Services
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Services
I work collaboratively with my clients on understanding what their goals and values are and how thearpy can help them achieve these goals. I am trained in many therapies including CBT, ACT, DBT, EMDR and trauma informed therapy. I am also influenced by many relevant theories and areas of psychology such as attachment theory, mindfulness, self compassion and positive psychology. I am flexible in how we use these therapies depending on your goals.
I provide services via telehealth and face to face in Chatswood.
For more information about what to expect in therapy, the therapies I use and my areas of specialisation please see below or contact me.
Therapy and theories
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
CBT is both a therapy style in itself and an umbrella term for any therapy that works on the principles of exploring the relationships between our environment, thoughts, emotions/sensations and behaviours.
CBT aims to help you understand how these elements work together and how you can change any of these areas to create positive change in your life.
ACT and DBT are considered third wave Cognitive Behavioural Therapies.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a therapy that was designed to help people struggling with self harm and suicidal ideation, intense emotions, interpersonal difficulties and a lack of coherent sense of self. DBT is a therapy that consists of individual therapy, group therapy, phone or email coaching between sessions and therapist consult group.
In my current practice I do not provide complete DBT which involves attendance in a group and myself having a consult group. I provide DBT informed therapy drawing from my knowledge of DBT and using techiques. I also run DBT groups in person and online.
DBT informed therapy can be helpful for anyone wishing to learn to manage intense emotions more effectively. DBT has a strong grounding in mindfulness and behaviour change.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT (pronounced 'act') is a third wave CBT that is both theory driven and evidence based (see Hayes, 2004). ACT aims to help you build psychological flexibility through being able to experience thoughts and emotions and respond to them deliberately and thoughtfully. To help you decide which actions you would like to take ACT explores your values - what is important to you and helps you use these values as a compass to guide your behaviour.
Mindfulness Informed Therapy
Mindfulness is one of the most misunderstood words in psychology! There are many definitions with no agreement, however, generally mindfulness means bringing your attention to the present moment in a curious and open manner.
Mindfulness practice has so many proven benefits including stress reduction, aiding anxiety management and reducing depression and increasing feelings of wellbeing. Ultimately, practicing mindfulness helps you be in control of your mind rather than your mind being in control of you.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is an evidence based therapy that has been in use from the mid 80s and is used widely as effective treatment for PTSD, Complex Trauma and has growing evidence for depression and anxiety disorders. EMDR uses a combination of bringing memories and emotions into our present consciousness and disrupting their return to our long term memory via taxing of the working memory.
Psychological Theory
I am always learning more about psychology and about theories that will help my clients.
My therapy is grounded in:
Attachment Theory
Neuroscience
Polyvagal Theory
Self Compassion theory
Positive Psychology
Groups
I run both DBT skills training groups and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Groups.
DBT groups
I will be starting to run online DBT skills training groups in February 2024. DBT skills training groups can be extremely helpful for people wanting to build more resilience and for people struggling with how to manage their emotions. DBT also explored relationships and how to approach conflict and boundaries. I will be running the following DBT groups in 2024:
DBT skills training group, online - 27 weeks
DBT skills training group for students aged 16-25 - 18 weeks
DBT for stress and burnout - 10 weeks
For more information about DBT groups and who can benefit please click here or contact me.
Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) groups
ACT is an evidence based therapy that has demonstrated impact on increasing well-being and resilience and reducing suffering for a wide range of people and struggles. ACT is a very active therapy! It encourages people to really think about how their actions help or hinder them and explores how to manage thoughts and emotions so that you are more easily able to take the actions you want to take. I will be running the following online ACT groups in 2024:
ACT for Mental Health Professionals - 6 weeks, 1 hour sessions
ACT for Pain and Fatigue - 10 weeks, 45 minute sessions
Taking ACTion - a course to build well-being - 6 weeks, 1 hour sessions
ACT for mental health professionals - 6 weeks
This group is made specifically for mental health professionals! Designed to provide the space to help the helpers apply the skills to themselves, enhance practitioner well-being and manage burnout and stress. Each session will work on teaching skills, applying them in session and making a plan to use the skills between sessions. I have completed three trainings Russ Harris in ACT and have been using it in therapy for years. My PhD was in exploring burnout for health professionals and students and it is an area I am passionate about!
Week one - Introduction and values
Week 2 - Goal setting in ACT
Week 3 - Defusion skills
Week 4 - Acceptance skills
Week 5 - Self compassion
Week 6 - Review and action plan
Cost: $400 for six sessions plus resources
ACT for pain and fatigue - 10 weeks, 45 minute sessions
ACT has been demonstrated to significantly help people manage ongoing pain and fatigue more effectively (reference). As part of my training I interned in the Royal Adelaide Hospital Pain Clinic and I continue to work with people experiencing chronic pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and POTS. This group will help apply the principles of ACT to pain and fatigue as well as including other evidence based resources including pacing, relaxation and sleep hygiene. The aim of ACT is not to 'get rid' of pain but to live a meaningful, value based life even when pain or fatigue are present. Despite the goal not being pain reduction often people will experience a reduction in pain or improvement in energy.
Week 1 - Introduction to ACT and current theory's of pain and fatigue
Week 2 - Values
Week 3 - Pacing techniques
Week 4 - Relaxation techniques
Week 5 - Insomnia and sleep improvement
Week 6 - Goals and habit building
Week 7 - Managing difficult thoughts with unhooking skills
Week 8 - Mindfulness and allowing skills
Week 9 - Self compassion
Week 10 - Review and action plan
Cost: $500 for ten 45 minute sessions plus resources
ACT for well-being - 6 weeks, 1 hour sessions
Learn to apply ACT to your life. Manage stress, emotions, negative thinking in a new way. This group is for adults wanting to learn about ACT and how to apply it to your own life and goals. ACT is often used in life coaching to help people lead the lives they want, instead of their emotions and thoughts leading them. This course will help you to understand your values, how to create meaning in your life, how to manage thoughts and emtions in a new way and to build an understanding of why all humans struggle and how we can start to drop the struggle. I am an experienced ACT therapist and use ACT regularly with clients and on myself.
Week 1 - Why we struggle and exploration of values
Week 2 - Goal setting and habit building
Week 3 - Managing negative thoughts
Week 4 - Exploring emotions and a new way of managing them
Week 5 - Building self compassion and self care
Week 6 - Review and action plan
Cost: $400 for six 1 hour sessions plus resources