
Petra is a highly skilled, tertiary-qualified counsellor with almost 10 years experience supporting clients' mental health. Insightful and altruistic, Petra creates a safe space to support her clients to lead more fulfilling lives.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder which most commonly starts in teenagers, most often girls, although many people will begin showing symptoms between the ages of 8 and 10. Anorexia also affects teenage boys and often continues into or begins in, adulthood (both male and female).
People who suffer from anorexia are fanatical about losing weight and being thin. They are generally very good at losing weight (through exercise and dieting) and petrified of gaining weight.
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People with anorexia have a distorted sense of their weight and believe they are overweight even when they reach weights which are unhealthily skinny. Indeed, people suffering from anorexia are most often underweight.
Suffers of anorexia often use food and weight as a way to manage their underlying emotional issues.
Their eating behaviour is often symptomatic of overwhelming psychological issues and an attempt to deal with painful emotions which have not found another way of being expressed or supported.

Petra is a highly skilled, tertiary-qualified counsellor with almost 10 years experience supporting clients' mental health. Insightful and altruistic, Petra creates a safe space to support her clients to lead more fulfilling lives.

Silvia is a Registered Counsellor & Psychotherapist with qualifications in counselling, psychology and Somatic Experiencing®. Compassionate and supportive, Silvia works with individuals to manage life’s challenges.

Rose is a Masters-qualified counsellor and Registered Mental Health Social Worker with over 20 years experience. Working with both individuals and couples, Rose empowers her clients to enhance their wellbeing and achieve their goals.

Sue is a Masters-qualified counsellor. Compassionate and authentic, Sue supports individuals to better understand the interplay between their internal world and their external relationships.
Individuals ✓After hours ✓

Neera is a Masters-qualified psychotherapist. Empathetic, thoughtful and intuitive, Neera works with individuals to strengthen their identity and reshape patterns.
Individuals ✓
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It can be useful to know the signs of anorexia to help screen for this condition in yourself or someone you love. If you are suffering anorexia you may have difficulty self assessing and you should seek some professional help if other’s have expressed concern about your weight or eating habits, or if you find yourself feeling as if you have to keep your dieting a secret from others.
Common emotional or psychological signs of anorexia include:
- excessive focus on body weight and appearance,
, a deep fear of gaining weight and becoming fat,
, an intense desire to be thin (often unhealthily so),
, a belief that they are overweight (whilst being objectively underweight),
, not wanting to eat,
, avoidance of high calorie foods,
, obsessive interest in food facts,
, over exercising,
, constant weighing of oneself,
, refusing to eat,
, denial of hunger,
, depression,
, irritability
Common physical signs of anorexia include:
, low body weight or significant weight loss
, absent or irregular menstrual cycles
, sensitivity to cold
, the appearance of fine body hair (lanugo) on the face or body
, hair loss (head)
, brittle nails and hair
, dry and yellowing skin
It is unclear what the precise cause of Anorexia Nervosa or other eating disorders is, but psychologists generally agree that it is a combination of various factors that will come into play to cause anorexia or other eating disorders.
For some people, these factors might be more easily identifiable. For others, they might be harder to pinpoint. Issues which are generally thought to contribute to the development of eating disorders can include:
- an experience of trauma or abuse (which could be physical, emotional or sexual), the impact of societal/cultural preoccupation with body image
, grief caused by loss
, the nature of one’s relationship to family or friends
, striving for perfectionism
, stress
, an inability to cope with one’s emotions
, feeling that one’s life is out of one’s control
, chemical imbalances in the brain
, the physiological effects of dieting
Treatment for anorexia can be difficult because more often than not, sufferers do not think they are sick enough (or thin enough) to justify intervention. However, anyone who is suffering from anorexia or another eating disorder needs support and treatment, no matter the severity or perceived severity of the illness.
You may be concerned that if you seek treatment you will be forced to eat, or that someone will come between you and your dieting and that this will ruin your chances of happiness or the achievement of a body you can live with; however the avoidance of treatment often leads to longstanding relationship difficulties as you try to hide yourself and your private world from others.
There are various approaches to treating anorexia. These include counselling, nutritional advice and in severe cases, hospitalisation. Generally people with anorexia need help to change not just their eating habits, but also the underlying issues which have been having such an adverse effect on their eating and body image.
Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney works with psychologists who are specialists in women’s health issues and eating disorders. Our associated psychologists will take an integrated approach to treatment, but issues that are often addressed in counselling sessions include your eating behaviour and your feelings about your eating habits, your self confidence and how you feel about yourself, your background and what may have led you to feel or act in a certain way.
Your psychologist will also guide and support you to find better ways to manage your eating and your health generally.
Please note that, in situations where the weight of an anorexic is so low or where the restriction is so severe that their health might be in danger, a period in a specialist hospital unit may be necessary to stabilise health and eating habits, or consultation by a GP may be required in conjunction with psychological treatment by a counsellor or psychologist.
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Disclaimer
All health information provided on counsellingsydney.com.au is general in nature and is provided for information purposes only. The information contained on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat psychological conditions, nor should it be used as an alternative to obtaining counselling or psychological advice from a qualified counsellor, psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist or medical practitioner. Please consult a counselling professional or a health care provider about any health concerns you might have about yourself or others. Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney Pty. Ltd does not accept liability for any loss or damage associated with the use of this site. This site may contain links to third party sites including sites on counselling, psychologist services, mental health and other unrelated material. The existence of these links is not to be construed as an endorsement by Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney Pty. Ltd as to the accuracy or quality of the information or services provided by these third party sites and we do not accept liability for any loss or damaged associated with the use of these third party sites.(This article is electronically protected, Copyright © Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney PTY LTD)
No referral is needed to start. For Medicare rebates, ask your GP about a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Please speak to our team about your options.
Most new clients are seen within days, sooner by telehealth. Many of our practices offer early morning, evening and weekend appointments, and our intake team will find the times that suit you.
Yes, you can choose either. You can see a clinician at one of our practices across Sydney, the coast and the Illawarra, or by video from anywhere in Australia, and many clients switch between the two.
Your clinician listens to what’s brought you in, asks about your goals, and agrees to a plan with you. There is never any pressure to share more than you’re ready to.
Sessions run for 55 minutes, and the fee depends on who you see. Counsellors start from $150, social workers and psychologists from $200, and clinical psychologists from $230. With a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, a Medicare rebate may apply to sessions with a psychologist or a registered mental health social worker, so please speak to our staff about your options.
These are the things people come to us for.

Worry you cannot switch off, or panic that arrives out of nowhere.

Flat and exhausted, with no interest in things you used to enjoy.

Arguments that go round in circles, or drifting apart and not knowing how to talk about it.

We’ll help you spot triggers, slow the surge, and choose what happens next.

Drinking, drugs, gambling or porn that has got out of hand.

Days that feel chaotic, with everyday tasks harder than they should be.

Things that happened years ago that still affect how you feel now.

Compulsive sex or pornography use, and the issues that trigger it.

After a death, a diagnosis, or the end of something that mattered.

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Registered Counsellor
Petra is a Registered Counsellor and member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) with experience in various roles across the healthcare industry. She holds a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors and a Graduate Diploma in Relationship Counselling, as well as advanced accreditations in grief & loss, addiction, abuse and eating disorders.
Petra has worked extensively with a diverse range of individuals across multiple organisations in both the aged care, clinical and charity sectors. Through her time at the Butterfly Foundation, Petra empowered her clients through evidence-based therapy to help them overcome negative eating patterns. Petra also has specific experience treating complex mental health in elderly clients, supporting them through issues such as trauma, grief and cognitive decline. Prior to her commencing a career in counselling, Petra worked in various roles within the corporate space, collaborating and liaising with an assortment of professionals, helping shape the person-centred approach she utlises in therapy today.
In private practice, Petra’s focus is to meet and understand where individuals are at in their lives, and best support them using a variety of therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solutions Focused Therapy, ACT, Strengths Based Therapy and Narrative Therapy. In her sessions, Petra assists her clients in a range of concerns, including anger management, depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, grief & loss, self-esteem issues, workplace stress, as well as more complex mental health including eating disorders and addiction.
Petra is an insightful and altruistic counsellor, who believes everyone is unique in their counselling needs and, as such, aims to personalise each session to the individual. Creating safe, supportive and confidential spaces for people to engage, Petra uses empathy and understanding to support her clients in their mental health journey and onto more fulfilling lives.
Counsellor
$150 to $220
fee range, per 55-minute session
Please ask for the exact fee when you call.
No referral is needed, so you can start straight away. This fee does not attract a Medicare rebate. See the full fee table

Registered Counsellor
Silvia is a Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. She holds a Graduate Diploma in Counselling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology (Sydney), a Bachelor of Psychology and Sociology from Greenwich University (London) and is currently working towards full certification as a Somatic Experiencing® practitioner with Somatic Experiencing® International.
Silvia’s journey of connecting with her authentic self, self-discovery and curating conscious relationships inspired her to help others navigate their own challenges. She has since obtained experience in various mental health settings including for Not-for-Profit organisations, in-patient services at South Pacific Private Hospital, as a grief counsellor, and as a school counsellor.
Silvia brings a wealth of knowledge, insight and life experience to her work in private practice. She is experienced working with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, stress, addiction, trauma, bereavement, self-esteem, anger management, life transitions, addictions, eating disorders and relationship issues. Silvia also has expertise in group facilitation and regularly facilitates programs on wide-ranging topics such as emotional regulation, negative core beliefs, co-dependency and parenting. Silvia’s work has been featured in Australian magazines including Marie Claire, Women’s Weekly and Body + Soul.
As an Integrative and Trauma-Informed therapist, in her work, Silvia draws on various approaches, including Gestalt Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Somatic Experiencing® techniques, and Family Systems Therapy. She also draws on Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, Inner Child Work, and Mindfulness-based techniques.
Silvia is a warm, supportive and compassionate counsellor, who tailors her approach to meet the unique needs and circumstances of each client. She is passionate about fostering a sense of self, healing relational wounds and conflicts, and resolving unfinished business from the past through a safe and caring therapeutic relationship.
Silvia can help to guide you to foster resilience, cultivate inner balance and develop new ways of responding to life’s situations.
Counsellor
$150 to $220
fee range, per 55-minute session
Please ask for the exact fee when you call.
No referral is needed, so you can start straight away. This fee does not attract a Medicare rebate. See the full fee table

Counsellor & Couple Therapist
Rose is a Registered Mental Health Social Worker with over 20 years of experience providing counselling and psychotherapy to individuals and couples. She holds a Clinical Master of Counselling and a Graduate Diploma in Adult Psychotherapy.
Rose has worked in a number of different counselling settings, including private practice, community health setting, private psychiatric hospitals and university counselling services. Working within these settings has allowed Rose to gain experience across a broad range of presentations including anxiety, depression (including post-natal depression), grief and loss, phobias, divorce and separation, relationship issues, past and recent trauma, bullying and harassment, and study difficulties.
Rose has particularly extensive experience assisting clients with trauma. She has worked with veterans experiencing severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), women who have experienced domestic violence, and survivors of child physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
Rose takes a primarily psychodynamic approach to therapy, and has completed specialised Trauma Therapy training using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). She believes that our emotions and behaviour are affected by our social environment, and aims to work towards the liberation and empowerment of her clients to enhance their wellbeing.
Rose endeavours to develop a close working alliance with her clients, helping them toward achieving their short term or longer term goals.
Counsellor
$150 to $220
fee range, per 55-minute session
Please ask for the exact fee when you call.
No referral is needed, so you can start straight away. This fee does not attract a Medicare rebate. See the full fee table

Registered Counsellor
Sue is a Registered Counsellor and Psychotherapist and a member of PACFA (Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia). She holds a Graduate Diploma in Counselling from ACAP University College in which she was National DUX, and a Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Prior to starting a private practice, Sue worked in hospital settings where she gained significant experience in a broad range of presentations including trauma, addiction, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and relationship issues. In this role she facilitated group therapy sessions as well as one-on-one trauma-informed psychotherapy sessions, and also facilitated patient workshops and lectures. Sue has also worked with renowned experiential trauma programme facilitators across the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
When working with clients, Sue takes an integrative, trauma-informed and person-centered approach. She also uses a psychodynamic relational model and employs the dynamic interplay between internal world and relational experiences. At times, Sue will also engage creative techniques, narrative therapy and Gestalt therapies to facilitate new ways of processing and expressing feelings.
Prior to her work as a counsellor, Sue worked for 25 years running creative businesses in both design and recruitment where she honed her ability to tailor innovative solutions to individual needs, and build trust-based relationships - skills she now brings to her therapeutic practice.
Sue is compassionate and an authentic counsellor, focussed on creating a supportive environment for her clients to promote personal growth and recovery. Sue is passionate about helping her clients reconnect with their sense of self and purpose.
Counsellor
$150 to $220
fee range, per 55-minute session
Please ask for the exact fee when you call.
No referral is needed, so you can start straight away. This fee does not attract a Medicare rebate. See the full fee table

Registered Psychotherapist
Neera is a registered counsellor, psychotherapist, accredited professional coach, facilitator and educator with over 25 years of experience in the wellbeing space. As an experienced personal and professional development practitioner, she has more recently integrated her knowledge and formal qualifications in mindfulness, wellbeing and executive coaching into her role as a professional counsellor. Neera holds a Masters of Counselling & Psychotherapy and a Graduate Diploma in Counselling from Australian College of Applied Professions and a Graduate Certificate in Organisational Coaching & Leadership from Charles Sturt University.
Neera’s experience includes working in private psychiatric hospital settings, corporate settings, and now private practice. Her approach is also informed by a long term meditation practice and Jungian Analysis experience. As such, her approach to her work as a counsellor is trauma sensitive and attachment based, employing mindfulness, dream work and somatic (body based) awareness, where appropriate. Drawing on these skills, Neera is able to assist clients through a range of concerns, including life transition and change, grief and loss, attachment disorders, identity and personality issues, relationship issues and substance abuse, as well as anxiety, depression, stress and work-related concerns.
Neera has a warm, intuitive style and integrative counselling approach, drawing on decades of working with people. Neera works with clients by helping people make sense of their story and by grounding their sense of self in core values and purpose.
Counsellor
$150 to $220
fee range, per 55-minute session
Please ask for the exact fee when you call.
No referral is needed, so you can start straight away. This fee does not attract a Medicare rebate. See the full fee table