Candice Chiu RP(Qualifying)
Psychotherapist
Candice is a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) with specialized training and experience in working with neurodivergent individuals. She holds a Master’s degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science in Biology & Psychology from McMaster University.
She uses an integrative therapeutic approach that incorporates techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Focusing Oriented Therapy (FOT), Polyvagal theory, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
A neurodivergent person is an individual with a brain type that is different from most of the population and includes those with ADHD, ASD, OCD, BPD and more. It’s Candice’s belief that neurodivergent folks deserve both support for their mental health and celebration for the strengths that their differences bring to the world. Candice focuses on finding ways to support neurodivergent individuals as they are, rather than trying to change their behaviour to be more neurotypical.
Candice’s passion for supporting neurodivergent individuals stems from her own lived experiences as an ADHDer and autistic (level 1) person. She has first-hand experience with the difficulties of navigating a world that is mostly designed for a neurotypical brain type. Although she was not diagnosed until adulthood, it was these struggles that sparked her interest in psychology and the human mind. Through her studies and experience working in the field of mental health, she has also come to realize how important the mind-body connection is. Thus, much of her therapeutic style is informed by this lens.
In a typical first session, you can expect to have an open conversation about what brings you to therapy and you’ll also have the chance to share things about yourself that you feel are important for Candice to know as you move forward in therapy. From there, Candice will work collaboratively with you to create a treatment plan that incorporates evidence-based practices.
One of the strongest factors associated with positive mental health outcomes in therapy is the therapeutic alliance. Thus, Candice strives to earn and keep your trust while also ensuring that you feel heard and understood in therapy.