Phyllis Ng, founder of Positive Minds

By Phyllis Ng, Founder and Clinic Director

Our story

Positive Minds Psychotherapy Services was born from a place of love, loss, and a deep desire to help others find the support my own family once needed.

When I was growing up, two of my uncles lived with schizophrenia. One of them struggled silently for years and ultimately lost his life to suicide. The other required long-term psychiatric care and the ongoing support of family who were doing their best, often without enough guidance or resources. As a child, I didn't have the words for what I was witnessing, but I felt it. I saw the pain, the fear, the confusion, and also the incredible resilience that surrounded us.

I also came to understand how deeply stigma and cultural expectations can shape the way mental health is perceived, particularly within Asian communities, where suffering is often endured quietly, and how these same barriers, in different forms, exist across many cultures.

Those early experiences shaped the way I understood the world. They showed me how mental health challenges ripple through entire families, how misunderstood and isolating they can be, and how much compassion matters. They planted a quiet conviction in me: I wanted to challenge the stigma and cultural barriers, and create a space where seeking help was met with understanding, not judgment.

That conviction stayed with me. It guided me toward psychology, then psychotherapy, and ultimately toward creating a clinic where people could come as they are, without judgment, without shame, and without having to carry their struggles alone.

Through every stage, our purpose has remained unchanged: to offer a place where individuals and families can find hope, healing, and a sense of belonging. A place where people feel understood, perhaps for the first time, and supported as they find their way forward.

At Positive Minds Psychotherapy Services, we believe everyone deserves the chance to live a meaningful life, guided by their strengths, their values, and their own form of spirituality. We are here to walk beside you with empathy, respect, and genuine care for your unique story.

You don't have to navigate your challenges alone. We are here, ready to hold space for you, just as my family once needed someone to hold space for us.

How we grew

  1. 2015

    Positive Minds began humbly in a small shared office inside a family doctor's practice.

  2. 2017

    As more clients found their way to us, we outgrew that space and moved to Langham Square in Markham.

  3. 2021

    As our practice continued to grow, we settled into our current home, Howland Green Business Centre, a space designed to be warm, calm and welcoming.

Mission

To provide a safe, private and supportive space that is culturally sensitive, non-judgmental and client-centred. We listen to each client's story with care and respect, and develop individualized treatment plans that align with their goals, so they can make meaningful changes and build more fulfilling lives.

Values

  • Connection
  • Authenticity
  • Collaboration

Connection, authenticity and collaboration guide everything we do. We honour your unique journey and respect your personal values as we walk beside you with hope and compassion, helping you discover your strengths, nurture resilience, and create a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Meet the people who will walk beside you

Registered Psychotherapists, Registered Social Workers and psychologists, many of whom speak Cantonese or Mandarin.