Therapies Offered
Apart from general counselling to help people explore their own issues in a non-judgemental, accepting and safe environment, I have done training in a variety of more specific therapies which include:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
CBT can help you cope with difficulties like stress, depression, anxieties, obsessions, low self esteem and problem behaviours and habits by changing the ways you think and behave. Learn to be a friend to yourself by replacing your negative, "inner critic" thoughts with helpful coping thoughts. Learn new skills such as relaxation, assertiveness, anxiety and anger management, communication and other social skills. For more information, see this.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT takes a different approach from CBT to negative thoughts and feelings. Learn to detach from negative thoughts so you stop struggling with them. Learn to be with and accept negative feelings and sensations with mindfulness meditation skills so you can live in the present. Clarify your values so you can commit to taking actions that create the sort of life you want. For more information, see this website.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) Therapy is one of two therapies identified by Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health as being an effective treatment for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Typical traumas include: death of a loved one, sexual and physical assaults and abuse, and victims of crime or accidents. I have now practised EMDR since 1993 (more than 26 years) and found it to be a highly effective and rapid treatment. EMDR goes beyond "just talking about the trauma" as much of your experience of trauma cannot be put into words. To fully address traumatic experiences, non-verbal aspects of trauma (e.g. images, smells, sounds and body sensations) must be accessed and processed. EMDR facilitates this so you can finally put the trauma behind you and move on with your life.
For more information on EMDR, see this website. There is also another link with a fascinating interview with Francine Shapiro (the Psychologist who developed EMDR). In this interview, she explains what EMDR is; what EMDR therapy involves and how it differs from other therapies; the types of issues it treats; and the research and theories about why it works so effectively to heal people from both longstanding trauma and grief as well as any negative life experiences that may have led them to form negative beliefs about themselves. Click on this link for an overview of how EMDR is used in therapy, and research into how and why EMDR works. Scroll down and you will find an article published in Elle Magazine Australia, where the author writes about her own experience with EMDR as well as stories from other clients.
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) and working with your Inner Child
According to IFS, the mind is made up of a number of different sub-personalities or "parts". These parts are like little people inside us, with their own thoughts, feelings, and agendas. Some of these parts are vulnerable inner child parts who carry unresolved pain from childhood experiences. We also have “Protector” parts (for example, an “Inner Critic” who may criticise us or others, or an “Indulger” who may make us drink too much or overeat). These parts behave in certain ways to protect us from re-experiencing the pain of the more vulnerable inner child parts. IFS is a form of therapy developed by Dr Richard Schwartz to heal and transform our parts so that we can access our self-nurturing, healthy adult self – also known as our true “Self”. To read more about this type of therapy, go to Richard Schwartz’s website or Jay Earley’s website. See also youtube interview with Jay Earley on this page.
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy integrates the best aspects of the three major schools of therapy - Cognitive Behavioural, Psychodynamic and Experiential. It begins by identifying "core schemas" or self defeating patterns of thinking and acting in the world that are repeated throughout a person's life. Schemas develop when certain emotional needs are not met in childhood. Examples of schemas would be the tendency to be pessimistic or self-sacrificing or have unrealistic high expectations of oneself or others or to relate to others with the expectation of being abandoned or mistreated. These schemas are weakened in therapy when childhood wounds are healed so you are then more able to change self-defeating patterns of behaviour. This will then enable you to live a life where your emotional needs are met. For more information, see this slide show.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
In my therapy, I also utilise strategies from Compassion Focused Therapy. This therapy will help you to develop a compassionate resource that facilitates feelings of compassion for yourself and others. This powerful resource will allow you to manage negative feelings (like anxiety, anger, shame, and guilt) and negative thoughts (involving self criticism and blame) more skilfully. It will also help with any of the other therapies I do that may require exposure to fearful situations or traumatic memories. For more information about this, see my article on CFT, or go to this website.
Telehealth
Due to COVID-19, I am currently only providing appointments via online video platform and telephone. Therapy via Telehealth can be very effective and will enable me to still deliver a whole range of therapies, including EMDR. Click on the links for more information about privacy issues and how to get the most out of your telehealth session. Note, all those with a current Mental Health Care Plan are eligible for a Medicare rebate for Telehealth consults.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
CBT can help you cope with difficulties like stress, depression, anxieties, obsessions, low self esteem and problem behaviours and habits by changing the ways you think and behave. Learn to be a friend to yourself by replacing your negative, "inner critic" thoughts with helpful coping thoughts. Learn new skills such as relaxation, assertiveness, anxiety and anger management, communication and other social skills. For more information, see this.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT takes a different approach from CBT to negative thoughts and feelings. Learn to detach from negative thoughts so you stop struggling with them. Learn to be with and accept negative feelings and sensations with mindfulness meditation skills so you can live in the present. Clarify your values so you can commit to taking actions that create the sort of life you want. For more information, see this website.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) Therapy is one of two therapies identified by Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health as being an effective treatment for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Typical traumas include: death of a loved one, sexual and physical assaults and abuse, and victims of crime or accidents. I have now practised EMDR since 1993 (more than 26 years) and found it to be a highly effective and rapid treatment. EMDR goes beyond "just talking about the trauma" as much of your experience of trauma cannot be put into words. To fully address traumatic experiences, non-verbal aspects of trauma (e.g. images, smells, sounds and body sensations) must be accessed and processed. EMDR facilitates this so you can finally put the trauma behind you and move on with your life.
For more information on EMDR, see this website. There is also another link with a fascinating interview with Francine Shapiro (the Psychologist who developed EMDR). In this interview, she explains what EMDR is; what EMDR therapy involves and how it differs from other therapies; the types of issues it treats; and the research and theories about why it works so effectively to heal people from both longstanding trauma and grief as well as any negative life experiences that may have led them to form negative beliefs about themselves. Click on this link for an overview of how EMDR is used in therapy, and research into how and why EMDR works. Scroll down and you will find an article published in Elle Magazine Australia, where the author writes about her own experience with EMDR as well as stories from other clients.
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) and working with your Inner Child
According to IFS, the mind is made up of a number of different sub-personalities or "parts". These parts are like little people inside us, with their own thoughts, feelings, and agendas. Some of these parts are vulnerable inner child parts who carry unresolved pain from childhood experiences. We also have “Protector” parts (for example, an “Inner Critic” who may criticise us or others, or an “Indulger” who may make us drink too much or overeat). These parts behave in certain ways to protect us from re-experiencing the pain of the more vulnerable inner child parts. IFS is a form of therapy developed by Dr Richard Schwartz to heal and transform our parts so that we can access our self-nurturing, healthy adult self – also known as our true “Self”. To read more about this type of therapy, go to Richard Schwartz’s website or Jay Earley’s website. See also youtube interview with Jay Earley on this page.
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy integrates the best aspects of the three major schools of therapy - Cognitive Behavioural, Psychodynamic and Experiential. It begins by identifying "core schemas" or self defeating patterns of thinking and acting in the world that are repeated throughout a person's life. Schemas develop when certain emotional needs are not met in childhood. Examples of schemas would be the tendency to be pessimistic or self-sacrificing or have unrealistic high expectations of oneself or others or to relate to others with the expectation of being abandoned or mistreated. These schemas are weakened in therapy when childhood wounds are healed so you are then more able to change self-defeating patterns of behaviour. This will then enable you to live a life where your emotional needs are met. For more information, see this slide show.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
In my therapy, I also utilise strategies from Compassion Focused Therapy. This therapy will help you to develop a compassionate resource that facilitates feelings of compassion for yourself and others. This powerful resource will allow you to manage negative feelings (like anxiety, anger, shame, and guilt) and negative thoughts (involving self criticism and blame) more skilfully. It will also help with any of the other therapies I do that may require exposure to fearful situations or traumatic memories. For more information about this, see my article on CFT, or go to this website.
Telehealth
Due to COVID-19, I am currently only providing appointments via online video platform and telephone. Therapy via Telehealth can be very effective and will enable me to still deliver a whole range of therapies, including EMDR. Click on the links for more information about privacy issues and how to get the most out of your telehealth session. Note, all those with a current Mental Health Care Plan are eligible for a Medicare rebate for Telehealth consults.