ABOUT ANDREA

Andrea Yeung BA, MA, RCC, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who believes in the resiliency of the human spirit, the significance of holistic health, and the importance of self acceptance in the search for meaning and journey of healing.  Andrea has a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Sciences, Linguistics and Psychology, from the University of British Columbia.  She also holds a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Trinity Western University. Andrea is accredited as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), license number: 11254.

THERAPEUTIC APPROACH

Andrea provides a safe, compassionate and authentic space for people to process through thoughts and emotions, gain insights about life patterns, and move towards a place of healing and freedom.  Andrea specializes in collaborating with individuals to find their unique path of transformation and self-discovery while working towards their therapeutic goals.  Andrea helps to facilitate change through dialogue, psycho-education, the integration of current research in neuroscience, somatic based and body-centred therapies – including EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy), trauma-informed experiential exercises, and emotional regulation and practical skill-building techniques.

Andrea counsels from a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive lens, and she seeks to see each individual as a whole person. Andrea is committed to walking with her clients towards a holistic integration of self, and supporting each individual in building resiliency, seeking sustainable growth, and pursuing authentic and lasting transformation. Additionally, Andrea provides the option to integrate one’s spirituality and faith into the therapeutic process with integrity, sensitivity and care.

Andrea is an integrative therapist who uses a variety of therapeutic techniques and modalities, tailoring her approach to each individual she sees. She is trained in a variety of evidence-based modalities, and combines techniques and principles from Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) Polyvagal Theory (Stephen Porges), Attachment-Based Therapy, Somatic-Focused Therapies, Narrative Therapy, and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). EMDR is an evidence-based, experiential therapy that reprocesses and integrates the perception of disturbing cognitions, emotions and sensations to help the mind and body heal from trauma and its after-effects.

EXPERIENCE

Andrea specializes in working with trauma, nervous system regulation challenges, family conflict and spiritual integration. Andrea supports individuals who have faced various traumas, including early attachment and developmental trauma, childhood sexual abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse, spiritual abuse, bullying, neglect, discrimination, and sexual exploitation. She also works with clients in processing through and understanding generational trauma and the affects of war, genocide, systemic racism, and other historical traumas and their impact on our nervous systems.

Andrea is also experienced in counselling individual adults and couples dealing with anxiety, panic, depression, anger issues, explosive behaviours, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), phobias, dissociation, chronic health condition management, life restructuring, grief, existential crises, shame and guilt.

Andrea provides counselling services to a wide spectrum of individuals encompassing diverse cultural backgrounds. Her approach reflects a nuanced understanding and respect for the intricacies and complexities of culture, ethnicity, and spiritual traditions, fostering an inclusive and culturally competent therapeutic environment. Andrea also works with individuals navigating questions of life’s meaning, purpose, and one’s personal identity.

Andrea has previous experience in mental health public practice, counselling children, youth, and families at BC Children’s Hospital, addressing mental health concerns such as: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, conversion disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), personality disorders, borderline disorder, trauma, family conflict, and sexually intrusive behaviours. Andrea also has experience working with children with autism and is sensitive to the dynamics and challenges that are faced in a home that includes a child or parent with mental illness and/or a developmental disorder.

Andrea has been in private practice since 2014. Before full-time private practice, Andrea worked at Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV), as a Family Counsellor.  She was part of the Family Preservation and Reunification Services branch of FSGV, working with parents and children to prevent out-of-home placement, and also working to reunite children with their families. Her role entailed supporting parents in developing tangible skills and strategies to navigate familial and relational challenges, and fostering secure and healthy parent-child attachment. Andrea also focused on working with parents to foster self-awareness in their parenting, and processing through personal and generational trauma affecting their parenting capacities to empower sustainable growth in their parenting journeys.

Andrea also worked at Tenth Church, as their Director of Healing Ministries, for a number of years.  In this role, she initiated, coordinated and supervised programs that encouraged holistic healing and collaborative care in the congregation and surrounding community. Andrea continues to be passionate about faith communities providing trauma-informed support and care, fostering compassion, understanding and safety in communal spaces.