Jamie Dunlop Khau- Styling the Inside

05/20/2025

The last time I posted something like this here was in 2021! I just graduated from my counselling therapist program and I wrote a tribute to the counsellor who changed my life when I was an at-risk youth.

Since then, I’ve been mostly offline but deeply immersed in my work supporting children, teens, and families in their own healing journeys. Over the past few years, I’ve worked with children & youth impacted by domestic violence and abuse, supported students in schools who needed extra care and connection, and provided trauma informed outreach counselling in an alternative school, the kind of school I once attended myself. Walking into that space in a counselling role felt full circle and reminded me how powerful healing can be when we feel seen.

When I first started my private practice, I primarily supported adults. I didn’t think I was going to work with children because in the past I owned a childcare centre and I’ve been raising my own for 22 years! But what I noticed, over and over again, was that our work kept leading us back to their childhoods. We were doing deep re-parenting work, tending to the wounds that began long before they even had words for them. It was always clear to me that so much of our healing begins in childhood. I knew this from my own lived experience with developmental trauma. If we can support children early, if we can give them the safety and attunement they need, we can change the trajectory of their lives. I know deep within that this work I have the privilege of doing is my purpose driven work. I always knew my mission with Styling The Inside was going to involve this type of generational healing & support and sometimes it feels so surreal to be doing the thing my younger self wanted to eventually do one day. Doing this work feels like my own butterfly effect🥹 🦋

To those of you who have put your trust in me. Thank you for allowing me to walk alongside your family. It’s an honour to hold space for your stories, your hearts, and your healing. Together we’re Styling The Inside so you and your family can transform your lives from inside out & thrive. 🙌🏻💚

And thank you for capturing this photo. 🤗

04/24/2023

Join me tomorrow Tuesday, April 25th from 7:30–9pm at Saje Wellness Coquitlam Centre for a talk & shop event! I will be speaking alongside a panel of moms who will share their stories of motherhood, well-being and the daily task of balancing both.

Hope to see you there 💚

RSVP at the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/saje-wellness-presents-mom-talks-tickets-615981456117?aff=Infl

11/25/2022

It’s ironic but true: The best thing for your nervous system is another human and the worst thing for your nervous system is another human. Neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett tells us why.

09/18/2022

Tara Brach, PhD, shares a powerful metaphor to illustrate how mindfulness practices can help calm fear deep in the brain.

09/11/2022

Looking forward to hosting this in-person children’s event at Surrey Libraries.

Identity comes in all different formats. Finding who you are and owning it is important in both these author’s books as their characters work through the challenges that the world offers. Join host Jamie Dunlop Khau- Styling the Inside with readers: Rhiannon Wallace, Leopold’s Leotard (Orca Book Publishers, illustrated by Risa Hugo) | Kuljinder Kaur Brar, My Name Is Saajin Singh (Annick Press, illustrated by Samrath Kaur) for this in person children's event at Surrey Libraries City Centre branch. Find out more here: https://www.wordvancouver.ca/childrens-events/2022/7/19/opening-of-word-vancouver-meet-our-curators-l7xhc-f53bk-nwxyz-f7ztr-lmet2-wpay7-afylm-hy7n9-5n3ww-rlgn9-62epa-hsxrf-rs2yy-55b6f-zy8dk-27ct5-bmw4p

03/11/2022

Are you a youth between the ages of 14-17 struggling with low mood and anxiety? Join Foundry Virtual BC's new group, MindMe where we will learn about common worries, anxiety, and depression and understand the impact of emotions and thoughts on our well-being.

This group will also aim to facilitate the learning of strategies to cope with challenging emotions, worries and situations that can feel overwhelming. To learn more and register, email online@foundrybc.ca or visit https://buff.ly/353zcdf.

10/25/2021

I don't know where I would be if it wasn't for the positive guidance I received from a counsellor I had when I was an at-risk youth at an alternative high school. I was lost, had poor self-esteem and suffered from trauma from adverse childhood experiences.

This counsellor helped me feel seen, safe, validated & heard and held space for me with unconditional positive regard 💛
Sadly she is no longer here in human form but I still want to share a bit of her with you. Her name is Maureen.
She had blonde, curly, shoulder length hair. She had beautiful bold, brown eyes, and her smile…her smile grinned from ear to ear with prominent laugh lines on each side. She ate a multigrain piece of toast with organic jam every morning. She lifted weights, and always took care of her physical and mental health. She loved butterflies 🦋In fact, I still have a butterfly printed journal that she gifted me. On the inside cover she wrote, “Jamie, you are wise beyond your years. Always be you.” Some of my favourite memories with her are of us talking in her office about our favourite life quotes & poets like Maya Angelou. Maureen didn’t teach me academics, but she did teach me some of life’s most valuable lessons. She was my teacher, mentor, counsellor & friend and will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Over the years I’ve felt her presence with me especially when my “styling the inside” healing journey has been tough. It feels like she’s right next to my heart fluttering her wings like a beautiful butterfly whispering “keep going” 🦋.

A few years ago I found a letter I wrote her in 1999 thanking her for the impact she made in my life. At the end of the letter I wrote “When Im older and wiser I think I want a job like yours and if not that then I think I want to be a writer.” I never did get the chance to give her the letter before she passed away that year. I brought it with me to her celebration of life but felt afraid to read it to the crowd.

Yesterday when I crossed the stage at my counselling graduation it felt like I was honouring her legacy and finally reading that gratitude letter to her out loud. I miss her deeply and I truly hope she is proud 👩🏻‍🎓🦋❤️😭

04/07/2021

And when I look back I realize I was blooming all along 🌸💗

10/22/2020

Be-leaf in yourself🍁 ♥️ 😉
•
*the corny things I say to my children when I ask them to pose for a photo with a giant leaf they found on our hike 😂

05/08/2020

Grading this post 💯😉