
About Me.
I’m Stephanie Tan — a psychodynamic psychotherapist trained in psychodynamic art psychotherapy (MA, AThR), neurodivergent human and long-time creative designer. I’ve spent over a decade in the design industry, working in visual storytelling and moving through fast-paced, high-performing environments while quietly navigating dyslexia, ADHD and sensory processing disorder. That lived experience—moving through highly visual, demanding environments with a different kind of nervous system—shapes how I work and live today.
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I care about creating spaces where people who “function well” on the outside don’t have to hold everything together anymore. I’m especially drawn to working with neurodivergent adults whose nervous systems have been working hard for a long time to survive in environments that were never really built for them. My work is less about polishing you up and more about helping you understand yourself with honesty, respect and a little more gentleness.
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This work is personal for me—I know what it’s like to keep functioning while quietly running on overdrive inside. Digital Art Psychotherapy grew out of that lived experience—my own need for a calmer, more contained way to slow down, make sense of what was happening internally, and notice patterns without becoming overwhelmed.
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My approach is primarily conversation-led psychodynamic psychotherapy. Alongside talk therapy, I also offer optional digital image-making as an additional language—because for some individuals, images make it easier to notice patterns, give shape to what’s hard to name, and see what’s happening beneath the surface.
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Creating a calm, contained online space—the one I would have wanted earlier in my own journey—sits at the heart of my practice.
How I work
In therapy, my approach is calm, attuned, honest, respectful and collborative. I don’t expect you to be “put together” here. This is a space where you can bring what actually feels real – both the polished parts and the messy, unsure, contradictory parts. I pay attention to what you say and don’t say, how you describe things, and how your tone of voice and body seem to respond as you speak. When it’s helpful, I gently name patterns or ask questions that invite you to look a little deeper, without pushing you faster than your nervous system can handle.
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Sessions are collaborative. I think of therapy as a kind of personal project we work on together – something we slowly co-create over time. You bring your experiences, questions and a willingness to be curious about what is happening inside you; I bring a clear therapeutic framework, a contained, non-judgemental space, and psychological thinking and tools to help us make sense of what emerges, at a pace that feels manageable for you.​​
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I will not only say, “That must have been hard for you,” and leave it there. Your feelings are taken seriously, and we also look at the patterns, histories and nervous-system responses underneath them. When it is useful, I offer clear reflections, language and small, manageable experiments to try between sessions, so that what we notice together can slowly translate into real shifts in how you live, relate and care for yourself – rather than staying only as insight. The aim is more than just short-term relief; over time, we are working towards deeper understanding and sustainable change.
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As a neurodivergent therapist, I’m naturally attuned to nuance – small shifts in tone, pacing, and how things land on screen. My design background adds another layer of attention to visual detail and atmosphere. I work digitally and online by choice, not as a compromise. Digital art-making offers a contained, adjustable way of working with images, colour and composition, so we can explore what sits under the surface without overwhelming your system. You do not need to be “good at art” or tech to work with me. We use whatever level of digital tools feels manageable for you—or we can work entirely through conversation.
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My practice is fully online and is best suited to adults who seem to be managing on the outside, while carrying a lot on the inside, particularly high-performing, often sensitive or neurodivergent adults whose lives are full, but who sense that something inside needs attention. Many of my clients are used to being the reliable one, the problem-solver, the person others lean on. They may appear capable and composed on the outside while feeling exhausted, stuck, anxious or quietly disconnected on the inside. Therapy with me offers a contained, private space that fits demanding schedules and reduces the friction of getting support, without sacrificing depth.
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I work best with clients who value depth over quick fixes, are willing to show up consistently, and are open to a collaborative, clear and respectful working relationship. I will be warm with you, but I will also be honest. Sometimes that means sitting with uncertainty together; sometimes it means gently challenging a story that has kept you small or over-responsible for a long time. Over time, our work is about helping you move towards more clarity, alignment and sustainable ways of living, not just coping.
Credentials & Registration
Registered Art Psychotherapist
I am a registered credential member with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA)
Master of Arts in Art Therapy
I have completed my Master's in Art Therapy with LASALLE College of the Arts, which is one of the ANZACATA-approved Master's programmes.
Bachelor of Arts in Design Communication
I have completed my Bachelor of Arts in Design Communication with LASALLE College of the Arts.


