"When we open ourselves up to our vulnerabilities, we also open ourselves up to our full potential. I believe that all of us have the strength within to overcome and forge ahead toward our preferred way of life and living."
Judy is the founder and Clinical Director of Your Story Counselling. She has extensive training and experience in multiple psychotherapy settings. She utilizes a strengths-focused, postmodern systemic perspective to support her clients and their needs. Judy is also the Lead Clinical Supervisor for Your Story's Low-Cost Therapist Intern Clinic. She continually learns new approaches and techniques to serve her 'clients' unique needs and goals.
My Mission
I understand how vulnerable and complex confronting conflicts and issues head-on can be. I work hard to ensure clients' safety and confidentiality and that everyone is treated with empathy, respect, and nonjudgment.
My personal and professional training and experiences enable me to collaborate with individuals, couples, and families on a wide range of issues and goals. I am passionate about gathering tools and resources to better help and advocate for those I work with.
A Little/A Lot About Me
Hi! I'm Judy, a Chinese/Hong Kong Canadian born in Scarborough, Ontario, and currently residing in York Region. Throughout my life, I've struggled with my own mental health challenges. While battling anxiety, depression, trauma, and body dysmorphia, I often found it difficult to find someone safe enough to share my toughest and most vulnerable challenges.
This journey and curiosity led me to study psychology and human behavior. I completed my Honours B.A. at the University of Waterloo, majoring in Psychology and double-minoring in Sociology and SMF (Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies). My thesis in Social Psychology, under the supervision of Dr. Hilary Bergsieker, examined the impact of interethnic ideology on stereotype formation. It essentially explored how culture and social structures influence stereotyping and racial profiling. I also worked as a research assistant under Dr. Wendi Adair and Dr. Zhaleh Semnani-Azad, studying cross-cultural interactions' impact on time-sensitive business decision-making and communication success.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I spent a year working and volunteering at various agencies. I supported youth on the autism spectrum, individuals with developmental disabilities, persons with dual or multiple diagnoses, and those with special needs. I also had the privilege of working with individuals suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, supporting their loved ones through the grief process.
I earned my Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy at the University of Guelph, the only English-language accredited program in Canada for Couples and Family Therapy. I also completed an intensive week-long training program in Sex Therapy.
Before founding my practice in Vaughan/Concord in 2017, I worked in various agencies and clinics, including not-for-profit organizations that provided addiction counselling and child, couple, and family services across Toronto, the York Region, and the Peel-Dufferin Region.
Drawing on my personal experiences and professional training, I am honoured to help others navigate their life challenges.
Beyond the Office
When I'm not working with clients or supporting my growing team, you can find me writing for various projects, supervising therapists, or participating in my committee work with the Anti-Racism Advisory Group at CCPA. I also enjoy spending time with family and scrolling through endless pet adoption posts—though sadly, I'm allergic to the animals I fantasize about adopting!
Style & Technique
I believe therapy should be a collaborative effort. I maintain an inviting, nonjudgmental space for everyone, regardless of identity, race, gender, ability, culture, or sexual orientation.
Each person has a unique voice and way of thinking. Part of my role is to guide clients toward meaningful changes that align with their most preferred way of life. I help clients unlock their own inner tools to foster growth and transformation.
My clinical approach utilizes a strengths-focused, postmodern systemic perspective, incorporating models such as:
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Culturally Informed Therapy Modalities
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Dialogic Therapy
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
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Emotion-Focused Therapy
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Trauma-Informed Perspectives
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Narrative Therapy
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Sex Therapy
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Solution-Focused Therapy
I am continuously learning new techniques to meet the evolving needs of my clients.
Training & Experience
As the Clinical Director and Founder of Your Story Counselling Services, I collaborate with multidisciplinary professionals to support and promote the mental health and well-being of individuals, couples, and families. I strive to provide evolving, evidence-based, accessible, and client-centered mental health services.
If you'd like to learn more about my experiences, feel free to scroll down below.
Modalities
Specialties
Education
Languages
“If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything.”
- Thich Nhat Hanh
Memberships
Registered Psychotherapist
- College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario
Registered Marriage and Family Therapist
- Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Certified Canadian Counsellor
- Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
EMDR Canada
- Professional Membership
Education
University of Guelph, M.SC.
Master of Science
Couple and Family Therapy
- Deans Scholarship
- Deans Scholarship
- Graduate Growth Fund
- Alf and Mary Hales Graduate Scholarship in Family Studies
- Leah Mildred Webster Shedden Scholarship
University of Waterloo, B.AH.
Bachelor of Arts Honours
Psychology Major
Sociology Minor | Sexuality, Marriage, & Family Studies Minor
Hong Kong University
International Exchange Program
Social Studies - Psychology
- University of Waterloo International Experience Award
Training & Conferences
2025 Family Systems Trauma Intervention - Introduction, Eric Bailey, RMFT - Canadian Association for Couple and Family Therapy
- Virtual
2023 Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association Conference
-Toronto, ON
2022-Present (InP) Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Training Level 1 (CCTP)- Working with the neurological legacy of trauma - Janina Fischer - Virtual
2021-2022 ECHO Ontario Mental Health: Trans and Gender Diverse Healthcare - CAMH & The University of Toronto - Toronto,ON
2021 Clinical Supervisory Training | Presenter: Veena Kaur - KW Counselling - Kitchener/ Waterloo, ON
2021 Sex as a Safe Adventure Eft and Sex Therapy Workshop | Presenter: Simakhodskaya & Moran - Center for Psychological and Interpersonal Development (CPID) - New York, USA
2021 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis | Presenter: Noah Lazar, PhD, C.Psych. - Sick Kids Centre for Community Metal Health Learning Institute - Toronto, ON
2020 Leadership and Motivation for Supervisors | Presenter: Susan Geary, PhD. - Sick Kids Centre for Community Metal Health Learning Institute - Toronto, ON
2020 Essential Skills for The New Supervisor | Presenter: Susan Geary, PhD. - Sick Kids Centre for Community Metal Health Learning Institute - Toronto, ON
2020 EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Training II - Niagara Stress & Trauma Clinic - Toronto, ON
2019 EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Training I - Niagara Stress & Trauma Clinic - Toronto, ON
2019 Image Transformation Therapy Workshop
- Dr. Miller - Peterborough, ON
2018 Gay Men's Mental Health Summit - Toronto, ON
2017 - Treating the Invisible Wounds of Sociocultural Trauma: A Multicultural Relational Perspective - Dr. Kenneth Hardy -Toronto, ON
2017 - Love, Sex, & Gender Science Outreach Conference
- Toronto, ON
2016 - Ontario Association of Marriage and Family Therapy- FamilyTherapy and Systemic Practice Conference , Toronto, ON
2016 - Intensive Sex Therapy Training Program
- University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
2013 - International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP) Poster Presentation: Regional Meeting of the IACCP 2013
- California, USA
Research & Writing
Malone, R. M., Stewart, M. R., Gary-Smith, M., & Wadley, J. C. (Eds.). (2021). An Intersectional Approach to Sex Therapy: Centering the Lives of Indigenous, Racialized, and People of Color. Routledge.
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Chapter 6. Who Am I? Working with Young First Generational LGBTQ2+ Chinese Canadians
Judy T. Lui and Andy Mok
Lui, J. T. (2017). Chinese Culture in Therapy: Competencies for Therapeutic Alliance. The Atrium
Lui, J. T. (2014). Honours Thesis: Interethnic Ideology on Shifting Stereotype Content - Diversity and Intergroup Relationship Laboratory
Rice, D., Lui, J., Semnani-Azad, Z., & Adair, W.L. (2013). Role of Deadlines in Cross-cultural Negotiations: Influence of Time Perception on Goals and Outcomes. Poster Presentation - Annual Regional Meeting of the International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Projects and Engagements
(For past slides and presentations, please contact me for a copy)
Sept 2024
RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Micro-Business Finalist
April 2024
Brunch and Learn Seminar - Therapeutic Alliance, First Impressions, and Motivational Interviewing Skills for Client/Patient Satisfaction: What are the important factors that build positive rapport between practitioner and client/patient? How to assess for safety and risk factors. - Presented to a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Clinic wanting to improve patient retention and satisfaction. Please contact Judy to learn more about speaking engagements.
October 2023
Panelist - BIPOC Perspectives on Counselling and Psychotherapy - CCPA (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association) Conference
Within the CCPA, a group of BIPOC practitioners, staff and board leadership have come together once again to develop an
educational tool to share with conference delegates and CCPA members. Participants will be invited to view a pre-recording
from BIPOC practitioners who share highlights relevant to working with BIPOC clients and creating inclusive spaces for
BIPOC practitioners and communities of practice. The conference session will be hosted and facilitated by members of
CCPA’s AntiRacism Advisory Committee, who are eager to share towards equity, inclusion and diverse practices.
2023-Present
Committee Member - Anti Racism Advisory Group, CCPA (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association)
October 2021 (Free)
BIPOC Panel Series: Part 2 - The BIPOC Umbrella CCPA (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association)
This facilitated panel discussion will hold space for our lived experiences to honour our lived experiences as CCPA members who identify as being Black, Indigenous or a person of colour (BIPOC). Panellists will explore themes of identity and what it means to be under the umbrella of BIPOC. More Information here
May 2nd 2021
Toronto Star - How do you create intimacy with so much familiarity? Experts say time away from your partner is key - Andrea Yu
Winter 2020 ($)
New Moms Support Group - Virtual
In this 6 week support group, join other new moms in supporting each other navigating the changes of motherhood post partum. Joined by other mental and physical health experts, and hosted at Markham Pelvic Health.
August 2020 (Free)
Sex and Mental Health: An Intersectional Approach for Gay Asian Men - ACAS SLAM Forum
Judy will be spending the first portion discussing her experiences of working with LGBTQ+ folks in York Regions, specifically speaking to the experiences of East Asian and Chinese client’s experiences in therapy and more intimately the topic of working with gay Asian men. The second half of the session will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions and share their own experiences. Link to event.
Winter 2019 ($)
New Moms Support Group - Markham, ON
In this 6 week support group, join other new moms in supporting each other navigating the changes of motherhood post partum. Joined by other mental and physical health experts, and hosted at Markham Pelvic Health. More information on how to join the next round here
February 11th 2019 (Free)
Live and Learn: Stress Less - Richmond Hill Library
Join RHPL for engaging programs about key topics important to Richmond Hill and the larger society. Programs cover a wide range of topics -- including this month's Stress Less: Make life less stressful. Learn about the difference between Stress and Burnout in this information and presentation series
September 20 2019 (Free)
Markham Stouffville Hospital, Extras from the Experts; What you need to know from Pregnancy to Life with a New Baby
Learn from the experts the extra information that traditionally NO-ONE tells you that you really need to know to best prepare yourself. Topics will include: What is optimal fetal positioning, planning your best birth, healing your pelvic floor, kegel training, postpartum mood disorders: what they are and how to spot them. Lots of flexibility to ask questions, gain the resources from the experts and go home with tools to help you prepare for the best experience.
October 2019
PFlag York Region - Gala Sponsor and Contributor
September 2 2018 (Free)
Podcast Episode with the Before Anyone Else Podcast - Ask a therapist: Supporting a partner with mental health issues
Our guest Judy Lui, MSc, CCC, RP is a registered Psychotherapist specializing in relational therapy. We ask Judy how can we help support a partner facing mental health issues. Is there a certain way to approach the topic? How can I ask for help when my partner doesn’t feel comfortable doing so themselves? How can I encourage them to go to a therapist? Should I feel guilty about leaving someone with a mental health issue?
August 22 2018 (Free)
Podcast Episode with the Before Anyone Else Podcast - Ask a therapist: When should you see a relational therapist?
Our guest Judy Lui, MSc, CCC, RP is a registered Psychotherapist specializing in relational therapy. We ask Judy when should you see a relational therapist? We explore the therapeutic process and some of the most common issues that couples see therapists about. Is there a certain time or situation where you should see a therapist? How can we distinguish between an obstacle a couple can overcome vs a problem when you should leave the relationship? Is it too late to see a therapist? When does the therapy end? Why should you see a therapist?.
April 2nd 2018 (Free)
An Introduction to Psychotherapy : University of Toronto.
Judy is a registered psychotherapist specializing in individual, couples and family therapy. Judy will be speaking on academic requirements to enter the field, the path to becoming a psychotherapist, and her own personal experiences in the field. Following the presentation there will be a Q & A session. Food and drinks will be provided.
Supervision
I am able to provide individual and group Clinical Supervision hours that can be counted towards CRPO (and some other Psychotherapy College) supervision hours. Please contact me at judy@yourstorycounselling.com for more information.