Sue Anne Poh Skylark Counselling Clinic 11
MEd, Registered Clinical Counsellor
Child Counselling Specialist
She/Her

Sue Anne Poh

Drawing on 18 years as an educator, I offer specialized therapy and counseling for families, children, and youth. My deep understanding of child and adolescent behavior informs tailored therapeutic approaches, fostering stronger family connections and improved harmony. I am a Korean adoptee and specialize in supporting Korean and other adoptees and BIPOC clients, creating a culturally sensitive environment for exploring identity and developing coping strategies. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems Theory, mindfulness, and evidence-based strategies, I guide individuals and families through emotional challenges. I also specialize in helping enhance executive functioning skills for kids, teens, and adults. I support clients with educational or learning challenges, with strategies for academic success. I am dedicated to helping clients navigate life’s joys and challenges, offering a safe space to guide people through their own individual journeys towards their goals, whether those goals entail self-discovery, resilience, healthy relationships, overall well-being or other mental wellness goals. 

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Words to live by

“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us.” — David Richo 

Q & A With our Staff

A little bit more about me

Education?

  • Master of Education in Counselling, City University of Seattle
  • Bachelor of Education, University of British Columbia
  • Bachelor of Science, Psychology University of Victoria

Top Three Specializations?

  • Education Challenges (ADHD, Anxiety, Neurodiverse, Behaviour) in schools
  • Cultural/BIPOC
  • Executive Functioning Strategies

Top Three Modalities of Therapy?

  • Filial Therapy
  • Positive Psychology, Person Centered
  • Synergetic Play Therapy

Professional Clinical Counselling Certification

Certified with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors: Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) #22892
Certified with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association: Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) #11254980

What led you to counselling?

It was a natural next step after working with children and families as an educator and working with my strengths. I really felt that the challenges in life I have gone through have made me a more emphatic and nurturing person. Listening to others life stories and seeing loved ones go through struggles made me more aware of how important it is to have someone who can listen and support without judgement and with love. Filling other’s “buckets”, fills my own “bucket”.

What do people say your biggest strength is?

My passion and loyalty. I am not often neutral when it comes to my friends or things I believe in. I love what I do, and people will say I am incredibly passionate about it, especially if it comes to helping others. Also being authentic, I am always myself and am not hard to read. Often my friends say that they never have to guess what I’m feeling or be uncertain about my feelings. I’m genuine and if I give you a compliment it’s real. It’s probably my biggest strength and sometimes my biggest challenge.

Something you're proud of (challenge you've overcome, etc.)?

My recent change in careers... I have always been afraid of change and love the security of the familiar and being able to navigate all the challenges that came from it made me feel grateful that I could and am now able to move on into a new career and take the good things from my past and leave the not so good in the past. Accepting change and being excited for a different way of life (like writing a resume after almost 20 years of the last one) is something I am still working on but happy that I am.

One thing you’ve learned from working with people?

That we are all the same but different, and that I wish I had more time to spend talking and finding out about people as they have all influenced me. Each person is so unique, but more importantly, we are all the same in how we love, hurt, learn, and live. It made me realize that reaching out or listening or just sharing parts of your struggles will let you connect and realize we aren’t alone. I’ve also learned how much depth and layers we all have, and the power of connection.

What/who inspires you?

Literally everyone and everything I do daily, inspires me, teaches me, reminds me and makes me feel and makes me live life day by day. I am often reminded of my students over the last 18 years and each special visit they made over the years. They often reminded me that something I had said that I didn’t even remember made such an impact on them and they remembered many years later. It made me more aware that we make an impact and inspires and we may not know it but each little interaction means a lot to someone.

Favourite book and why?

Anne of Green Gables, because I love how Anne is just herself and I personally identify with how she was adopted at a later age. It was also the first book that my Dad bought me and I watched all the movies and read the whole series of books. I also loved that it was written by a Canadian author. As well, I would love to visit PEI someday.

Favourite things to do?

I love to sing, dance, and laze on the sofa binge watching TV shows! I also love to go on long meandering walks with no destination... yes that does lead to one getting lost (especially if you’re on holiday). I also love to read and love Kindle as I am a speed reader. If I start a series, I have to finish it... even if it isn’t great... just have to know how it ends!

What would you tell a client who is meeting you for the first time?

That I admire and respect them for reaching out for support and making their needs a priority! So often, we don’t put ourselves and what we need first, we are always wanting to take care of others or chores. I remind myself of how much courage it takes me to ask for help, and how it made me feel. I will always be thankful that my client is reaching out and giving me their trust and I hope they will feel comfortable in knowing I take that as a gift. I also hope to tell them that comfort and connection is so important and that I put that as a priority.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a pediatric neurosurgeon until the midterm exam in BioChem in University told me otherwise. That challenge at the time made me painfully rethink all my career plans. However, it did make me grow and try new jobs and every different job experience (behaviour interventionist, accountant, biobehavioural research assistant) all led me to this path now and I wouldn’t change it now. Each experience also added to my strengths and knowledge for my career now.

Do you have any pets?

My beloved dog Twiggy. She was an eccentric rescue dog that I had for almost 14 years, and I still miss her every day! I adopted her when she was 2 and she was the light of my life. She also made me a hermit for most of that time. She had severe separation anxiety, which led to doggy daycare every day and lovely doggy sitters. She gave me so many laughs and so much love. I love all animals really but I’m very happy that I had such an amazing pet, she brought happiness and love to everyone, and she was the most loved dog by my students who always begged for more Twiggy stories.

Other languages spoken?

Smattering of Korean, Hokkien, Mandarin. Very basic and limited though!

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