queer immigrant in a diaspora, I am especially effective in understanding how hard life transitions can be for immigrants and people of queer identity. You might feel that you are stuck in a place of no return and cannot see any path forward. You are struggling to experience a sense of belonging, and yet you don’t feel that you are offered any choice in life. Trauma (e.g. microaggressions, state-induced trauma, etc.) can disconnect you from yourself.
How do I help? My relational approach to healing trauma will help you practice feeling worthy, and loved, and create a sense of belonging. My somatic approach will help you rebuild a connection with your body, reclaim your body, and experience joy in your own body. I specialize in guiding individuals to explore how trauma influences their ability to set boundaries.
Together, we will work to transform self-limiting beliefs that may be diminishing your self-esteem, empowering you to reclaim a stronger sense of self.
Growing up in mainland China and moving to the other half of the world has given me an opportunity to navigate the complexities of living “between worlds”. My living experience as a trauma survivor with undiagnosed neurodivergence allows me to understand how frustrating and lost it can be if one lives a life without knowing themselves. Yet I am grateful for my healing journey, as it led me to seek out a deeper purpose in life.
Like my fellow neurodivergent peeps, I have a variety of hobbies and interests. Outside the therapy room, I find healing in various forms of art, including music, dance arthouse films and poetry. I am an emerging voguer, waacker, and enjoy Indie Chinese Rock music concerts. I believe the power of creativity, I write poems, and practice calligraphy.
