(ChrisB) Liyan Liu
RP, MSc
Registered Psychotherapist, Art Therapist, EMDR Therapist
CREDENTIALS
ChrisB is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), a Registered Art Psychotherapist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC, UK), and a Grief Recovery Method® Specialist certified by the Grief Recovery Institute.
Verify registration: https://my.crpo.ca/publicregister
AREAS OF FOCUS
ChrisB has extensive experience working with vulnerable children, youth, and adults who have experienced:
Anxiety and stress
Grief and loss
Trauma and PTSD
Life transitions and adjustment
Substance use challenges
Effects of marginalization and social injustice
Housing instability and homelessness
She is particularly committed to supporting international students, immigrants, and Indigenous communities navigating mental health challenges.
LANGUAGES
ChrisB is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
ChrisB earned her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU). She volunteered for over eight years with a non-profit youth organization as a program designer and facilitator, supporting young people through creative expression.
She later completed her Master of Science in Art Psychotherapy at Queen Margaret University in Scotland. ChrisB has worked with adult male inmates at the Toronto Detention Centre, where she facilitated spiritual art therapy groups.
Her clinical and community work focuses on supporting international students, immigrants, and Indigenous communities living with trauma and mental health challenges.
APPROACH TO TREATMENT
ChrisB primarily uses a psychodynamic approach with a specialized focus in art psychotherapy. She believes that creative expression can help individuals access and communicate emotions and experiences that may be difficult to express through words alone, offering a safe and supportive space for exploration and insight.
She views clients as the experts of their own experiences and works collaboratively to determine whether—and how—creative expression may support each person’s therapeutic journey. Some clients engage deeply with art-making, while others integrate it occasionally alongside talk therapy; both approaches are welcomed and equally valuable.
ChrisB tailors her work to each individual’s needs, drawing from evidence-based modalities to create a personalized path toward growth, healing, and well-being. Her approach is grounded in understanding how relationships, culture, personal history, and life contexts shape our emotional experiences and the challenges we navigate.
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES
Art Psychotherapy – Exploring emotions through creative expression
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – Understanding thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) – Emotional regulation and distress tolerance
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Processing traumatic memories and reducing emotional distress
Grief Recovery Method® – Structured support for grief and loss
Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Exploring inner parts with curiosity and compassion
Mindfulness-Based Approaches – Present-moment awareness and acceptance
Positive Psychology – Strengths, resilience, and well-being
Psychodynamic Therapy – Insight into unconscious patterns
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) – Building on strengths and what works
ABOUT ART PSYCHOTHERAPY
You do not need to be “good at art.” Art psychotherapy focuses on the process, not the product—using creative expression as a tool for exploration, emotional processing, and self-understanding. ChrisB works collaboratively with you to determine what feels right for your journey.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Beyond her clinical practice, ChrisB is passionate about making mental health support accessible through creative expression. She is a part-time candle maker and sees this craft as an extension of her therapeutic philosophy—bringing light and warmth to others during challenging times.
ChrisB regularly facilitates candle-making and expressive art workshops in community settings, introducing participants to self-care practices and healthy coping strategies. These workshops help individuals manage stress, explore creativity, and strengthen self-compassion through accessible, hands-on experiences.