TANG, Helen

Degree:

Graduate Diploma of Psychology

Current Position:

Principal Psychologist

Employer:

True You Psychology

What are some of your career highlights?

Celebrating the one year anniversary of my solo private practice True You Psychology in 2024, knowing I had full books. I never expected that I would be able to run my own practice this early in my career and it’s taken a lot of work for me learn to back myself professionally.

Describe the most enjoyable and challenging aspects of your job:

My favourite moments in therapy are witnessing a client having a ‘lightbulb’ moment as they develop more insight about themselves and the way they relate to others. I love that my role as a Psychologist allows me to feel challenged as there is always something new to learn and I am able to be creative in the blogs that I write and the social media content I create as part of my marketing.

One of the more challenging parts has been learning to be okay with having a niche; I work with trauma, EMDR therapy and Asian-Australian clients. Whilst this means that some clients will seek me out, it also means that some will not. It has been important for me to accept that I cannot be the ideal therapist for everyone, but I can be an amazing therapist for some.

What are your strongest memories while you were studying at Federation University Australia?

Graduation is the obvious one, but also the less ‘significant’ moments where I’d be sitting in the library with new friends as we revised together for upcoming assessments and shared updates about our research projects. One of the things I loved most about my cohort was how generous everyone seemed with their time and willingness to help each other out. We never let the reality of Psychology being a very competitive field get in the way of us working together and helping each other out. It also just so happened that the majority of my cohort, myself included did not live locally and had to make long drives to class, so we also had the shared experience of early morning starts and a new part of Victoria to explore together.

Do you have any advice about life after study to pass on to current students?

Continue working on your ability to show up authentically for yourself and others. Know that all the messy, less-than-ideal moments in life will inadvertently make you a stronger person and a more relatable therapist, if this is what you’re wanting to do. Continue working on your imposter syndrome until that voice quietens, and have the audacity to back yourself as you find our voice.