Lau Mehes (she/her/hers), Registered Social Worker (RSW)
Languages: English
Lau is currently holding a waitlist for new clients.
If you are interested in connecting with Lau, please email her at [email protected]
Languages: English
Lau is currently holding a waitlist for new clients.
If you are interested in connecting with Lau, please email her at [email protected]
Availability
Mondays 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Virtual)
Tuesdays 8:00 am - 3:00 pm (In person at Venables & Virtual)
About
Hello!
My name is Lau, it’s so nice to meet you. I’d love to tell you a bit about myself and my counselling practice, so you can gauge if I might be a good fit for you!
I am a Registered Social Worker with the BC College of Social Workers, and a Masters in Social Work. I am a white, cisgender, queer, non-disabled femme (she/her) of British and Russian- Jewish background living on the stolen lands of the səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) Nations. I grew up between small-town BC and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I have been working in health and education systems with young people, adults, and families for the past 13 years. I have worked with 2SLGBTQ+ youth for many years, as well as Indigenous families, folks who use substances, and folks who are experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship violence, and self-harm. I also have extensive experience working with folks experiencing grief, loss, acute crisis, family conflict, and acute medical trauma, including first responders. In my personal life I love to sing in choirs, garden, cook, ride my bike, and laugh and snuggle with my toddler.
In my counselling practice I believe in working collaboratively with you in a relationship-focused space. My practice is grounded in respect, empathy, curiosity, and encouragement. I truly believe that you have the skills to help yourself and solve your problems, and I hope to create a space where we can co-create opportunities for healing, growth, and liberation. I strive to offer an anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction approach. My work is deeply informed by intersectionality, and I recognize the learning I have done from BIPoC women/trans/nonbinary folks. I strive to center social justice and decolonization in my practices, but I recognize that this is ongoing work of unlearning and listening.
Some of the approaches and tools I use include narrative therapy, emotionally-focused family therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, attachment theory, queer/intersectional feminist theory, and somatics. However, I think the most important part of a counselling experience is the safety and acceptance you feel to explore your inner and outer worlds, heal your suffering, and grow your self-awareness and connection to self and community. With me you can expect a supportive environment that values consent, self-reflections, and laughter. I look forward to joining you on your journey.
Areas of Focus:
Approaches
I use an integrated approach that centers the needs of each individual or family. My approaches
are informed by the following therapies:
Licensure and Degrees
Selected Professional Trainings
Lau's Rates
Individual Counselling
50 Min
Sliding Scale: Closed/Full
Standard: $150
Generous: $155+
75 Min
Sliding Scale: Closed/Full
Standard: $225
Generous: $230+
Relationship/Family Counselling
50 Min
Sliding Scale: Closed/Full
Standard: $185
Generous: $190+
75 Min
Sliding Scale: Closed/Full
Standard: $260
Generous: $265+
Hormone Readiness Asessments
Two 40-minute sessions: $300 per assessment
Mondays 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Virtual)
Tuesdays 8:00 am - 3:00 pm (In person at Venables & Virtual)
About
Hello!
My name is Lau, it’s so nice to meet you. I’d love to tell you a bit about myself and my counselling practice, so you can gauge if I might be a good fit for you!
I am a Registered Social Worker with the BC College of Social Workers, and a Masters in Social Work. I am a white, cisgender, queer, non-disabled femme (she/her) of British and Russian- Jewish background living on the stolen lands of the səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) Nations. I grew up between small-town BC and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I have been working in health and education systems with young people, adults, and families for the past 13 years. I have worked with 2SLGBTQ+ youth for many years, as well as Indigenous families, folks who use substances, and folks who are experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship violence, and self-harm. I also have extensive experience working with folks experiencing grief, loss, acute crisis, family conflict, and acute medical trauma, including first responders. In my personal life I love to sing in choirs, garden, cook, ride my bike, and laugh and snuggle with my toddler.
In my counselling practice I believe in working collaboratively with you in a relationship-focused space. My practice is grounded in respect, empathy, curiosity, and encouragement. I truly believe that you have the skills to help yourself and solve your problems, and I hope to create a space where we can co-create opportunities for healing, growth, and liberation. I strive to offer an anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction approach. My work is deeply informed by intersectionality, and I recognize the learning I have done from BIPoC women/trans/nonbinary folks. I strive to center social justice and decolonization in my practices, but I recognize that this is ongoing work of unlearning and listening.
Some of the approaches and tools I use include narrative therapy, emotionally-focused family therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, attachment theory, queer/intersectional feminist theory, and somatics. However, I think the most important part of a counselling experience is the safety and acceptance you feel to explore your inner and outer worlds, heal your suffering, and grow your self-awareness and connection to self and community. With me you can expect a supportive environment that values consent, self-reflections, and laughter. I look forward to joining you on your journey.
Areas of Focus:
- Anxiety
- Chronic Stress and burnout
- Depression
- Emotional regulation
- Exploring sexuality and gender identity
- Family Conflict
- Grief and loss
- Life transitions
- Medical trauma and crisis (inclusive of first responders)
- Relational trauma
- Relationship issues (inclusive of all relationship structures)
- Self-esteem
- Substance use/Addictions
Approaches
I use an integrated approach that centers the needs of each individual or family. My approaches
are informed by the following therapies:
- Person and relationship centered
- Anti-oppression
- Trauma-informed practice
- Narrative therapy
- Attachment theory
- Queer theory
- Sex-positive
- Intersectional feminist theory
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Somatics
- Strengths-based
- Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
Licensure and Degrees
- Registered Social Worker (RSW), BC College of Social Workers
- Master of Social Work (2023, Wilfrid Laurier University)
- Bachelor of Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice (2011, UBC)
Selected Professional Trainings
- Dulwich Centre Narrative Therapy Basics (2021-2022)
- Emotional Focused Family Therapy Core Training (2021-2022)
- Integrated Care for Eating Disorders and Substance Use (Vancouver Coastal Health, 2020)
- Mental Health First Aid (Mental Health Commision of Canada, 2019)
- San’yas Anti-Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety Training (2017)
Lau's Rates
Individual Counselling
50 Min
Sliding Scale: Closed/Full
Standard: $150
Generous: $155+
75 Min
Sliding Scale: Closed/Full
Standard: $225
Generous: $230+
Relationship/Family Counselling
50 Min
Sliding Scale: Closed/Full
Standard: $185
Generous: $190+
75 Min
Sliding Scale: Closed/Full
Standard: $260
Generous: $265+
Hormone Readiness Asessments
Two 40-minute sessions: $300 per assessment