Healing the soul, realizing wholeness
Integrative Therapy, Expressive Arts and Embodied Mindfulness
Sometimes it’s hard to describe what we know and feel with words alone. Our inner life often speaks in images, whispers of sensation and subtle movements that defy linear thinking. By following these currents, we can find new pathways to healing and transformation.
Meet Tom
Hi, I’m Tom Lai (he/him). I’m an integrative wellness practitioner, an expressive arts therapist in training (working under clinical supervision), and a certified embodied meditation teacher based in Toronto. I bring an integrative approach that weaves together psychological insight, somatic awareness, and creative exploration — grounded in the belief that healing unfolds through presence, connection, and the body’s innate wisdom.
Having lived between cultures, I’m sensitive to the inner richness and complexity that emerge from navigating diverse identities and experiences. Some come to me dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, or major life transitions. Others—such as emerging adults and children of immigrants—are exploring questions of identity and belonging. Still others, who are especially sensitive or introspective, seek support for spiritual or existential struggles. Whatever brings you here, you don’t have to face it alone.
In our work together, we’ll explore how your emotional experience, patterns of sensing and relating, personal narratives and environment shape the way you connect with yourself and the world. We’ll discover new embodied possibilities that can help you move from merely surviving to living with more presence, vitality, and soulfulness.
My Credentials
Member of AEDP Institute and Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association (OEATA)
Post-Graduate Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy from The CREATE Institute (Candidate)
Brief Coaching Certificate from OISE, University of Toronto
Masters Certificate in Adult Training and Development from Schulich School of Management
Fully Certified Realization Process Teacher
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) – Level 1
Ego State Therapy
Polyvagal Theory for Communities of Colour
Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing from Institute of Sensorimotor Art Therapy
Areas of Practice
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I currently provide integrative, arts-based psychotherapy as a student intern through agencies in Toronto. Guided by a relational, transpersonal and trauma-informed approach, I work from a culturally sensitive, anti-oppressive, and liberatory lens. My practice aims to help clients reclaim their agency and reconnect with life’s greater meaning—fostering resilience, belonging, and a more authentic sense of self.
My areas of focus include:
Anxiety
Depression
Existential and Spiritual Concerns
Relationships
Grief and Loss
Personal Identity and Belonging
Life and Career Transitions
Mind-Body Integration
Developmental Trauma
Self-Discovery and Growth
Self-Esteem
Sexual Identity
Shame
Stress
Check back soon for updates on when I will be offering private sessions.
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Expressive arts workshops provide a safe and welcoming space to explore creativity through all your senses, fostering growth, connection, and healing in community. These sessions may incorporate visuals, sound, movement, written and spoken word, empowering you to express your truth, regain a sense of aliveness, and recover your agency to create meaningful change.
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Mindfulness is the art of being fully present, moment by moment, with openness and curiosity. These sessions invite you to explore gentle, body-centered practices that help you feel grounded, improve focus and clarity, cultivate self-compassion and navigate life with equanimity and resilience. The Realization Process offers a deeper layer of practice, fostering embodiment, self-realization, and a more expansive sense of aliveness.
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Many mental health providers face challenges in accessing the support and resources they need to deliver optimal care. I help mental health organizations strengthen their capacity by:
Designing clear processes and procedures (e.g., onboarding, orientation, workflows, communication protocols) that reduce confusion and create consistency.
Developing practical, user-friendly learning resources (e.g., guides, manuals, job aids) that staff can rely on day-to-day.
Providing training and facilitation to support practitioners in building both professional skills (e.g., communication, client support) and personal well-being practices (e.g., mindfulness, self-regulation).
Together, these supports help agencies reduce staff burnout, improve service delivery, and ensure practitioners feel confident, prepared, and supported in their roles.
Upcoming Events
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Mindfulness for Stress Management
Oct 21 7:00-8:00PM ET
A virtual mindfulness drop-in group to help reduce stress, calm the nervous system, and cultivate self-compassion. Offered at The Growth and Wellness Therapy Centre.
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Breath and Brush
TBD
A series of arts-based workshops to promote wellbeing and self-discovery through exploring tai chi practices and Asian brushwork. The program is offered at the Hard Feelings storefront located on 353 Church St., Toronto, ON.
Contact me
thomas@liftedbeing.ca
Toronto, ON