Anthea Lai

Anthea Cin Wah Lai is licensed with the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario (#17021). She is a Registered Psychotherapist at Grace Health Centre. She is deeply empathetic and emotionally attentive to help individuals navigate through relationship struggles, trauma, addictions, self-discovery, and life transitions.

Anthea walks alongside individuals (teens and adults) living with depression, anxiety, intergenerational / childhood trauma, abuse, low self-worth, substance addictions, borderline personality disorder, spiritual / existential distress, adhd, grief & loss, and broken relationships. Anthea also provides therapy to couples and families facing relational challenges, including communications, familial dynamics, unresolved trauma and parenting issues.

Foundationally, Anthea uses Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), an strength-based, relational attachment therapy which supports deep understanding of oneself in the mind, body (somatic) and emotions to create transformation in sense of self (self-esteem/worth), relationship dynamics and healing from traumatic hurts. Anthea has AEDP Level 2 and in progress to complete Level 3 of a 3-Level certification from www.aedpinstitute.org. Using an integrative approach, Anthea also corporates the following modalities into her practice: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Solutions-Based Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Spiritually-Integrated Psychotherapy, and Gottman Method Couples Therapy as suitable to the presenting needs.

Through her Masters (MPS) program in PsychoSpiritual Studies at the University of Toronto, Anthea is skilled to integrate spirituality into her professional therapeutic care of supporting clients struggling with purpose in life, faith, core beliefs and intergenerational family value systems that inform who we are and what we do.

Prior to becoming a registered psychotherapist, Anthea held multiple business leadership roles in corporate spaces and coaching individuals to reach their potential within their careers for over 20 years. Anthea brings her business leadership, critical thinking, appreciation for workplace trauma/cultural dynamics and warm coaching experiences into supporting high-achievers to navigating work life balance, complexities and meaning. Together with those she supports, Anthea is curiously perceptive to unpack root issues and thoughtfully builds a new path forward with gentleness and trust.

Anthea's personal journey of being a working mother of young children, overcoming high workplace stress, finding her own identity in different cultural settings, navigating intergenerational family relationship challenges, and understanding her own faith journey in facing grief / crisis, has shaped her deep compassion and passion to support others in different life transitions and difficulties. Anthea is a Canadian born Chinese with lived experiences in Hong Kong and Canada. She loves to travel and explore new food adventures. She enjoys fast alpine skiing, throwing pottery, being with family and friends.

Click here to book a free 15-min consultation with Anthea