• The Middle Bridge Project was founded in 2024 by Vi Tran, a Clinical Psychologist and second-generation Vietnamese Australian, after years of witnessing how many people from culturally and racially marginalised communities struggled to find mental health support that truly understood them, including herself.

    This project exists because too many people have sat in rooms where the person across from them didn't understand the weight of navigating two worlds and systemic issues that still persists. We create programs, tools and spaces that reflect the people using them.

  • To make culturally responsive mental health support genuinely accessible to people from culturally and racially marginalised, multicultural, and diasporic communities through group coaching, education, tools and consultation that honour lived experience alongside evidence-based practice.

  • Every offering at The Middle Bridge Project starts with the same question: does this actually work for the people it's meant to serve?

    We draw on evidence-based psychology, lived experience and community feedback. We don't apply a generic lens and call it inclusive. Cultural context isn't a footnote in our work is the foundation.

    We create spaces for complexity. You can love your culture and be healing from it. You can want to grow and still be exhausted. You can honour your family and also need distance.

  • What is the meaning of “Middle Bridge”?

    ‘Middle Bridge’
    [ mid-l brij ]

    adjective

    1. More than an analogy
      It is also a vision and pathway for healing intergenerational chains and wounds;

    2. Based on psychology concepts of walking a “middle path”;
      a. Finding the “middle bridge” is about finding synthesis and integration between acceptance and change, recognising and finding balance between two opposing truths or ideas. It is about finding balance within the “grey”, somewhere in the “middle”;
      b. The incorporation in “bridge” allows us to sit in the space of journey, often symbolic of hope, significant connection and community bonds. It highlights cultural connection and diversity which is significant in finding our journey in what it means to walk in the middle path;

    3. Created by me.

    The Middle Bridge represents the journey of navigating between cultures, traditions, and personal growth. It’s about finding balance between acceptance and change, honouring where you come from while creating space for something new.

    We walk this path with you, helping break unhelpful patterns while celebrating your cultural identity. Some examples of what this looks like in practice:

    • You're doing the best you can and you also want to grow.

    • You love and respect your family and you're finding ways to heal from the past.

    • You honour your culture and you're learning to set your own boundaries.

Meet Our ‘Middle Bridge Project’ Team

A woman with long black hair smiling outdoors with green bushes in the background

  • Hello and welcome!

    I’m Vi, the Founder & Clinical Psychologist at The Middle Bridge Project and a second-gen Vietnamese Australian passionate about destigmatising mental health. My work is shaped by lived experience, bridging cultural understanding with evidence-based therapy to support individuals and communities in breaking intergenerational patterns.

    The Middle Bridge Project was created in response to a negative personal therapy experience and impacts of what it was like seeking professional help which was not culturally informed or responsive.

    With a deep commitment to culturally responsive care, I create programs, tools and resources that empower people to navigate their mental health with confidence. Whether I’m providing group coaching, developing workshops, or advocating for systemic change through consultation with organisations, my goal is to make mental health more accessible and inclusive.

    Outside of The Middle Bridge Project, you’ll find me exploring baking or trying new cuisines, or enjoying a quiet unfinished book - embracing what it means to be straddling two cultures.

Young woman with long hair smiling outdoors, standing in front of green leafy bushes.

  • I’m Phuong, the Product & Engagement Strategist at The Middle Bridge Project and a first-generation immigrant with lived experience navigating multiple cultures. Behind the scenes, I shape our strategy, products, design visuals, and lead marketing efforts to ensure everything we create is inclusive and culturally affirming.

    With a passion for creativity and cultural understanding, I develop resources and experiences that foster self-reflection while making our messaging accessible and impactful. Whether I’m refining product strategy or crafting visuals, my focus is on making our work meaningful for the community.

    Outside of The Middle Bridge Project, you’ll find me jogging with my corgi or wrangling my two kids - life is always full of adventure and growth.