Madison Chen, MCP, RCC

I believe that each of us is born with the innate capacity and desire to grow. However, our growth can be temporarily hindered by challenging life circumstances and experiences. Without a trusted companion, self-reflection can become overwhelming, making it exhausting to explore and unpack memories, understand current and past relationships, and their impact on our feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. As a gay man and an immigrant, I can also relate to the struggles faced by those who don’t feel that they have a place in a world that unfairly places expectations on folks who are considered “different” to simply “fit in.”

Just as I was supported by a healer more than 10 years ago after a traumatic event, I’m here to accompany you on your self-discovery journey with compassion and empathy. In counselling, we would collaboratively create a safe space where you can feel heard and accepted. My approach is trauma-informed, empathetic, sex positive, culturally sensitive, and unapologetically encouraging. I can provide counselling in both English and Mandarin.

I draw on various couselling modalities, including emotionally focused therapy, internal family systems, somatic, and polyvagal theories. It is my belief that symptoms clients present are adaptive strategies and logical consequences of past attachment experiences. When we feel accepted, acknowledged, and cared for, we can naturally break out of unhelpful cycles that trap up in distress and reach out to important others for help and support.

I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and music. Later, I studied business management at Cambridge University, UK, and culinary arts in Ottawa. I completed my Masters in Counselling Psychology (MCP) through Adler University and am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). I spend my free time with my beloved cat, playing sports, and bringing macarons to dinner parties.