Yuhao Miao, M.A., Provisional Psychologist

My name is Yuhao, and I go by Hao. I’m a culturally grounded therapist who works with a diverse range of clients, with a focus on supporting marginalized communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals. I offer therapy in both English and Mandarin (普通话).
Many clients come to therapy feeling stuck, whether it’s anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, or behavioural and thinking patterns that no longer serve them. These struggles are often rooted in unmet needs and long-held beliefs. You might find yourself second-guessing, feeling guilty for setting boundaries, or wanting connection but pushing people away. Patterns like avoidance, overthinking, comparison, and self-criticism can quietly take over, leaving little space for self-care.
I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy, ACT, CBT, DBT, and narrative therapy to help you make sense of your thoughts and emotions. Our work together is collaborative and supportive. While some sessions may feel challenging as we explore deeper emotions or hidden parts of ourselves, these moments often lead to meaningful change.
My upbringing and immigration experience allows me to embrace both Eastern and Western cultures, which also equips me with a nuanced understanding of BIPOC clients, those with multicultural identities, or sharing intercultural relationships. A significant part of my work involves supporting clients from family-oriented cultures, such as, Asian, Latin American, Mediterranean, part of Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and African backgrounds. In this work, we often explore generational patterns, intergenerational trauma, and the tension between personal needs and cultural expectations, including role expectations within the family, boundary-setting, and the pull between independence and loyalty. We may also look at how emotion is expressed or suppressed, as well as experiences of migration, cultural transition, and identity formation across different cultural contexts. Together, we explore how these experiences shape one’s sense of identity, relationships, and self-understanding over time.
I also work closely with LGBTQ+ clients navigating questions around self-identity, relationship concerns (including monogamous and non-monogamous relationships), body dysphoria, and patterns related to sexual behaviour. This can also include experiences of stigma or invalidation both within and outside LGBTQ+ communities, as well as ongoing stress shaped by broader social and political climates. In our work together, I offer an open, non-judgmental space that supports clients in making sense of these experiences at their own pace and in a way that honours their unique stories.