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Valerie Tsang
Valerie is a Registered Psychotherapist who has worked for more than a decade in community mental health. She holds a Masters of Arts in Psychology from Médaille College and a Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Toronto. Valerie has extensive clinical experience working with individuals and groups on addressing diverse mental health concerns including complex trauma, suicidal ideation, concurrent disorders, and the impact of socioeconomic status on mental health. She is passionate about exploring the role of digital health technologies on reducing health disparities in the mental health sector. Outside of work, Valerie enjoys baking, working on her green thumb, and visiting local coffee shops.
When emotions run high, it becomes much harder to consider that another person may have experienced the same situation differently. This article explores how emotional reactions shape our interpretations during conflict, why we often become attached to our first understanding of events, and how perspective-taking can help us approach difficult conversations with greater openness and flexibility.
This blog explores what open-mindedness looks like in daily life and why black-and-white thinking can feel comforting, even when it limits our perspective. It introduces common cognitive biases (like confirmation bias and false consensus bias) that naturally narrow our thinking, then offers three gentle, reflective exercises to help readers build more flexibility: exploring outside their usual frame, recognizing that beliefs evolve over time, and noticing the middle ground between extremes.
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Most of us have felt confident after reading something — only to find the information wasn't really there when we needed it. This article explores why familiarity can block us from deep understanding, how confidence can mislead us early in the learning process, and why struggling with new material is often a sign that deeper learning is happening. Includes practical strategies for retaining information more effectively over time.
Changes in routine, environment, or schedule can disrupt sleep because the body relies heavily on familiar cues and predictable patterns to feel settled enough for rest. This blog explores how circadian rhythms, environmental changes, and nervous system vigilance affect sleep, especially when traveling or sleeping somewhere new. Readers will also learn practical ways to support sleep gently through familiarity, reduced pressure, and small adjustments that help the body adapt over time.
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Fresh starts can be a powerful tool for rebuilding motivation, especially after setbacks or periods of feeling stuck. This blog explores when a reset can help, when it may interrupt positive momentum, and how simple progress tracking can support long-term goals. Readers will learn practical strategies for maintaining consistency, creating manageable restarts, and approaching motivation with more flexibility and self-compassion.
In this guide, we walk you through the different types of therapy offered at Layla. These including CBT, ACT, EMDR, EFT, Somatic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and more, to better understand how each approach works and what to expect from treatment. Whether you're new to therapy or exploring new options, this overview may be helpful for you to make more informed decisions about your mental health journey.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that combines acceptance and change strategies to support emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. Learn how DBT works, what to expect from treatment, and who may benefit from this approach.