Meet Asian Australian Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Coach: Kevin Vun

We know that it's not always easy trying to work out which therapist we might like to work with: Because the decision isn't just about where they're located and when they're available, but there's a bit more of a human, relational element to the decision too.

So here at Shapes and Sounds, we want to help make that process just a little easier.

Every month, we'll be introducing a therapist from the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List to help you gain a bit more insight into who you feel might be a good fit for you or someone that you know.

This month we're excited to connect you with Kevin Vun who is a Counsellor, Psychotherapist and coach offering services in Sydney, NSW and Telehealth Australia-wide. We hope you enjoy connecting with Kevin below!

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1. What led you to choosing mental health as a career?

From a young age, I was deeply fascinated by psychology, personal development, and the desire to give back to others. While I initially aspired to pursue a career in the arts, my conservative Asian upbringing emphasised stability, steering me toward psychology, counselling, and psychotherapy. Over time, I discovered that therapeutic practice itself is an art—blending creativity, intuition, and evidence-based techniques.

I was also consciously and subconsciously driven to heal from the intersectional challenges that gay Asian men often face, such as limited emotional expression and low rates of communication and emotional intelligence. Alongside the influence of supportive and positive female relationships, this journey deepened my passion for understanding human behaviour and improving the way I think and connect with others.

Additionally, my own personal struggles led me to dive deeper into psychological research, development, and practice. Through this journey, I gained firsthand insight into the transformative power of therapy, which ultimately fuelled my passion for helping others navigate their mental health challenges. This holistic perspective allows me to provide compassionate, culturally sensitive, and integrative mental health support.

2. What is your unique cultural heritage?

Growing up as a Hakka Chinese child born in Malaysia but transplanted to Australia at age two, I've always existed in the spaces between cultures. The streets of Sydney and Canberra became my playground, while my home echoed with the melodies of Hakka, Malaysian, Cantonese, Mandarin, and English – a symphony of languages that would later expand to include Korean, Japanese, and Spanish.

Over the past eight years, I've wandered across four continents, each new destination adding another layer to my cultural kaleidoscope. These journeys weren't just about crossing borders; they were about crossing the boundaries of who I thought I was. Every community I've immersed myself in, every language I've wrapped my tongue around, has reshaped my understanding of belonging.

Returning to Australia has been like looking at a familiar painting with new eyes. The landscape feels both intimately known and strangely foreign. During my daily commute, gazing out the window, I often find myself suspended between here and there, everywhere and nowhere. This liminal space has led me to contemplate Indigenous perspectives on belonging – how we're all essentially visitors to this land, though some have never left their ancestral grounds.

On paper, the labels seem neat and ordered: Hakka, Malaysian-Chinese, Australian. But identity refuses to be confined to checkboxes. Sometimes I feel like a citizen of everywhere, other times a stranger to all lands. Perhaps that's the beauty of it – identity isn't a fixed point on a map but a continuous journey of discovery and questioning.

This is a quiet acknowledgement to all of us who exist in the in-between: the expats, third-culture kids, immigrants, wanderers, and explorers. We are the ones who carry multiple worlds within us, forever navigating the beautiful complexity of belonging everywhere and nowhere at once.

3. What are your areas of specialty and what kind of frameworks do you work from?

With over 10 years of experience, I sometimes feel like I’ve “seen it all.” I work with individuals, couples, families, and occasionally groups. People are complex, beautiful, and ever-evolving, and I approach therapy with that in mind—holistically, meeting each person where they are. I have extensive experience and ongoing training across a range of mental health concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, personal development, sex and sexuality, and gender. But at the core of my work, I’m simply curious about the person in front of me—where they’ve been, where they are now, and where they want to go.

I never expected that being a minority would be an asset in this field, but as the world shifts and challenges outdated systems, I see how important representation is. I am passionate about working with BIPOC, queer, and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as those navigating the intersections of identity, culture, and belonging. I also work with men (and women) in breaking free from the limitations of patriarchal, white, heteronormative conditioning. My practice is inclusive of diverse relationship styles, including monogamous and ethically/consensually non-monogamous dynamics.

My therapeutic framework is integrative—meaning I tailor my approach to each individual rather than applying a rigid model. Therapy should be collaborative, adapting to what best serves the client, not just what a textbook prescribes. I strive to be warm, personable, empowering, educational, and empathetic. My modalities include client-centred therapy, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, CBT, psychodynamic therapy, psychoeducation, existential therapy, somatic approaches, and visualisations. When appropriate, I also incorporate a coaching-style approach to support growth and change.

4. What kind of clients are you best able to support?

I work with a wide range of clients—those eager to dive into therapy, those who are hesitant or new to the process, and even fellow therapists seeking a more tailored, advanced approach. Regardless of their background, concerns, or level of experience with therapy, what matters most is finding a therapeutic fit that feels right for both of us.

Therapists, like clients, are always learning, evolving, and deepening their understanding. While I have extensive experience across many areas, I remain open to new insights and perspectives. Every individual brings a unique story, and I value the moments when I’m challenged in ways that expand my practice. While I find meaning in all the work I do, there is something especially rewarding about supporting clients through complex, transformative journeys—seeing them grow, gain insight, and strive toward meaningful change.

5. If you could be your own therapist right now, what do you think you would say to yourself?

Calm the f$%& down, you’ve got this! You’ve set yourself incredible goals, and though life may not have exactly turned out the way you imagined, it’s given you incredible growth, insights, & experiences. Life doesn’t always make sense at times, but it will make sense if you’re patient with yourself & life, and work on small ways to process it all. To heal, to recuperate, and move forward with each and every lesson you learn.

I find that through the work I’ve done and do with others, I’ve given myself a myriad of strategies depending on what I need at the time. Humour, tough love, compassionate self-talk, encouragement, and hope: are just some of the ingredients I use for myself and others these days. I wonder what my answer will be in a year’s time, 5 years or another decade, as I’m always improving, experiencing, evolving.

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Connect with Kevin via our Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List HERE.

Alternatively, if you feel like Kevin may be a good fit for someone that you know, be sure to forward this page on to them too. Let us continue to not only support ourselves but all those around us too!

If you require urgent assistance, please do not contact Kevin or any of the practitioners on this list. Instead, please call emergency services on 000 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Shapes and Sounds does not recommend or endorse Kevin or any of the practitioners listed on the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List.

Please always consult your GP before making changes to your mental health care plan.