therapy & consultation
that are
Intersectionality-
informed
trauma-informed
systems-informed
led with social justice & anti-capitalist values
ABOUT THIS PRACTICE
Room of One’s Own (ROO) is for:
patients of psychotherapy who are looking for therapy that integrates the understanding of neuroscience and attachment with the narrative and somatic approach
healthcare & medical professionals (practicing doctors, doctors-in-training & medical students) who are interested in becoming trauma-informed in their practice through a blend of therapy and consultation
Specifically, people who have historically benefitted from ROO’s services are in racialized bodies, have experienced/live with intergenerational trauma, and are interested in forming a different relationship with their boundaries.
Doctors and pre-med students have reported meaningful therapeutic & consultative work with ROO in experiencing the integration of the mind & body and deconstructing power dynamics that exist in their personal lives & professional roles.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES
Narrative
Neuropsychotherapy
Somatic
Relational
Attachment
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)
Clinical hypnosis
You can expect ROO’s therapist Hiu to take on a co-researcher role in sessions with deconstructive conversations, insightful and possibly challenging questions, curiosity, and a commitment to naming oppressive systems and dominant narratives at work. Grounded in the understanding that our brain’s job is to help us survive, we integrate somatic attachment and neuropsychotherapy to advocate long-term change in our clients.
VALUES
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We will acknowledge the social and cultural context, history, and collective trauma, and honour the various pieces that make you unique. We practice with the belief that the personal is often, if not always, political and influential.
The Intersectionality framework (Kimberlé Crenshaw) addresses that we individually & collectively locate somewhere on the axis of privilege, domination & oppression.
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We practice with an understanding of how trauma may affect a person’s brain, nervous system, and alter their coping mechanisms. Through this lens, we will explore where trauma may be stored in your body if that is doable for you and with your consent. We will consult the knowledge your body has while acknowledging the pieces that make up you.
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Psychotherapy and healthcare are fields that have been historically dominated by white and Eurocentric ideologies and values. In action, we strive to approach mental health support and systems from an anti-oppressive framework that privileges harm reduction, cultural humility, anti-capitalism, and a critical reflection on our and others' positions of authority and power.
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The quality of the therapeutic relationship—the bond between the therapist and patient—is the most consistent factor in therapeutic success. How you feel about our fit is very important for the work. Our therapist Hiu wrote their master’s thesis on this topic, which you can read here.
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Your trust in us is a big part of our therapeutic relationship. Whether it’s the content you share or the questions we ask, we will continuously engage in exercising our consent.
BIO
Founder & therapist of ROO,
Hiu Chan (MC, RCC) is experienced in working from an Intersectionality-focused lens with predominantly people of the Global Majority with different neurotypes, who identify as queer and have ongoing relationships with grief. Continuously working through her own intergenerational, racial & relational trauma, she privileges a person’s survival story & relationships to their agency, emotions, boundaries & people.
SERVICES
15 minutes
for both therapy & consultation clients
to discuss questions & get a sense of fit
50 - 75 minutes
for individuals & relationships
virtual via encrypted video call platform
custom
for healthcare & medical professionals
virtual via encrypted video call platform
In our quarterly feedback survey, we ask our patients:
“What are some changes or progress you’ve noticed in yourself since beginning therapy with Hiu?”
Below are some responses (shared anonymously here).
We thank our patients for their feedback.
“Changes in the way I speak to myself and in the way I think about certain ideas like rest and 'progress’.”
Better at defining needs, better at recognizing patterns in myself and others, better at soothing myself in triggering situations, less weight to certain traumas
“Higher levels of reflection in between sessions especially on themes and pertinent questions and centering thoughts brought up in the session.”
“I’ve worked on my relationship with my anger, anxiety, and avoidance. I've shared learnings from the sessions into my romantic relationship and that has helped facilitate conversations to further learn about my partner and myself, as well as our needs and different ways that we may address them.”
“Way less anxiety, better mechanisms for when I feel anxious or triggered.”
“1) a quicker realization of my emotional state and how to soothe myself ,
2) listening to how my body feels to be able to name a feeling or know what i need/what is going on
3) coming back to what i can do and not what i needs others to do/what is within my control.”
“I am a lot more comfortable with rest, and a lot more in touch with my feelings. I used to be very comfortable intellectualizing my feelings, but I don't think I understood how to feel them (or that there was a difference). Now I feel much more in tune with my emotions - and a lot more comfortable with feeling uncomfortable in them.”
“Working with Hiu has been really wonderful, one of the standout qualities is that Hiu does not shy away from speaking their mind, giving insights, genuine reactions - it feels as though I am working with a professional who still remembers to be human!!”