MC Candidate, Master's Intern
She/Her

Xiao Xu

Before entering the counselling field, I spent nearly a decade working as a journalist, reporting on diverse communities including immigrants, refugees, international students, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Hearing people’s stories across different backgrounds taught me to approach each person with curiosity, empathy, and genuine respect for their lived experiences. Having first come to Canada as an international student and later built a life here, I am also familiar with questions of cultural identity, belonging, and adaptation. These experiences continue to shape my cross-cultural sensitivity and appreciation for the many paths people take. 

My counselling approach is integrative and grounded in person-centred therapy. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and strength-based perspectives, while keeping a systemic lens that considers the broader cultural, relational, and social contexts shaping people’s lives. I value evidence-informed practice and work collaboratively with clients to explore strategies that fit their goals, values, and lived experiences. At the heart of my work is the belief that meaningful change often unfolds through authentic human connection. By listening with curiosity and openness, I aim to create a space where clients feel understood and supported as they reconnect with their strengths, cultivate self-compassion, and move toward a life aligned with their values. 

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Words to live by

There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in”. – Leonard Cohen 

Q & A With our Staff

A little bit more about me

Education?

  • Currently pursuing Master of Counselling, City University in Canada
  • Diploma in Journalism, Langara College
  • B.A. in Journalism and Communication, Shanghai International Studies University – Xianda College, Shanghai, China

Top Three Specializations?

  • Anxiety & Depression
  • Identity & Belonging
  • Self-Esteem/Perfectionism

Top Three Modalities of Therapy?

  • Person-Centered
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Strengths-Based Approach

What led you to counselling?

Several years ago, I began to feel a strong sense of being “stuck” in both life and work. At the same time, there was a quiet inner nudge that it might be time for change. After a long period of reflection, and with the support of counselling, I decided to explore a new path.

Looking back on what had always mattered most in my work, I realized how meaningful human connection had been for me all along. During my years in journalism, I felt deeply honored when people trusted me enough to share their voices and stories. If journalism often meant listening from a more observational perspective, counselling now allows me to walk more closely alongside people in their journeys—something I see as a true privilege.

Favourite book and why?

One of my favorite books lately is Bright Night by South Korean author Choi Eun-young. It’s a heavy yet deeply moving read. The novel portrays how love in many East Asian families can be quiet, indirect, and sometimes tangled with misunderstanding and pain. It also shows how women—especially in times shaped by war and patriarchy—become one another’s most gentle and resilient support.

What/who inspires you?

My mother. She grew up at a time when gender roles in China were still very conservative. Instead of following her family’s expectation of working in a textile factory, she chose a bold path and became an athlete.

She still inspires me with her determination to challenge herself. A few years ago she started running, and now, in her 60s, she can complete three half-marathons in a single week (which I’m not entirely sure is a good idea!). Meanwhile, I’m struggling even to finish a 5K park run.

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

When I was little, I wanted to be a traffic officer. Every day on my walk home from kindergarten in my hometown in eastern China, I passed a special intersection staffed entirely by women traffic officers — the only one in the city. I thought they were incredibly cool. Standing confidently in the middle of the crossroads, directing traffic with sharp hand signals and the occasional whistle, dressed in crisp uniforms, they seemed calm, capable, and completely in control of the chaos around them.

What is your process for turning a bad day into a good one?

Good food and good conversation are my go-to reset. I love connecting with people, and meaningful conversations with friends always energize me. I’m also a foodie, so sharing a great meal together — along with some laughter — can turn a rough day into a much better one.

What do people say your biggest strength is?

People often describe me as genuine, calm, and compassionate—someone who thinks with both head and heart, and whom others feel safe confiding in.

Something you’re proud of?

I’ve always had a tendency toward perfectionism and a fear of failure. In recent years, I’ve been trying to challenge that by doing things I’m not naturally good at. Last year, I signed up for an improv class with absolutely no idea what I was doing. It was uncomfortable most of the time, but I was proud of myself for showing up and giving it a try.

One thing you’ve learned from working with people?

I deeply resonate with a quote I once came across: “Sometimes we lack compassion simply because we haven’t listened long enough.” One thing I’ve learned from working with people is that when we slow down and truly listen, compassion often follows—even when someone’s experiences or values are very different from our own.

Favourite things to do?

I enjoy staying active and trying different sports. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with beginner-level bouldering and playing child-level tennis—humbling yet lots of fun!

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

Thank you for showing up today, and for choosing not to struggle alone. I’m here to listen, support you, and work alongside you as we explore your story and what might help you move forward.

Do you have any pets?

Not at the moment. But growing up I had two Pekingese dogs at different times — Qiuqiu (“little ball”) and Wangwang (the sound of a dog barking in Chinese). Both were eventually sent away by my parents because they believed the dogs were distracting me from studying. Ya, I guess, in many Chinese families, studying tends to take priority over… well, almost everything.

Other languages spoken:

Mandarin, English

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