David Lee, Registered Marriage & Family Therapist, Registered Clinical Counsellor

Get to Know David

David Lee works with couples, families, individuals, and a limited number of children above the age of 10, at BCG Counselling Group as a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Clinical Counsellor. Previous to his work as a clinical counsellor, David served in pastoral ministry for about 20 years (some of which overlapped with his work as a therapist). He has a Master of Divinity degree from Regent College and an M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy degree from Trinity Western University. David speaks fluent English and Korean and is able to provide consultation in both languages.

Areas of Practice

De-escalating harmful cycles and facilitating secure attachment in couples and family relationships
Working through troubling emotions – inhibitory emotions (anxiety, guilt, shame) and their defences – so core emotions can be connected with, leading to greater freedom
Understanding current difficulties, traumas, and painful parts of one’s life experience through the lens of attachment science and the unique life story of the individual
Leading these traumatized or stuck parts within one’s self, through acceptance and compassion, to live with courage and love
As fitting with the client, integrating a faith approach to one’s journey of healing and change that incorporates the processing of the human mind, soul, relationships, and the ‘heart’
Supervision of interns and therapists from a systemic, attachment-based, emotion-focused, and experiential lens

David’s areas of interest and passion include working with hidden deeper emotions, as well as emotions that inhibit and facilitate stuckness such as shame and depression and their ways of coping. There are ways of dealing with emotions that people learn to adopt, such as burying them, avoiding them, minimizing them, and the like. These ways of disconnecting with core emotions have the impact of causing people to adopt inhibitory emotions instead, which have the intention of helping but end up leading to a guarded way of living that keeps them distant from their truest parts and their truest selves. The result can be painful aloneness, feeling anxious and depression, emotions feeling out of control, and not being able to use healthy boundaries with one’s self or with others. Through slowing down to allow core emotions to emerge and be understood and connected with, we seek to gently shine the light of compassion and acceptance into those hidden places so we can live from our true and full selves in our relationships and vocations.

What to expect

“As you meet with me, I try to understand the heart of what you are facing and dealing with. My basic belief is that each person is valued and valuable and as such worthy of safety, guidance they can trust, and change. Often, the change we seek is external, but sometimes the change we need is internal. It is an honour to seek change with you, at a pace that honours you, and invite some light into the dark spaces. I look forward to welcoming and journeying with you.”

Specialization

A select few of the specialized training David has received include:

EFT (emotionally focused therapy) externship, core skills training (ICEEFT)
EFT for Individuals with a focus on trauma
7 Principles for Making Marriage Work (Gottman Institute)
AEDP (accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy) immersion (AEDP Institute)
AEDP group supervision group
Play and family therapy course, taught by Phoebe Tsang (Registered Play Therapist) at TWU
Clinical supervision course, taught by Dr. Vange Thiessen and Dr. Estera Boldut
Individual/dyadic clinical supervision with Dr. Ian Verseveldt, Dr. Veronica Kallos-Lily, Dr. Gloria Lee, and Dr. Phoebe Tsan

Book an Appointment

Please fill out the form or give us a call at 604.430.1303, and speak with one of our intake team members to get the process started.

Please note: Counselling appointments for all locations (Burnaby, Langley, and Kelowna) are booked through our main office in Burnaby.