Fun Facts About Me
💜 Lavender is my favourite colour. I’m drawn to its romantic calm, healing energy.
🤹🏽 Gentle and fierce. With vulnerable situations, I’m compassionate. But when it comes to advocating for social justice, I can be fierce and outspoken.
🙃 a “sloppy mom”—on purpose. I don’t micro-manage my daughter. Instead, I give her space to grow. She surprised me (and maybe herself too!) by being accepted to both Harvard and Stanford for her MBA.
Serious Facts About Me
✔ Registered Social Worker (RSW) in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
✔ Master of Social Work (MSW) – Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
✔ 10+ years of experience in community mental health and healthcare, with a focus on supporting Mandarin-speaking individuals and families
✔ Advanced training in evidence-based psychotherapies, including:
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Skills
• Mindfulness and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
✔ Strengths-based approach to individual therapy, psycho-educational workshops, and support groups
✔ Dedicated lifelong learner, committed to ongoing supervision, reflective practice, and professional development to ensure quality and ethical care
✔ Passionate advocate for equity and accessibility in mental health, and an active blog writer on social issues
My Work & Services
I love my name —Sunny 🔆雨心 (Rain Heart) ♥— because it reflects both my aspiration for life and my approach to work: to nourish gently like rain and bring hope and direction like sunlight, with my whole heart.
I believe psychotherapy is not merely about “solving problems.” It is a whole-person approach — understanding life’s challenges through the interconnected lenses of social, physical, psychological, spiritual, and relational well-being. Together, my clients and I explore authentic pathways to change, strengthening psychological flexibility and resilience to move toward a life that truly matters to them.
I believe that the professional power of therapy arises not only from formal training and knowledge, but also from ongoing supervision, self-reflection, and personal growth. For me, the most effective therapy is not a single technique—it is a collaborative process where therapist and client discover new perspectives together and cultivate practical life skills for real, sustainable change. Rooted in Eastern philosophy, I believe wellness arises from balance and harmony — from the Oneness of all things. This belief, interwoven with Western scientific and evidence-based approaches, forms the foundation of my psychotherapy practice.
As a first-generation immigrant from Northeast China, my family once received life-changing support from Canada’s social work system. That experience inspired me to shift from engineering to social work, determined to extend the same compassion my family once received to others. Like many newcomers, I have faced the challenges of rebuilding life and career in a new country—and I have also walked through the journey of surviving and recovering from stage III cancer. These experiences have deepened my empathy for marginalized communities and strengthened my resilience to find meaning in adversity.
I see myself not as an “expert,” but as a compassionate companion who brings both professionalism and humanity into the room — walking alongside each client on part of their journey, until they are ready to move forward toward their own meaningful life.
Read More about how my life and education shaped my Work Value.
Recognition & Awards
Community involvement
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CMN NEWS Dancing Damsels| Toronto IWD 2022 | Award Winner Sunny Yuxin Li | Volunteering
Publications:
- Co-translated Translated Aware
My Reflections