Richmond Chinese-language talk focuses on mastering emotions

A psychologist wants to help people learn to master their emotions in order to improve their quality of life.

Dr. Rosa Wu is giving a free public talk in Chinese at Pathways Clubhouse on Feb. 22 about “emotional self-regulation” – a method to help understand and express emotions – as part of BC Psychological Association's presentation series for Psychology Month.

It’s important to be able to master emotions, Wu said.

“You can be extremely brilliant, but if you don’t have skills to regulate your emotions on a daily basis, chances are it will hold you back in what you do,” Wu said.

Therapists, she said, often work with people who struggle with challenging and painful emotions which often “undermines the quality of life.” Emotions can affect work and school performance or even establishing relationships, she added.

Wu will dive into how “emotional regulation” starts from babies and how adults play a role in mastering emotions in children and in themselves.

She told the Richmond News that since last year, she is seeing more Chinese clients seeking therapy and she believes the stigma around mental illness is starting to go down.

“For me, that’s an indicator that our community is becoming more open to the idea of counselling and that it’s not something for ‘crazy people’, rather, it’s a place where people can talk openly about what’s going on in their lives with professional help and opinion.”

Wu will be delivering her talk in Mandarin with a Cantonese interpreter at Pathways Clubhouse on Feb. 22 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

She will also have a talk at the New West Public Library for English speakers on Feb. 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.