Hi there! I’m Susan – it’s the English name I’ve used my entire life. My first name is actually Hai-Ha. My parents named me after the cities they are from (Hai Phong and Ha Noi, respectively), so I would always feel connected to my roots. I was born in Vietnam, and immigrated to Canada when I was a baby.
As a settler, and a person of colour, I have always been aware of my surroundings, and have often felt a disconnect, knowing that I was not the same as those around me - feeling as though I was not Vietnamese enough, or not Canadian enough. I moved around a lot during my childhood, which allowed me to learn and adapt quickly.
Due to these experiences, I developed an interest in learning about people and places, which is why I pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Sociology/Anthropology, with an extended minor in Psychology. I also have a Bachelor of Social Work.
I am a Registered Social Worker and Registered Clinical Counsellor in the province of British Columbia, Canada. After many years of working with families affected by abuse, addiction, and other systemic barriers, I found that what I enjoyed most about my work were the purposeful conversations I had with those I worked with. So, with that in mind, I completed a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, where I knew I would be able to continue engaging in therapeutic connections.
Outside of work, I am a mother of 4 young children, who I enjoy spending time outdoors with, either near some body of water, or hiking one of the many local trails, in the Greater Vancouver Area and the Fraser Valley. When the rain comes, which it often does, we like to bake and do crafts.
My goal as a therapist is that you feel seen, heard, accepted, and understood. I will work collaboratively with you to ensure that your needs are met, and will continue to check-in with you to see whether we need to adjust any part of our process, so we can continue moving in the direction you want.
