Meet your counsellor
Hello and welcome. You are welcome here…just as you are.
I’m Lihua Shao, a professional counsellor (MPCC provisional with CPCA, and RTTc with ACCT). I provide client-centered counselling, integrating evidence-based, trauma-informed, polyvagal-informed, and somatic awareness to support individuals, couples, family and groups navigating emotional overwhelming, life transitions, grief and loss, relationship challenges, and identify exploration.
Before and alongside my counselling work, I continue to teach fitness and movement-based classes, supporting people in developing strength, body awareness and confidence. This ongoing experience deepens my understanding of the mind-body connection and how experiences especially challenging ones, can be held physically as well as emotionally. I also have experience providing individualized support to people with complex care needs, which deepened my understanding of patience, empathy, and client-centered support. Together, these experiences inform my counselling approach, particularly in supporting clients to feel grounded, regulated, and safe as they explore their emotions, relationships, and life experiences.
My own healing journey has given me insight into the challenges many people face, including managing anxiety, depression, and navigating relationships – with partners, children, and loved ones experiencing mental health struggles. I’ve walked through life transitions, grief and loss, learning the value of self-acceptance, self-love, self-compassion and self care, and the ongoing path of personal growth and individuation. These experiences inform my counselling practice, allowing me to meet you with empathy, understanding, and a grounded awareness of the human experiences, while creating a space you can explore your own journey safely.
I believe that therapy is not about “fixing” what is broken, but about creating a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore, understand, and reconnect with yourself. I work collaboratively with clients, respecting your pace, autonomy, and lived experiences, while providing guidance and strategies tailored to your needs.
Working together, you can explore challenges such as relationships & connection; stress, anxiety & burnout; depression, low mood & emotional numbness; trauma & nervous system dysregulation; parenting & family transition; identity, self-worth & meaning; grief & loss (not only death); life transition & uncertainty; boundaries, assertiveness & self-trust; desire for growth & self-understanding and more.
At Soulsync Counselling, my goal is to offer a space that feels calm, safe, respectful, and supportive, where all parts of you are welcomed. Whether you are seeking clarity, healing, or simply a place to pause and reflect, you are welcome here.