Cheng Wey Tan

Volunteer Counsellor

Available Wednesdays 9am – 12pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth

Wey is pursuing a Master’s in Counselling, Rehabilitation, and Mental Health at La Trobe University in Melbourne. His professional background includes working as a behavioural therapist in Malaysia, where he supported children on the autistic spectrum. Prior to that, he worked with a variety of people, of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life in a corporate setting for 3 years. Wey’s therapeutic approach is grounded in empathy, open-mindedness, and a commitment to understanding people as individuals. He primarily uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing, tailors his methods to suit the needs of each person he works with. His goal is to help people from all walks of life with their mental health, navigating challenges in life more effectively. With a passion for helping others, he is dedicated to continuously improving his skills and offering meaningful support to those he works with.

Kate Coomber 

Counsellor

Available Fridays 9am – 5pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth 

Kate holds a Master's Degree in Narrative Therapy and Community Work from the University of Melbourne and is an accredited ACA counsellor. As a community worker and strategic engagement practitioner she has worked with vulnerable populations including refugees, asylum seekers, care leavers and forensic clients. She currently works in a major public health service supporting and advocating for families and carers.  She believes in health equity and that therapy should be accessible for all, promoting a collaborative approach in her practice. As a narrative therapist she works with clients using reauthoring and remembering practices to find their stronger, preferred story.  She sees clients as experts in their own lives, and considers therapy as restorative; that we may understand our present when safely engaging with our past. Her professional experience and areas of interests are in longitudinal trauma, grief and bereavement and family work. 

Laura Davis

Counsellor

Available Wednesdays 10am - 4pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth

As an accredited Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association, Laura brings a unique blend of leadership and hands-on experience to her practice. After serving as CEO of a health and wellbeing organisation, Laura chose to focus on personal counselling to provide more direct support to individuals facing life’s challenges. Laura’s approach is holistic and client-centered, ensuring that every person feels heard and understood. She combines evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness to create personalised well-being plans that promote emotional and mental health. Laura has a deep passion for supporting women at pivotal life stages, but works with clients of all genders and backgrounds. Whether you’re navigating career transitions, managing family responsibilities, or seeking clarity in times of uncertainty, she is here to help. With a compassionate, non-judgmental approach, she aims to empower her clients to find balance, build resilience, and move forward with confidence.

Lenka Lucchini

Counsellor

Available Mondays & Fridays 9am - 5pm (Melbourne time)
In-person and telehealth

Lenka is currently completing her Master of Counselling at the University of Canberra. She is passionate about assisting and supporting individuals facing emotional challenges. As a dedicated provisional counsellor, Lenka is committed to guiding individuals on their journey toward healing, growth, and self-discovery. She provides a non-judgmental and safe environment for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. With over 15 years of experience in the community sector, Lenka has worked with not-for-profit organisations and supported individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Her expertise includes working with people with disabilities such as Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Developmental Delays, and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), as well as individuals experiencing various mental health conditions. These include mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder and other conditions such as Schizophrenia and Personality Disorders. Lenka also has extensive experience collaborating with organisations and individuals to address alcohol- and drug-related challenges. Lenka employs evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy, to empower clients to achieve their goals and overcome barriers. She has worked extensively with clients experiencing anxiety and depression, adapting her approach to meet the needs of each individual. Her primary focus is to facilitate emotional well-being and help clients lead more meaningful and fulfilling live

Emma Baxter

Counsellor

Available Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9am - 5pm (Melbourne time)
In-person and telehealth

Emma has a Bachelor of Psychology from Charles Sturt University and is currently finishing her Master of Counselling through University of Canberra. Emma has a strong passion for social justice and has 15 years’ experience working with marginalised communities, refugees and those with a disability as well as the LGBTIQA+ community. Many of these communities have experienced trauma, family violence, loss, grief, anxiety and depression. Working with these clients has convinced her of the need to provide quality and empathetic counselling to all who need it. She works closely with each client and their individual needs to provide support and clarity in moving forward through stressful moments in their life. Emma is further developing her skills and draws on the therapeutic modalities of humanistic therapies, solution focussed brief therapy (SFBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). 

Karin Smith 

Counsellor

Available Thursdays & Fridays 9am – 5pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth 

Karin is a current Master of Counselling student at Torrens University. She is undertaking a placement at MHFA to develop her therapeutic skills in fulfilment of the professional experience requirements of the Master’s program. She has a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences from Swinburne University with 10 years’ experience as a Mental Health Ambassador, supporting adolescence mental wellbeing especially during COVID-19 lockdowns. With compassion and empathy Karin creates a safe non-judgemental environment. She is ready to listen, support and encourage you to develop strategies and goals to manage your challenges and help you flourish. Her interest in mental health stems from a curiosity about what shapes a person’s personality, and she is open and curious to tailor therapy to meet your specific needs and goals. She is passionate about supporting clients experiencing mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, self-doubt, isolation and relationship difficulties. With a person-centred approach grounded in an evidence-based approach, Karin integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness. Karin cultivates an atmosphere of authenticity and empathy, where clients feel safe to explore their experiences openly. 

Pananya Larbprasertporn

Counsellor

Available Mondays & Fridays 9am – 5pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth 

Pananya is currently pursuing a Master of Counselling at Monash University. Her personal journey of healing and growth has fueled her dedication to helping others overcome life’s challenges and live a joyful life. After serving as a university lecturer and director of the faculty’s wellness centre, she decided to pursue counselling to deepen her ability to support others. Her approach is person-centered, integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) and mindfulness techniques. Pananya is passionate about assisting clients with challenges such as stress, anxiety, self-esteem, self-doubt, decision-making, changes and relationship issues. She walks alongside her clients with compassion, openness, acceptance, and respect for their individual timing, values, and life journeys. 

Krittika Kharel

Counsellor

Available Mondays & Thursdays 10am - 2pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth 

Krittika is a passionate mental health professional with over two years of experience, known for her client-centered and culturally sensitive approach. She creates a safe, empathetic space where individuals feel truly heard and supported as they work toward emotional well-being. Her therapeutic style is collaborative and empowering. She supports clients as they face challenges, break free from limiting beliefs, and move toward a more fulfilling life. Drawing from Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and humanistic principles, Krittika tailors each session to meet the unique needs of those she works with. Certified in Dance Movement Therapy, she integrates movement and expression into her practice. This holistic approach encourages healing, self-awareness, and resilience. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Nepali, Krittika ensures language is never a barrier to care. Her multilingual ability allows her to connect deeply with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, making clients feel seen, understood, and valued. 

John Lavanya

Counsellor

Available Tuesdays & Fridays 9am – 5pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth 

John is currently pursing a Master’s in Counselling course at Monash University. With four years of experience as a counsellor in India, John has worked extensively with children, teens and young adults. Leaning majorly on humanistic and existential approaches, John believes that all humans have the capacity to self actualise when provided with the right support and unconditional positive regard. John has also worked closely with queer and trans people in India. As a certified art therapist, John uses a wide range of art-based techniques to foster client expression and healing. John finds profound meaning in their work and is dedicated to supporting clients with empathy, compassion, and authenticity.

Angelica Hasibuan

Counsellor

Available Wednesdays and Thursdays 9am – 5pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth 

Angelica is currently a Master of Counselling student at Monash University. She believes everyone should have equal access to mental health services. Inspired by the societal stigma surrounding mental health, she actively participated in tele-counselling, which started from her experience in providing pro bono service for those who were affected by the pandemic, especially for healthcare workers and ex-patients along with their family members. Additionally, she interfaced with an enhanced learning development team through peer support and self-empowerment programs for high school students before she became a peer counsellor of several telehealth services and facilitated both individual and group counselling for emerging adults from diverse cultural backgrounds. She often incorporates Person-Centered and Humanistic therapeutic approaches, including Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, even though she likes to adjust other modalities based on clients’ needs. Integrating therapeutic approaches with authenticity, openness, and empathy, she strives to utilize counselling as the safest space for clients to build resilience and foster personal growth, as there is nothing better than seeing them being alleviated from emotional and psychological challenges. 

Hannah Bambra

Counsellor

Available Mondays and Thursdays 9am – 5pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth 

Hannah is a Master of Counselling Student at the University of Canberra. She has a special interest in families, fertility, and perinatal mental health. Hannah also works in community building and peer support for abortion aftercare and pregnancy loss, and with LGBTQIA+ rainbow families. With a background in yoga and meditation, Hannah believes in creating safe, calming spaces of non-judgement for people to speak and feel heard. 

Asher Cameron

Counsellor

Available Tuesdays (9am - 4:30pm) and

Thursdays 9am – 5pm (Melbourne time)

In-person and telehealth 

Asher (he/him) is currently completing his Master of Counselling at Monash University. He is a compassionate and client-focused counsellor dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore their thoughts, emotions, and challenges. His warm, empathetic manner is underpinned by an academic, philosophical, and evidence-based approach to therapy. Drawing on his experience as an equity, diversity, and inclusion professional, Asher understands the importance of culturally responsive care and enjoys working with clients from all walks of life. He values lived experience and knows that clients are the experts in their own lives. Whether supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, life transitions, or identity exploration, Asher tailors sessions to each client’s unique needs, integrating person-centred, cognitive-behavioural, and strengths-based techniques. He has experience with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and working with members of the LGBTIQA+ and neurodivergent communities. Asher believes in empowering clients to navigate their own journey toward healing and self-discovery. Through a collaborative and non-judgmental approach, Asher fosters resilience, self-awareness, and personal growth.