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About

Sandigan Wellness was created to bring a holistic, culturally sensitive, and creative take to counselling that embraces a person's own individual intersectionality.

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Our Story

Who We Are

Life brings us to many places as we journey ahead and cultural lenses (age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith, (dis)ability, social class) play a part in who we are and in turn our own individual experiences. 

 

Sandigan Wellness was created to bring a holistic, culturally sensitive, and creative take to counselling that embraces a person's own individual intersectionality. Many forms of therapy have been created for and by, as well as researched for and by, people of cultural majority groups; Sandigan Wellness seeks to adapt these approaches to embrace all parts of you – even the parts that don't fall into those categories. 

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Sandigan Wellness is a safe space for marginalized individuals and communities to find the support and healing they too deserve. 

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Sandigan Wellness:

Esther Chu, M.A., RCC, CCC

Being faced with challenges is a normal part of life, but that doesn't mean you need to face them alone. I am a counsellor who is familiar working with and navigating areas such as intergenerational and interpersonal trauma, bi-cultural stress and healing, identity exploration, grief, as well as various mental health challenges. My work is grounded by the understanding that we, as people, are a walking mosaic of our lived experiences as well as the experiences we did not receive. 

As a Counsellor...

My approach to counselling is guided by the understanding that we as people are a walking mosaic of our lived experiences as well as the experiences we did not receive. I dream of a world where “good” mental health no longer seems like a luxury item. Working with me is a creative and collaborative process that may step outside of conventional talk therapy to take us where words may fail. I work to learn your strengths as well as the current themes and patterns in your life to build a foundation for our work together.

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​As a counsellor I specialize in navigating complex, multi-layered areas of life such as inter-generational and interpersonal trauma, cultural stress, as well as identity exploration. Additionally, those who struggle with depression (including post-partum depression) and grief hold a soft spot in my heart. I am skilled at working with PTSD and trauma. At this time, I currently only work with individuals 13+. I can speak English and Tagalog.

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My work is grounded in a person-centred approach and draws upon various therapeutic modalities such as:

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  • Narrative Therapy

  • Experiential Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • Attachment-Based Approaches

  • Sand Tray Therapy

  • Somatic-Based Approaches

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) ​​

  • Emotionally-Focused Therapy

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I hold a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. I also am a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association as well as an approved ICBC Service Provider for counselling. â€‹

 

I teach you skills, lessons, and the “why” behind aspects of life so that you may grow confident in your own ability to walk through life. If you are looking for a counsellor who will ask you the hard questions, be honest with you, teach you new skills and perspectives, as well as advocate for you – welcome home.

Let's Connect

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A designation of BC Association

of Clinical Counsellors

Vancouver

#300–3665 Kingsway

Vancouver, B.C.  V5R 5W2

Langley

#321–9440 202 St

Langley, B.C.  V1M 4A6

© 2024 Sandigan Wellness

Select Visuals by Amanda Domagala

Website & Brand Design by Alliyah Sobeng

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