Counselling Services

We offer the following Counselling session types

Phone or Video

Telehealth Counselling

Avoid the traffic! Want something convenient? Research shows Telehealth Counselling is just as effective as face-to-face.

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Cosy and Safe Rooms

Face to Face In-Clinic

Get out of the house and enjoy Counselling in our safe and cosy rooms in St Kilda and Hawthorn East.

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In-clinic or Telehealth

NDIS Counselling

The NDIS recognises how important counselling is for people who live with disability. Counselling is available with My Counselling Clinic through the NDIS.

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And we can treat a variety of disorders

About anxiety

Whether you’re suffering from panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, unrelenting worries, or an incapacitating phobia, it’s important to know that you don’t have to live with anxiety and fear. Treatment can help, and for many anxiety problems, therapy is often the most effective option.

I want to:

While many different types of therapy are used to treat anxiety, the leading approaches are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. Each anxiety therapy may be used alone, or combined with other types of therapy. But the goal is the same: to lower your anxiety levels, calm your mind, and overcome your fears.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a blend of cognitive and behavioral therapies that ​help patients tune into their internal dialogue in order to change maladaptive thinking patterns.

–verywellmind.com

One example is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which research has found can be effective for treating depression. Other studies indicate the combination of medication and psychotherapy may be the most effective treatment, as each method targets depression in a different way.

Because cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy work well together to treat depression and anxiety disorders, the two are often combined in an approach called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on addressing both the negative thought patterns and the behaviors that contribute to anxiety.

Your therapist may ask you to keep a journal to track the events of the week and any self-defeating and negative reactions to those events. Habitual negative responses to events (known as automatic negative reactions) are just one pattern of thinking you might address over the course of CBT. Other response patterns include all-or-nothing thinking and overgeneralization, which are two common cognitive distortions. 

Once you have learned how to recognize your response patterns, you will work with your therapist to learn new ways of thinking and ways of responding.

Research has shown that ACT can improve symptoms for people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and it may also be a particularly good fit for older adults with the condition.

– sciencedirect.com

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach to psychotherapy that stems from traditional behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Unlike cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the goal of ACT is not to reduce the frequency or severity of unpleasant internal experiences like upsetting cognitive distortions, emotions, or urges. Rather, the goal is to reduce your struggle to control or eliminate these experiences while simultaneously increasing your involvement in meaningful life activities

Clients learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their inner emotions and, instead, accept that these deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not prevent them from moving forward in their lives. With this understanding, clients begin to accept their hardships and commit to making necessary changes in their behavior, regardless of what is going on in their lives and how they feel about it.

The goal of MBSR is to bring people into the present moment so they can experience their thoughts and feelings non-judgmentally and avoid worrying about the past or future.

-verywellmind.com

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy is a meditation therapy, though originally designed for stress management, it is being used for treating a variety of illnesses such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, cancer, hypertension, skin and immune disorders. Research shows MBSR improves the condition of patients suffering from chronic illnesses and helps them cope with a wide variety of clinical problems. Our Counsellor Mark has a Diploma in MBSR.

Who can help?

While many different types of therapy are used to treat anxiety, the leading approaches are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. Each anxiety therapy may be used alone, or combined with other types of therapy. But the goal is the same: to lower your anxiety levels, calm your mind, and overcome your fears.

Want to control your anxiety, stop worrisome thoughts, and conquer your fears? The following counsellors can help you with anxiety:

  • Mark Lockyer

    Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress with over 20 years experience as a mental health counsellor and psychology professional.

  • Koula Neophytou

    Koula is a Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with specialist training as a Family Therapist.

  • Jessica Elberg

    Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings.

Mark Lockyer

Counsellor

BSW (Hon), GradDipEd, AMHSW
Book Mark

With over 20 years’ experience as a mental health social worker, counsellor and psychology professional, Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress. From mental health issues, disability, trauma and abuse, work related stress, illness etc., Mark’s compassionate and caring approach will put you at ease and help you explore ways to make sense of what is happening and how to get more joy from life.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma-focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy

Koula Neophytou

Counsellor

BASocWk, MSocSc, AMHSW, Clinical Family Therapist
Book Koula

Koula is a Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with specialist training as a Family Therapist. For over 30 years, Koula has worked with individuals, families, children and adolescents in a variety of settings. Koula acknowledges that everyone is different, everyone’s experience is unique, thus drawing on a range of approaches that suit the person, their experiences and reasons for attending Counselling.

Contact the clinic on 0410 913 154 if you would like to book with Koula.

Skilled in

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Narrative Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Mindfulness
Family Therapy

Jessica Elberg

Counsellor

BA, MSocSc, AMHSW

Book Jessica
 

Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings. Jessica is fueled by a passion to develop unique ways of understanding how we think, what we feel and why we behave as we do. I work with children, adolescents and adults.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Body Psychotherapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Book Online
0410 913 154
0410 913 154
Book Online

About depression

There are many different types of therapy to treat depression and other mood disorders. Psychotherapy can be an effective form of treatment for depression because it can help you delve into possible underlying reasons for your depressive feelings and learn new skills to cope.

I want to:

Psychotherapy is a popular choice for treating depression, both on its own and combined with antidepressants. Psychotherapy involves working with a therapist, either by yourself or with a group, to talk through how you feel, your experiences, and how you view yourself and the world.

Together, you may be able to identify certain underlying causes or triggers that influence your depression. Once you are aware of them, you can begin to work on effective coping strategies. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a blend of cognitive and behavioral therapies that ​help patients tune into their internal dialogue in order to change maladaptive thinking patterns.

–verywellmind.com

One example is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which research has found can be effective for treating depression. Other studies indicate the combination of medication and psychotherapy may be the most effective treatment, as each method targets depression in a different way.

Because cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy work well together to treat depression and anxiety disorders, the two are often combined in an approach called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on addressing both the negative thought patterns and the behaviors that contribute to anxiety.

Your therapist may ask you to keep a journal to track the events of the week and any self-defeating and negative reactions to those events. Habitual negative responses to events (known as automatic negative reactions) are just one pattern of thinking you might address over the course of CBT. Other response patterns include all-or-nothing thinking and overgeneralization, which are two common cognitive distortions. 

Once you have learned how to recognize your response patterns, you will work with your therapist to learn new ways of thinking and ways of responding.

Research has shown that ACT can significantly improve symptoms for people with depression, especially with at least 3 months of follow up, particularly with adult groups with mild depression.

– sciencedirect.com

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach to psychotherapy that stems from traditional behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Unlike cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the goal of ACT is not to reduce the frequency or severity of unpleasant internal experiences like upsetting cognitive distortions, emotions, or urges. Rather, the goal is to reduce your struggle to control or eliminate these experiences while simultaneously increasing your involvement in meaningful life activities

Clients learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their inner emotions and, instead, accept that these deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not prevent them from moving forward in their lives. With this understanding, clients begin to accept their hardships and commit to making necessary changes in their behavior, regardless of what is going on in their lives and how they feel about it.

The goal of MBSR is to bring people into the present moment so they can experience their thoughts and feelings non-judgmentally and avoid worrying about the past or future.

-verywellmind.com

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy is a meditation therapy, though originally designed for stress management, it is being used for treating a variety of illnesses such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin and immune disorders. Research shows MBSR improves the condition of patients suffering from chronic illnesses and helps them cope with a wide variety of clinical problems. Our Counsellor Mark has a Diploma in MBSR.

Who can help?

Finding out which type of psychotherapy is best for you will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your symptoms, your own personal preferences, and your therapy goals. The therapeutic modalities described below have evidence supporting their benefits as treatments for depression.

Our team are ready to help, select from the below counsellors experienced in helping with depression:

  • Mark Lockyer

    Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress with over 20 years experience as a mental health counsellor and psychology professional.

  • Koula Neophytou

    Koula is a Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with specialist training as a Family Therapist.

  • Jessica Elberg

    Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings.

Mark Lockyer

Counsellor

BSW (Hon), GradDipEd, AMHSW
Book Mark

With over 20 years’ experience as a mental health social worker, counsellor and psychology professional, Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress. From mental health issues, disability, trauma and abuse, work related stress, illness etc., Mark’s compassionate and caring approach will put you at ease and help you explore ways to make sense of what is happening and how to get more joy from life.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma-focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy

Koula Neophytou

Counsellor

BASocWk, MSocSc, AMHSW, Clinical Family Therapist
Book Koula

Koula is a Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with specialist training as a Family Therapist. For over 30 years, Koula has worked with individuals, families, children and adolescents in a variety of settings. Koula acknowledges that everyone is different, everyone’s experience is unique, thus drawing on a range of approaches that suit the person, their experiences and reasons for attending Counselling.

Contact the clinic on 0410 913 154 if you would like to book with Koula.

Skilled in

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Narrative Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Mindfulness
Family Therapy

Jessica Elberg

Counsellor

BA, MSocSc, AMHSW

Book Jessica
 

Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings. Jessica is fueled by a passion to develop unique ways of understanding how we think, what we feel and why we behave as we do. I work with children, adolescents and adults.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Body Psychotherapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Book Online
0410 913 154
0410 913 154
Book Online

About trauma counselling

Trauma therapy is a form of therapy that can help you deal with the emotional response caused by a traumatic event. Trauma therapy can help you cope with trauma, whether it’s caused by a one-time event, or an ongoing or long-lasting situation. There are multiple types of therapy that can help treat trauma.

Trauma therapy can help you address the traumatic event and process your feelings and emotions.

It can give you the opportunity to face your fears in a safe space and learn coping skills that can help you function on a day-to-day basis.

I want to:

There are multiple types of therapy that can help treat trauma. Below we lists some of the forms of therapy a mental health practitioner may use to help you overcome trauma-related issues and treat PTSD.

There is no definitive cure for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but there are many types of treatment that can alleviate the symptoms. There are various therapy techniques, as well as evidence that medication may be useful for people struggling with symptoms of PTSD. These treatment methods are used to help minimise, or even eliminate, distressing symptoms that people with PTSD often experience.

Many people have some symptoms of PTSD in the first couple of weeks after a traumatic event, but most recover on their own or with the help of family and friends.

For people whose symptoms last longer, PTSD is treated with psychotherapy or sometimes medicine, or both. Everyone’s PTSD is different, so if you have PTSD you might need to try a few different types of treatment before you find something that works for you.

–healthdirect.gov.au

Trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT) involves working through memories of the trauma in a safe and structured environment, trying to change unhelpful beliefs and thoughts, and gradual exposure to triggers that are being avoided

Together with your Counsellor, you will work to identify distortions or unhelpful patterns in your thoughts and feelings related to the trauma. The goal of CBT is to help you return to a place where you regain hope, feel a greater sense of control in your thoughts and behaviors, as well as help you to reduce escape or avoidance behaviours.

It may take between 8 and 12 psychotherapy sessions to begin to get relief from symptoms. For some people, the condition may have become chronic and can take much longer to treat. The sooner treatment begins, the better.

As described by the EMDR Institute, “Unlike talk therapy, the insights clients gain in EMDR therapy result not so much from clinician interpretation but from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes.” In EMDR therapy, the past, present, and future are all addressed using an established eight-phase treatment approach.

– verywellmind.com

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is more commonly referred to as EMDR. This is a type of psychotherapy often used with survivors of trauma, particularly those experiencing symptoms of PTSD. This technique utilizes bilateral sensory input such as side-to-side eye movements to help you process difficult memories, thoughts, and emotions related to your trauma.

EMDR Therapy is one of the most well researched trauma treatment models. Approximately 30 randomised controlled studies have found it to be effective for the treatment of PTSD. In 2010 the Australian Psychological Society (APS) noted it as a Level 1 treatment for PTSD; the highest rating that can be applied to a specific therapeutic approach.

The World Health Organisation endorses EMDR for the treatment of PTSD and EMDR is listed on Medicare Australia’s list of approved Focussed Psychological Strategies.

Who can help?

Finding out which type of psychotherapy is best for you will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your symptoms, your own personal preferences, and your therapy goals. The therapeutic modalities described below have evidence supporting their benefits as treatments for trauma.

Our team are ready to help, select from the below counsellors experienced in helping with trauma:

  • Mark Lockyer

    Counsellor

    Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress with over 20 years experience as a mental health counsellor and psychology professional.

  • Koula Neophytou

    Counsellor

    Koula is a Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with specialist training as a Family Therapist.

  • Jessica Elberg

    Counsellor

    Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings.

Mark Lockyer

Counsellor

BSW (Hon), GradDipEd, AMHSW
Book Mark

With over 20 years’ experience as a mental health social worker, counsellor and psychology professional, Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress. From mental health issues, disability, trauma and abuse, work related stress, illness etc., Mark’s compassionate and caring approach will put you at ease and help you explore ways to make sense of what is happening and how to get more joy from life.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma-focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy

Koula Neophytou

Counsellor

BASocWk, MSocSc, AMHSW, Clinical Family Therapist
Book Koula

Koula is a Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with specialist training as a Family Therapist. For over 30 years, Koula has worked with individuals, families, children and adolescents in a variety of settings. Koula acknowledges that everyone is different, everyone’s experience is unique, thus drawing on a range of approaches that suit the person, their experiences and reasons for attending Counselling.

Contact the clinic on 0410 913 154 if you would like to book with Koula.

Skilled in

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Narrative Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Mindfulness
Family Therapy

Jessica Elberg

Counsellor

BA, MSocSc, AMHSW

Book Jessica
 

Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings. Jessica is fueled by a passion to develop unique ways of understanding how we think, what we feel and why we behave as we do. I work with children, adolescents and adults.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Body Psychotherapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Book Online
0410 913 154
0410 913 154
Book Online

About counselling for PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition in which people experience a variety of symptoms following exposure to a traumatic event. These may include flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, avoidance, and changes in mood and thinking.

Symptoms may include re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoiding reminders of the trauma, startling easily, and having negative thoughts and beliefs.

There are effective treatments that can help such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).

I want to:

There is no definitive cure for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but there are many types of treatment that can alleviate the symptoms. There are various therapy techniques, as well as evidence that medication may be useful for people struggling with symptoms of PTSD. These treatment methods are used to help minimise, or even eliminate, distressing symptoms that people with PTSD often experience.

Many people have some symptoms of PTSD in the first couple of weeks after a traumatic event, but most recover on their own or with the help of family and friends.

For people whose symptoms last longer, PTSD is treated with psychotherapy or sometimes medicine, or both. Everyone’s PTSD is different, so if you have PTSD you might need to try a few different types of treatment before you find something that works for you.

–healthdirect.gov.au

Trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT) involves working through memories of the trauma in a safe and structured environment, trying to change unhelpful beliefs and thoughts, and gradual exposure to triggers that are being avoided

Together with your Counsellor, you will work to identify distortions or unhelpful patterns in your thoughts and feelings related to the trauma. The goal of CBT is to help you return to a place where you regain hope, feel a greater sense of control in your thoughts and behaviors, as well as help you to reduce escape or avoidance behaviours.

It may take between 8 and 12 psychotherapy sessions to begin to get relief from symptoms. For some people, the condition may have become chronic and can take much longer to treat. The sooner treatment begins, the better.

As described by the EMDR Institute, “Unlike talk therapy, the insights clients gain in EMDR therapy result not so much from clinician interpretation but from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes.” In EMDR therapy, the past, present, and future are all addressed using an established eight-phase treatment approach.

– verywellmind.com

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is more commonly referred to as EMDR. This is a type of psychotherapy often used with survivors of trauma, particularly those experiencing symptoms of PTSD. This technique utilizes bilateral sensory input such as side-to-side eye movements to help you process difficult memories, thoughts, and emotions related to your trauma.

EMDR Therapy is one of the most well researched trauma treatment models. Approximately 30 randomised controlled studies have found it to be effective for the treatment of PTSD. In 2010 the Australian Psychological Society (APS) noted it as a Level 1 treatment for PTSD; the highest rating that can be applied to a specific therapeutic approach.

The World Health Organisation endorses EMDR for the treatment of PTSD and EMDR is listed on Medicare Australia’s list of approved Focussed Psychological Strategies.

Who can help?

Finding out which type of psychotherapy is best for you will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your symptoms, your own personal preferences, and your therapy goals. The therapeutic modalities described above have evidence supporting their benefits as treatments for PTSD.

Our team are ready to help, select from the below counsellors experienced in EMDR and TF-CBT:

  • No Heroes Found.

Book Online
0410 913 154
0410 913 154
Book Online

About counselling for eating disorders

An eating disorder is a mental health condition that causes disturbances to your diet and the way you view food.

There are several types of eating disorders. Some examples include:

People that have an eating disorder may eat too much food, too little food, or become preoccupied with their body shape or weight. Without treatment, an eating disorder may become serious and potentially life-threatening.

However, recovery from an eating disorder is possible with treatment. This often involves a team of health professionals that work together to help you on your way to recovery.

One part of your treatment plan will involve therapy.

I want to:

You may be wondering which types of therapy are most effective for the treatment of eating disorders. The answer to this question can depend on the type of eating disorder you have.

Additionally, different types of therapy work best for different individuals. Because of this, you may need to try a few different approaches before you find one that works for you.

Below, we’ll explore the different types of therapy for eating disorders, how effective they are, and ways to seek help for yourself or a loved one.

Research has shown that an ACT group intervention focusing on body image was effective in reducing residual ED symptoms and body image problems.

– sciencedirect.com

ACT asks you to focus on changing your actions as opposed to your thoughts or feelings.

A principle of ACT is that the behaviors associated with mental health conditions come from responses to unpleasant feelings like anxiety or pain.

People undergoing ACT are asked to examine for themselves what their core values are. They’re then asked to develop goals that help them better satisfy these values.

The aim is to accept all feelings — including the unpleasant ones — and to commit to changing your actions so they better align with your core values. Through this, it’s believed that you can lead a better life and begin to feel better.

ACT is a viable treatment for eating disorders, but more research is needed to see if it’s effective as a standalone therapy.

In FBT, parents are viewed as experts on their child, an essential part of the solution, and members of the treatment team.

-verywellmind.com

Family-based treatment (FBT, also sometimes referred to as the Maudsley method) is a leading treatment for adolescent eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).

It’s often used for children or adolescents that have an eating disorder.

In FBT, your family members are vital parts of your recovery process. They’re involved in helping you do things like:

  • maintaining healthy eating patterns
  • restoring and maintaining a healthy weight
  • interrupting unhealthy behaviors, such as binge eating or purging

FBT takes an agnostic view of the eating disorder, meaning therapists do not try to analyze why the eating disorder developed. FBT does not blame families for the disorder. On the contrary, it presumes the powerful bond between parents and children and empowers the parents to use their love to help their child.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E) has become the leading treatment for anxiety, and with good reason. Research indicates that CBT-E can be an effective treatment for anxiety after as few as 8 sessions, with or without any form of medication

–eatingdisorders.org.au

In Australia, there are evidence-based treatment options for eating disorders that are eligible for Medicare rebates. The most common treatment for adults is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E)

CBT-E aims to identify the thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to your eating disorder.

These could include thoughts or beliefs that are associated with things such as:

  • food
  • weight
  • body shape
  • appearance

Once these thoughts and beliefs are identified, you’re then taught strategies to modify them and to help manage them.

CBT is used for a variety of mental health conditions, and people receiving CBT for eating disorders experience improvements in other related symptoms like depression and anxiety.

CBT-E (enhanced) is a type of CBT that’s intended for use in all types of eating disorders.

A 2018 study confirmed that people with binge eating disorder have significantly more interpersonal problems than those without binge eating disorder, regardless of weight. These interpersonal problems can lead to greater psychological distress.

-verywellmind.com

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a type of therapy that’s used to treat eating disorders like binge eating disorder or bulimia. In IPT, your eating disorder is explored in the context of social and interpersonal relationships.

Four different “problem areas” are used in IPT. These include:

  • Interpersonal deficits: This often includes feelings of isolation or a lack of close, fulfilling relationships. The relationships in question don’t have to be romantic, but can also be related to those with friends or family.
  • Role disputes: This often involves a difference in expectations between yourself and one or more important people in your life, such as parents, friends, or employers.
  • Role transitions: This is typically concerned with big life changes, such as being on your own for the first time, starting a new job, or being in a new relationship.
  • Grief: This can include feelings of loss due to the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship.

Your doctor will work with you to explore how issues in each of these problem areas contribute to your eating disorder. They’ll then help you develop strategies to improve your communication and interpersonal skills to help reduce your symptoms.

Who can help?

Finding out which type of psychotherapy is best for you will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your symptoms, your own personal preferences, and your therapy goals. The therapeutic modalities described below have evidence supporting their benefits as treatments for eating disorders.

Our team are ready to help, select from the below counsellors experienced in helping with eating disorders:

  • No Heroes Found.

Book Online
0410 913 154
0410 913 154
Book Online

About counselling for ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) are types of psychological disorders that influence how the brain functions and alters neurological development, causing difficulties in social, cognitive, and emotional functioning. The most common NDs are autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD).1 Many NDs are not as well known or widely studied.

NDs usually onset during stages of development which makes them most present in toddlers, children, and adolescents, but continue to persist into adulthood, or may go undiagnosed until one is an adult.2 There are instances in which a child outgrows the symptoms associated with an ND.

I want to:

There aren’t many treatment options for those with NDs, but research has determined some effective interventions. Although there is no cure for NDs there are methods that help with managing and coping with symptoms.

CBT is supported by clinical results and research evidence showing that the therapy delivers real-world benefits for adults with ADHD — namely higher self-esteem, productivity, and happiness. Learn more about ‘cognitive distortions’ and how to unravel them with cognitive behavioral therapy.

–attitudemag.com

Therapies like applied behavioral analysis (ABA), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), speech therapy, and developmental therapy have all been shown to be beneficial for ND symptoms. CBT, Psychotherapy, and other behavioral therapies are utilized for adults with NDs like ADHD.

Originally a treatment for mood disorders, CBT is based on cognitive restructuring, or the recognition that cognitions lead to emotional difficulties. Automatic thoughts are spontaneous interpretations of events. These impressions are susceptible to distortion, such as unfounded assumptions about yourself (or others), a situation, or the future. Such unhealthy internal dialogs hinder an individual from working toward an intended goal, working to develop productive new habits, or generally take calculated risks.

CBT aims to change irrational thought patterns that prevent individuals from staying on task or getting things done. For an individual with ADHD who thinks, “This has to be perfect or it’s no good,” or “I never do anything right,” CBT challenges the truth of those cognitions. Changing distorted thoughts, and the resulting change in behavior patterns, is effective in treating anxiety, and other emotional problems.

Source: attitudemag.com

Find out more at Attitudemag’s resource: How CBT Dismantles ADHD Negativity: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Overview

ACT goes beyond thoughts and feelings. At its core, ACT aims at using a person’s values as a guide for life, bringing people closer to their passions

– attitudemag.com

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach to psychotherapy that stems from traditional behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Although CBT is an effective treatment for many conditions, including ADHD and ASD, it doesn’t work for everyone. So another approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to manage symptoms.

ACT is an extension of the cognitive-behavioral model, but with some differences. Unlike CBT, ACT doesn’t try to change negative thoughts. It asks you to observe and accept them. ACT does not accept the idea that thoughts are easily malleable. CBT might focus on identifying a negative thought (“No one likes me”), then reframing it to something more positive (“Maybe some people don’t like me, but others do like me”).

Who can help?

Finding out which type of psychotherapy is best for you will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your symptoms, your own personal preferences, and your therapy goals. The therapeutic modalities described below have evidence supporting their benefits as treatments for eating disorders.

Our team are ready to help, select from the below counsellors experienced in helping with ADHD and ASD:

  • Jessica Elberg

    Counsellor

    Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings.

Jessica Elberg

Counsellor

BA, MSocSc, AMHSW

Book Jessica
 

Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings. Jessica is fueled by a passion to develop unique ways of understanding how we think, what we feel and why we behave as we do. I work with children, adolescents and adults.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Body Psychotherapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Book Online
0410 913 154
0410 913 154
Book Online

About counselling for Anger Management

Anger is a normal human emotion that most people experience every now and then. However, if you find yourself feeling angry very often or very intensely, it may start to become a problem. The aim of anger management therapy is to help minimize stressful or anger-evoking situations, improve self-control, and help you express your feelings in a healthy manner

I want to:

Depending on your goals and treatment needs, you may attend anger management therapy, during which you’ll learn additional anger management therapy techniques and how to implement them in your daily life—especially when you’re feeling triggered.

Because this approach to therapy is able to help people successfully improve their coping skills, they are able to develop effective ways to manage and express strong emotions. Researchers have also found that DBT is effective regardless of a person’s age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity.

-verywellmind.com

Dialectical behavior therapy is mostly based on CBT. The key difference is that it asks individuals with depression to acknowledge and accept their negative thoughts and behaviors. Through the practice of validation, individuals can come to terms with their negative emotions, learn to cope with stress and regulate their reactions to it, and even improve their relationships with others.

This type of psychotherapy also incorporates mindfulness practices from Buddhist traditions to inform crisis coaching, in which an individual can call the therapist to receive guidance on how to handle difficult situations. As the person continues to practice these new skills, they will eventually become better equipped to handle their challenging situations on their own.

Anger management therapy techniques can involve understanding your triggers and responses to anger, learning strategies to manage or diffuse it, and changing thoughts and attitudes related to anger.

–verywellmind.com

Research consistently shows that cognitive behavioral interventions are effective for managing anger. These interventions involve changing the way you think and behave. They are based on the notion that your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. (Cognitive behavioral interventions are also taught in anger management therapy.)

Your thoughts and behaviors can either fuel your emotions or they can reduce them. So, if you want to shift your emotional state away from anger, you can change what you’re thinking and what you’re doing. Without fuel, the fire inside you will begin to dwindle and you’ll feel calmer.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps people learn how to identify and change the destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on their behavior and emotions. CBT is often the treatment of choice for anger management. It can help you understand your triggers for anger, develop and practice coping skills, and think, feel, and behave differently in response to anger, so you are calmer and more in control.

Your therapist may ask you to keep a journal to track the events of the week and any self-defeating and negative reactions to those events. Habitual negative responses to events (known as automatic negative reactions) are just one pattern of thinking you might address over the course of CBT. Other response patterns include all-or-nothing thinking and overgeneralization, which are two common cognitive distortions. 

Once you have learned how to recognize your response patterns, you will work with your therapist to learn new ways of thinking and ways of responding. You might also practice positive self-talk.

Techniques used in family therapy focus on improving emotional awareness, assisting with major changes within a family, helping people accept things they cannot control, and improving communication and collaboration.

-verywellmind.com

This form of therapy can be helpful in situations where anger is often directed at family members. It can help you work together to improve communication and resolve issues.

Family therapy is a type of treatment designed to help with issues that specifically affect families’ mental health and functioning. It can help individual family members build stronger relationships, improve communication, and manage conflicts within the family system.

Some of the primary goals of family therapy are to create a better home environment, solve family issues, and understand the unique issues that a family might face.

Who can help?

If anger has been causing problems in your life and you’re struggling to tame your temper on your own, you might want to seek professional help. The following counsellors are skilled in anger management techiques and therapies:

  • Mark Lockyer

    Counsellor

    Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress with over 20 years experience as a mental health counsellor and psychology professional.

  • Jessica Elberg

    Counsellor

    Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings.

Mark Lockyer

Counsellor

BSW (Hon), GradDipEd, AMHSW
Book Mark

With over 20 years’ experience as a mental health social worker, counsellor and psychology professional, Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress. From mental health issues, disability, trauma and abuse, work related stress, illness etc., Mark’s compassionate and caring approach will put you at ease and help you explore ways to make sense of what is happening and how to get more joy from life.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma-focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy

Jessica Elberg

Counsellor

BA, MSocSc, AMHSW

Book Jessica
 

Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings. Jessica is fueled by a passion to develop unique ways of understanding how we think, what we feel and why we behave as we do. I work with children, adolescents and adults.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Body Psychotherapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Book Online
0410 913 154
0410 913 154
Book Online

About counselling for Insomnia

Not sleeping well can leave you tired, irritable, and unable to concentrate. It can affect your performance at school or work, take a toll on your relationships, and affect your health and safety.

Sleep therapy is a form of therapy designed to improve the quality of your sleep. It can help with sleep disorders like insomnia. It may also help with other mental and physical health conditions.

I want to:

Below, we’ll explore the different types of therapy for treating insomnia, how effective they are, and ways to seek help.

The most commonly utilized and studied type of therapy for insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi). CBTi is the gold standard of evidence-based treatment for sleep problems.

–Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a professor and clinical psychologist in New York City. 

CBTi is a form of therapy that can help you recognize and replace unhealthy sleep-related thoughts and behaviors with healthier habits and attitudes. CBTi aims to incorporate effectual sleep habits and behaviors, and in turn minimise ineffective behaviors. A therapist who specializes in CBTi may use different techniques to help improve your sleep. Because sleep can be impacted by many mental health concerns, your Counsellor may conduct a detailed assessment to determine why your sleep is being affected and draw upon multiple techniques for treatment.

CBTi requires consistent application and practice. Some of the approaches of CBTi, such as paradoxical intention and stimulus control, may actually cause you to lose sleep in the short-term. However, with consistency and commitment to the work, you are likely to notice enduring outcomes

Who can help?

Sleep is an essential function that is interconnected with several other mental and physical health conditions. If you’re having trouble sleeping, a specialized form of therapy known as CBTi can help improve the quality of your sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep can make a remarkable difference to your mood, productivity, and overall well-being.

Our counsellor Tamika is trained in CBTi and is available for new bookings with no waiting list.

  • Jessica Elberg

    Counsellor

    Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings.

Jessica Elberg

Counsellor

BA, MSocSc, AMHSW

Book Jessica
 

Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings. Jessica is fueled by a passion to develop unique ways of understanding how we think, what we feel and why we behave as we do. I work with children, adolescents and adults.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Body Psychotherapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Book Online
0410 913 154
0410 913 154
Book Online

Social Skills Challenges counselling

Social skills training (SST) is a type of behavioural therapy used to improve social skills in people with mental disorders or developmental disabilities. SST may be used by teachers, therapists, or other professionals to help those with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and other diagnoses. 

It is delivered either individually or in a group format, usually once or twice a week, and is often used as one component of a combined treatment program.

I want to:

SST generally begins with an assessment of your specific skill deficits and impairments. Your therapist may ask you which social interactions you find the most challenging or which skills you feel could be improved. The goal of this process is to identify the best targets for social skills training for your particular situation.

Once specific target areas are identified, techniques for improving social skills are introduced. Usually, changes are made in one area at a time to ensure you don’t get overwhelmed.

One of the central goals of CBT is to identify irrational beliefs and thought patterns and replace them with more realistic ones. Your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are all linked. By identifying unhelpful thoughts, you can then change the way you feel and behave.

–verywellmind.com

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is commonly treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of therapy that was pioneered in the 1960s for the treatment of depression. It is now a leading treatment for many conditions, including anxiety disorders. Research has shown that CBT is an effective therapy for social anxiety disorder.

CBT uses a combination of techniques that may vary depending on the disorder being treated. For example, CBT for depression will be different from CBT for SAD or other anxiety disorders. Because there are so many different techniques, it is important to look for a therapist that has experience with the techniques that are most effective for treating SAD.

Social Skills Training has been shown to be effective in improving social skills for those with SAD regardless of the social issue. If there is a skills deficit, you can learn how to better manage social interactions.

– verywellmind.com

A therapist may describe a particular skill, explain how to carry it out, and model the behavior. Complex behaviours like how to carry on a conversation may be broken down into smaller pieces such as introducing yourself, making small talk, and leaving a conversation. Counsellors will also discuss both verbal and nonverbal behaviours.

SST Techiques

Behavioural rehearsal: Role play which involves practicing new skills during therapy in simulated situations

Corrective feedback: Used to help improve social skills during practice

Instruction: The educational component of SST that involves the modeling of appropriate social behaviors

Positive reinforcement: used to reward improvements in social skills

Weekly homework assignments: Provide the chance to practice new social skills outside of therapy

Who can help?

Building and improving upon your social skills is an important component of treatment for social anxiety disorder and is crucial to better negotiating social situations. If you find yourself severely lacking social skills, speak to one of our Counsellors below.

  • Mark Lockyer

    Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress with over 20 years experience as a mental health counsellor and psychology professional.

  • Koula Neophytou

    Koula is a Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with specialist training as a Family Therapist.

  • Jessica Elberg

    Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings.

Mark Lockyer

Counsellor

BSW (Hon), GradDipEd, AMHSW
Book Mark

With over 20 years’ experience as a mental health social worker, counsellor and psychology professional, Mark is able to help you better understand and manage emotional pain and distress. From mental health issues, disability, trauma and abuse, work related stress, illness etc., Mark’s compassionate and caring approach will put you at ease and help you explore ways to make sense of what is happening and how to get more joy from life.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma-focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy

Koula Neophytou

Counsellor

BASocWk, MSocSc, AMHSW, Clinical Family Therapist
Book Koula

Koula is a Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with specialist training as a Family Therapist. For over 30 years, Koula has worked with individuals, families, children and adolescents in a variety of settings. Koula acknowledges that everyone is different, everyone’s experience is unique, thus drawing on a range of approaches that suit the person, their experiences and reasons for attending Counselling.

Contact the clinic on 0410 913 154 if you would like to book with Koula.

Skilled in

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Narrative Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Mindfulness
Family Therapy

Jessica Elberg

Counsellor

BA, MSocSc, AMHSW

Book Jessica
 

Jessica is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with over 10 years’ experience working in a broad range of settings. Jessica is fueled by a passion to develop unique ways of understanding how we think, what we feel and why we behave as we do. I work with children, adolescents and adults.

Skilled in

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Body Psychotherapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Book Online
0410 913 154
0410 913 154
Book Online
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