We’re Growing: Larô Therapy is Expanding
A group practice rooted in culture, community, and the wildest dream of one newcomer immigrant. — Written by Larô Therapy founder and Psychotherapist Elda Almario.
Photo of Larô Therapy website’s landing page as of July 2025
Honestly, I never thought I'd be writing this.
When I first came to Canada, all I wanted was to do therapy again. People told me I'd have to start over; take whatever job I could get, work my way back up slowly. So when I finally got to sit with my first client here, I was already over the moon. Running my own practice? Leading a team? That wasn't even a thought.
But here we are, five years later, and Larô Therapy is becoming a group practice.
Not because I had some grand business plan, but because the need has been overwhelming. People keep reaching out—individuals, families, kids, grandparents—all looking for someone who just gets it. Someone who understands what it's like to feel torn between being proud of where you come from and feeling like you don't quite fit anywhere.
For a long time, I've been constantly booked, turning people away or adding them to waitlists. I kept having this wishful thought that maybe, somehow, I could find a way to help more of them.
But I also kept making excuses.
For years, I pushed away the idea of expanding because I didn't think I was ready. Did I really understand the Canadian context well enough to run a business? To lead other therapists? Some days, that old voice would creep in: "Who am I to lead? I'm just an immigrant."
Then I realised, that's exactly why I should be leading this; My experience living in both the Philippines and Canada, the way I've had to navigate these in-between spaces with uncertainty and kindness towards myself.. That's not a weakness, that's my strength, and it's exactly what the people we serve need.
What's changing (and what's not)
We're growing, but we're staying rooted in what's always mattered to us:
Therapy that's culturally grounded, neurodiversity-affirming, and trauma-informed. Care that honours your identity, your community, your story.
With this expansion, you'll see:
A team of therapists who've walked similar paths and share our values
New offerings like group therapy, intensives, and retreats
More availability so fewer people have to wait
What's staying the same:
Our heart for Filipino clients navigating complex cultural identities
Our playful roots and creative, collaborative approach
Our commitment to relational work grounded in malasakit and community healing
The team we're building
The therapists joining us don't just understand identity, family, migration, and belonging from their textbooks—they've lived it. They're not just clinicians; they're people committed to cultural responsiveness, decolonized practice, and values-based work.
We're building a team that looks like the communities we serve and believes in healing that's collaborative.
What's next
I'm dreaming of:
Tagalog/Filipino, Bisaya, Ilocano, among the many languages we have-speaking therapy and truly language-inclusive care
Community healing events
Collaboration with artists of various crafts and healing practices
Supervision and mentorship for emerging Filipino therapists
A future where no Filipino has to wait months to feel emotionally understood
This expansion feels like a huge leap and honestly, it's my wildest dream come true.
Five years ago, if someone told me I'd be doing this, I would've been like, 'edi wow.' But now I get it; this was never just about me — it's about ALL of us.
Thank you
To everyone who's been part of Larô Therapy's story, salamat/thank you. For trusting me with your healing, for your messages that meant everything, for every time you said 'finally, someone who gets it.
We're still Larô. Still here, still playing, healing, growing. Just with more hearts and hands in the circle.
Maraming salamat,
🩵 Elda
Founder, Larô Therapy