Wellness | Acceptance | Vitality | Enlightenment
Theo's Counselling Philosophy
Leading with compassion and curiosity.
My approach to counselling is person-centred, as I believe it's crucial to have a safe, supportive therapeutic relationship before delving into the experiences and factors that hold you back. I describe myself as an eclectic therapist borrowing concepts from CBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Narrative Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy. My role is to help you gain insight, challenge you, highlight your innate strengths, and point out what you may be unaware of, all while holding space for you in a compassionate, curious manner. I feel honoured to hear my clients' stories and walk alongside their journeys. We're on a journey of co-creation where you're the expert on your life and experiences, while I'm the expert in facilitating growth and change. In counselling and psychotherapy we are ultimately rewiring the brain's neural pathways, and I will bring neuroscience knowledge into the room to help you understand how our brain and nervous system really impact the way we show up.
About The Founder
Theo Chu, BSc Kin, MKin, MC
CRPO Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) #15421
BCACC Registered Clinical Counsellor #21008
Hello! My name is Theo (Teddy) Chu and I am the founder of WAVE Performance and Wellness. I initially began my practice to help athletes strive for their performance potential, but along the way I took an interest in general mental health. It thrills me to have a background in both mental health and sport psychology, allowing me to integrate these fields to help both athletes and the general population thrive.
My passion for sport psychology stems from my background in competitive soccer. I have competed at the national level with Team Alberta. I am also a former member of the varsity soccer team at the University of Alberta, where we competed at the national championship 3 times during my tenure. In my youth, I was also part of the National Training Centre program where they trained players as prospects for Team Canada. With these athletic experiences, I understand the work ethic and challenges that come with being a competitive athlete in the pursuit of athletic excellence. In addition, I have worked with collegiate-level athletes at Douglas College and the University of British Columbia as a mental performance consultant. A wide range of sports have been encompassed in these experiences including golf, track and field, cross-country, soccer, basketball, softball, and volleyball.
In terms of my mental health experience, I have coached employees at Manulife on mental health disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorders, and so forth. My practical experiences in counselling have included working with individuals who deal with sport performance concerns, trauma, grief, LGBTQ2S+ issues, depression, anxiety, academic stress, suicide, relationship problems, family stressors, ADHD, job loss, and life transitions to name a few. I have worked with a diverse range of ages from 10 to those in their 60s. Particular populations I have worked closely with include athletes, GBQ (gay, bisexual, and queer) men, and post-secondary students.
Experience
Practical
Professional Counsellor, Health Initiative for Men, Vancouver, BC
Sport Science Instructor (Sport & Exercise Psychology), Douglas College
Mental Health Specialist, Manulife Group Life & Disability
Mental Performance Consultant, University of British Columbia Athletics Department
Counselling Intern, University of British Columbia Counselling Services
Counselling Intern, Health Initiative for Men, Vancouver, BC,
Counselling Intern, Stewart & Associates Counselling & Coaching Services
Mental Performance Consultant, Douglas College Athletics Department
Lead Researcher (Exploring the relationship between group cohesion and compassion in varsity athletes), Wilfrid Laurier University
Sport Psychology Research Assistant, University of Alberta and Wilfrid Laurier University
Education
Master of Counselling, City University of Seattle
Master of Kinesiology specializing in Sport Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, University of Alberta
Athletic
University of Alberta Men's Soccer
National Training Centre Prairies
Alberta Provincial Team