About Me

I’m Dr Davin Tan. I’m a child and forensic psychiatrist, which sounds impressive… until you hear about the day I drove away from my crying daughter in the school car park.

Yes. I was that parent.
The one other parents side-eye and whisper about.

It was a rushed morning, I had an important meeting, and my daughter was picking up on my anxiety. She didn’t want to go to school. I was torn between being “professional” and being “Dad.” I chose wrong.

I still see her in my rear-view mirror — tear-streaked face, hand out, saying “Daddy, please.” That’s the image that’s seared into my memory. I lasted all of three minutes before I turned the car around in a panic.

The meeting that seemed so urgent? Cancelled.
My daughter? In class, but not herself. And I knew I’d done the damage.

For someone who spends his days helping families manage emotions, it was a humbling punch in the gut. Under pressure, we can all do things we regret later — and that morning was mine.

It forced me to admit that I’m just as capable as any parent of getting it spectacularly wrong. So I built myself a system — a way of staying grounded and connected with my kids, even when my own anxiety is in overdrive.

I never meant for it to be “a thing.” But it worked so well for my family that I started sharing it with the parents I work with. It turns out I’m not the only one who’s needed it.

These days, I help parents and caregivers — especially those raising anxious, sensitive, or neurodivergent kids — to keep their cool, build connection, and stop beating themselves up for not being perfect.

Because perfect parenting doesn’t exist.
But calmer, more connected parenting? That’s doable.

If you’ve ever had a parenting moment you’d rather forget.

We can all learn how to do better next time and I can show you the tools that make sure it doesn’t have to happen again.