Melanie Tan

• Melanie's Availability

  Location: Chinatown, Virtual

  Days and Hours:

  • Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm (Virtual)

  • Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm (In-person or Virtual)

  • Sunday 9:00am - 12:00pm (Virtual)

  Practicum ends May 2026.

• Selected Professional Training

  • BDSM: Working with Kinky Clients—The Westland Academy of Clinical Sex Therapy

  • Painful Sex: Working with Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorders (GPPD)—Allura Sex Therapy Centre & Provider

  • Sex & Gender 101: The Basics (Mini Course)—The Westland Academy of Clinical Sex Therapy

  • Sex & Trauma: Helping Clients Move Beyond Trauma & Reclaim Their Sexuality—Allura Sex Therapy Centre & Provider

  • EMDR (In Progress)

  • Canadian Certified Sex Addiction Specialist—Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (In Progress)

  • Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) to Resolve Unfinished Business: Foundational Skills—Centre for Psychology & Emotional Health

Bio

My goal as a therapist is to create a space where you don't have to pretend or carry yourself a certain way. You can show up with all your mess, all your questions, and all your wins, and we can sort through it together.

Before I got here, I had a whole other career as a graphic designer. Making that huge pivot taught me a lot about navigating change, taking risks, and figuring out what truly feels meaningful in life. That's a huge part of my approach now.

I work from an existential lens with a touch of narrative therapy—all to say I believe we all have the power to make choices, find our own meaning, and edit our own story, even when life feels overwhelming or out of our control.

Honestly, sometimes I see life through the lens of a game. Maybe you’ve felt like you were just chasing objectives until high school graduation, and now you’ve hit the post-main-storyline sandbox—overwhelmed by infinite choices. Maybe what you’re chasing feels like aspirations from The Sims, or your personal struggles mirror the narrative arc of a character you created for Dungeons & Dragons. If you feel lost in your story, we can pause, look at your character sheet, and start editing the narrative together.

So, what can we talk about? Honestly, whatever is on your mind. But, it’s important to know that my work is centred around the core human experiences of relationship, intimacy, and identity. I’m particularly passionate about helping people with:

• Relationships & Sexual Wellness: I focus on healing from sexual trauma and shame, and figuring out who you are in your most important relationships. I’m sex-positive, kink-knowledgeable, and queer-affirming, and I welcome all relationship structures (poly folk and ENM, you’re safe here!) We can tackle anything that’s challenging your sexual wellness—desire or libido issues, painful sex, trauma, and sexual shame. Whatever you bring, I won’t judge you for.

• Because I focus on deep emotional wounds, I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help your brain stop letting old memories muck up your present.

• Identity: All things gender and sexuality are on the table here. You’re safe to explore, question, and celebrate who you are.

My own life experience is a huge part of why I'm so passionate about this work. As a bicultural person (Canadian/Singaporean), I get how complex it is to walk between different worlds. Living with chronic pain has taught me a ton about the mind-body connection. I'm also queer and demisexual, so I deeply understand the importance of having spaces where you don't have to explain your existence.

When I’m not doing therapy things, I’m probably nerding out over stationery and art (especially fountain pens and calligraphy), or crafting (cross stitch and sewing). Or I’m diving into another world—whether through D&D, video games, or just curled up with my Kindle.

You can expect our sessions to be warm, curious, and real. If you think we might vibe, I'd love to hear from you.

Just so you know: I'm currently finishing my Master's in Counselling Psychology and working as a student therapist. This means I'm under the clinical supervision of a Registered Psychotherapist (so you’re in good hands!)

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Image Description: Melanie is centered in the photo, sitting indoors and softly smiling at the camera. She has long, wavy blonde and black hair. She wears round glasses with decorative chains and a black top. The background consists of large windows and a blurred view of city buildings.

Melanie Tan

(she/her/hers)
Student Counsellor

In-Person and Virtual Sessions

Melaine is only accepting new clients for individual counselling sessions!

Please email us at connect@collective-healing.ca to connect with Melanie for counselling services. For existing clients, self-book here.