Janice Lau, Registered Clinical Counsellor ~ offering sessions in burnaby, vancouver & online

Janice believes therapy is not about fixing, but about creating a safe space where healing is nurtured through authentic relationship, co-regulation, and compassionate witnessing. She often uses the image of a tree to describe this process: with safety and support, we can deepen our roots, strengthen our trunk, and grow in new directions—even after storms.

Whether working with a child through the expressive language of play or supporting an adult in welcoming their inner "parts", her approach is guided by a core belief: every part of you belongs, and healing happens when we learn to meet ourselves with curiosity instead of judgment.

Drawing from neuroscience, trauma-informed care, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Satir, and systemic family dynamics, Janice supports adults in exploring their inner landscape. She specializes in helping clients get to know the different "parts" of themselves—the protectors that keep them safe, the inner critic, and the wounded inner child holding past pain.

Through gentle, collaborative IFS work, Janice helps you step into your own "Self-leadership," allowing you to heal old wounds, release heavy burdens, and cultivate a deep, compassionate relationship with your whole self.

• Authenticity – Healing happens when we can be real, even when it’s messy.
• Growth in Relationships – Change is rooted in connection—with ourselves, our parts, and others.
• Play & Creativity – Healing often comes through play, art, and expression beyond words.
• Compassionate Witnessing – Every part of a person is worthy of being met with curiosity and care.
• Neurodiversity-Affirming – There’s no one “right way” to think, feel, interact, or grow.
• Inclusion – All aspects of identity are welcomed, valued, and celebrated.

Janice is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with BCACC, a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with CCPA, a BC Registered Play Therapist with BCPTA, a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist, an IFS Level 1 Trained Therapist, and an AutPlay Therapy Provider. She holds a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Trinity Western University.

If you’d like to learn more about the approaches that inspire her work, here are some resources:

Internal Family Systems • Synergetic Play Therapy • Child-Centred Play Therapy • AutPlay Therapy • Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy • Narrative Therapy

"We cannot change the past, but we can change how we relate to it." — Virginia Satir

Starting therapy takes courage. It involves stepping into vulnerability and making space for change—not by trying to force ourselves to become someone else, but by befriending the person we already are. It’s an honour for me to walk with you on this journey toward a deeper, more compassionate connection with yourself and those around you.