Briefly about me

Hi, my name is Vu — welcome to my practice! I’ve been in the therapy field for over twenty years, initially working in clinical oncology with individuals and families facing cancer, grief, and end-of-life care. These early experiences shaped my understanding of the mind-body connection.

Over time, my work expanded to include trauma, chronic pain, relational difficulties, and sexual wellbeing. After exploring many therapeutic modalities, I now have a passionate focus on mindfulness-based experiential approaches, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and somatic and attachment-informed therapies.

I draw inspiration from many thinkers and clinicians — including Bessel van der Kolk, Gabor Maté, Richard Schwartz, Esther Perel, and Jack Kornfield — some of whom I’ve had the privilege of training with. I believe therapy isn’t just about reducing symptoms, but about reconnecting with safety, meaning, and a more integrated sense of “Self” — through exploring and welcoming all the different parts of who we are.

Two men sitting and smiling at an event, with a blue-lit background and another person in the background.

Training with Bessel van der Kolk

A little more about me…

I was born in Adelaide South Australia to Vietnamese refugee parents, and I understand what it means to grow up between cultures, identities, and expectations. In my younger years, I tried pushing away painful childhood memories, believing that if I ignored them long enough, they might disappear. In my teens, I discovered alcohol as a way to numb what I couldn’t yet understand, which also got me in trouble with the law. Although difficult, these early experiences sparked my curiosity about how trauma and pain, show up not only in our behaviours and thoughts, but also in our bodies and nervous system.

In my 30s, I had to further question what healing meant, after a debilitating back injury that left me mostly bedridden for a year. After trying many treatments, it wasn’t until I began looking inward — with the help of mindfulness and the work of Dr John Sarno — that I started to feel genuine hope. Over time, and with the help of many practices including yoga, I experienced significant shifts, that deepened my understand of the mind, body, and spirit connection, with my interest trauma deeply tied to my own experience and healing journey

My work and travels have taken me across Australia and overseas, including leading international foreign aid projects, extensive volunteering in hospitals and orphanages, and clinical teaching where I developed many training programs — some of which I’ve published and received awards for. I was also fortunate to be mentored by the late Prof. Graeme Morgan, a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal, whose work was instrumental in developing oncology in Australia and internationally.

On a more personal note, I maintain a daily meditation and yoga practice, engage in my own regular IFS and EMDR therapy and supervision, and attend silent retreats. These practices continue to shape not just how I work, but how I aspire to live — with presence, curiosity, and humility. I have a deep interest in Eastern contemplative traditions and in my spare time, I enjoy running and “trying” to surf — both of which keep me grounded, humble, and connected to nature.

A young man with a shaved head standing indoors against a plain white wall, wearing a grey sleeveless shirt.

Trainings & Memberships

  • Master of Professional Psychology Monash University

  • Bachelor of Psychology Honours James Cook University

    • Thesis - Experiences and Perceptions of Psychedelics and Opinions of Australia’s legalisation of Psychedelic Assisted Therapy among the Oncology Field

  • Grad Diploma of Psychology James Cook University

  • Grad Cert Medicine Sexual Reproductive Health Psychosexual Therapy University of Sydney

  • Bachelor of Medical Radiation Sciences Radiation Therapy University of South Australia

  • Live Trainings with Bessel van der Kolk, Gabor Mate, Richard Schwartz & Terry Real

  • Internal Family Systems Institute Training

  • EMDR Accredited Training

  • Schema Therapy Training

  • Psychodrama Training

  • Mindfulness Training Monash University Prof Craig Hassed

  • Gottman Couples Therapy Training

  • Relational Life Therapy Training Terry Real

  • Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) Cancer Research

  • Hoc Mai Medical Foundation University of Sydney

  • Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

  • Australian Psychological Society

  • Australian Association of Psychologists

  • Society of Australian Sexologists

  • Yoga Alliance International

  • Yoga Studies and Training Mysore India