About me

Hi, I'm John Tolentino (he/him), a Registered Social Worker (RSW) based on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in so-called Vancouver, BC.

As a Filipino Canadian therapist, educator, and community worker, I offer counselling that is grounded in relational care, cultural humility, and collective liberation. I bring not only clinical experience, but also lived knowledge of what it means to navigate intergenerational healing, migration stories, grief, identity, and belonging.

For over a decade, I’ve worked alongside racialized and diasporic communities, frontline workers, student groups, and organizers—offering support that bridges personal healing with larger systems of care. My practice is shaped by a deep commitment to decolonial, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed work, and I understand therapy not as a “fix,” but as a process of remembering, reconnecting, and reclaiming.

Clients often come to me for support around:

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Racial and cultural identity
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Intergenerational or migration-based trauma

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Grief, anxiety, and burnout
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Family dynamics and chosen kinship
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Community work, activism, and vicarious trauma

I believe healing happens in relationship—with ourselves, with others, with land, and with the stories we carry. My goal is to co-create a space where you feel seen, heard, and held—without needing to explain your cultural background or downplay your pain.

Whether you’re carrying stories from the diaspora, seeking culturally affirming care, or just needing a place to breathe—I’m here to walk with you.