About Me
Rieko Asaba, Expressive Arts Therapist in Training, RCYC, RECE
Growing up in Japan and later immigrating to Canada as a teenager taught me the complexities of belonging, identity, and change. Whether you feel stuck, isolated, or unsure of your next steps, we can begin to untangle what feels heavy in a space that allows you to slow down, feel, and imagine new possibilities.
In my practice, I offer a compassionate, creative, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive space. Our work begins with curiosity about what’s showing up and present for you. This is a space for you to feel seen, heard, and supported without judgement, where you are supported to reconnect with your inner knowing, your story, and what matters most to you. When life makes it hard to see your own strengths, I will hold that vision until you can see it too.
I bring over a decade of experience working with diverse populations in both clinical and community settings, guided by values of safety, compassion, and curiosity. I am deeply committed to ongoing (un)learning and am currently completing my clinical training through the CREATE Institute specializing in Expressive Arts Therapy, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1 training.
While I am not yet a Registered Psychotherapist, all services are provided under the supervision of an RP. I am currently accepting clients virtually and offer a free 30-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit.
Professional Affiliations:
- Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association
- Registered Early Childhood Educator (Ontario)
- Registered member of Ontario Associated Child and Youth Care
Photo by Melanie Gordon
My areas
- General anxiety, eco anxiety, worry about the future
- Depression, emotional/physical fatigue, or confusion
Trauma and PTSD (childhood and adult experiences; intergenerational)
Immigration and acculturation stress
Sense of loneliness; lack of belonging
Neurodiversity
Relationship difficulties
Helping professionals
Perfectionism
Various forms of oppression (sexism, racism, sizeism, ableism, classism) and their intersection
My credentials
With a background spanning clinical and human service work, I have developed experience supporting a wide range of clients. For the past three years, through clinical practicums in expressive arts therapy, I have facilitated group and one-on-one sessions with refugee children, survivors of childhood trauma, and individuals navigating anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, and acculturation stress. Earlier, I worked in early childhood education and as a child and youth practitioner in live-in treatment home at Strides Toronto, using arts-based approaches to engage and support youth.
Education & Training
Graduate Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy, The CREATE Institute (in progress)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1 Certificate, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute (in progress)
Bachelor of Child and Youth Care with Distinction, University of Victoria, 2022
DBT Skills for Adolescents and Families, Psychwire, 2023
My Values
Safety
I strive to offer an anti-oppressive and trauma-informed space where you or your child can feel supported, seen, and free to show up just as you are.
Compassion
I meet each person with warmth, care, and deep respect for their story. You do not have to carry everything alone. We move together at a pace that feels right for you.
Playfulness
Play is a powerful way to connect, explore, and express what’s inside. Whether through the arts or in relationship, I invite a spirit of curiosity and openness into the work.
Sense of wonder
I cherish moments of surprise, aliveness, and beauty that can arise when we slow down and pay attention. Wonder connects us to ourselves, to each other, and to the world around us.
My Approaches
My approach is relational, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and client-centered. I combine expressive arts therapy, sensorimotor practices, psychodynamic, and a relational focus to help you connect with your authentic self, uncover your inner resources, and explore new possibilities. Sometimes what we feel is hard to put into words – through movement, sound, painting, storytelling, or other creative forms, we can access insights, sensations, and emotions that may otherwise remain hidden.
I also draw on narrative and mindfulness-informed practices to gently examine the stories we tell ourselves and the patterns that may have been there to protect us. Rather than focusing only on problems, we explore your skills, strengths, hopes, as well as what’s present in the moment, and develop better understanding of ourselves to help you navigate challenges with clarity and self-compassion.
As a first generation immigrant and a person of color, I bring my lived experience to this work, with a commitment to co-creating a space where you feel seen, heard, and supported at your own pace.
