Psychologists & Counsellors in St Leonards

Paul is a Registered Psychologist and a SIRA-accredited practitioner. He holds both a Graduate and Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of New England and Charles Sturt University respectively, as well as a Diploma of Psychological Practice and a Masters of Business Administration from Macquarie University.

Prior to moving into the mental health industry, Paul worked within the corporate space for over two decades, managing teams in both the financial and communications sectors. From his time at various banking and media companies, Paul coordinated and collaborated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, helping shape his personalised approach to therapy today. Using such experiences with complex workplace dynamics, Paul has also tailored psychological interventions and assessments for workers compensation clients in their journey to recovery.

In private practice, Paul is passionate about supporting individuals through difficult life transitions and mental health challenges. Utilising a range of modalities, Paul primarily focuses on the Person-Centred approach in therapy, also drawing on elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed training. Within his sessions, Paul assists his clients in anxiety, depression, stress, perfectionism, workplace issues, relationships, as well as more complex presentations such as trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For those clients presenting with trauma-related concerns, Paul is also trained to provide EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).

Paul is an empathetic and personable psychologist, dedicated to making meaningful changes to the lives of his clients. Through helping individuals better understand themselves and how they operate within their environment, Paul enables his patients toward positive change and personal growth.

Megan is a Registered Counsellor and member of the Australian Counselling Association. She holds a Diploma of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Counsellors, as well as advanced accreditations in a number of areas including suicide preventation, relationship counselling, conflict resolution, abuse and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture competence.

Throughout her career, Megan has worked extensively with a diverse range of clients in both the private and community health space. Prior to commencing private practice, Megan worked in corporate roles for a number of years, which required the facilitation of training programs and client management, helping her holistic and person-centred approach to counselling today.

In private practice, Megan creates a safe and empathetic atmosphere to facilitate the use of introspection to gain news understandings. Megan uses evidence-based interventions to observe and tailor her therapy to the individuals’ needs, as well as aid those in crisis to develop personalised long-term solutions. Her preferred approaches include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), goal setting and Mindfulness. In her work with couples, Megan favours the Gottman approach

Megan is able to assist clients with a range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, relationships, intimacy, grief and loss, stress, body image, life skills, conflict resolution, as well as more complex mental health such as domestic violence and trauma. In her work with couples, Megan supports her clients to lessen conflict, increase intimacy and affection, remove barriers to feelings of stagnation and increase connection between partners.

Megan is a compassionate and altruistic practitioner focused on helping individuals and couples gain insight into their lives through a warm and empathetic approach. With a focus on building a trusting relationship and open environment in her sessions, Megan helps her clients to overcome life’s difficulties and live happier, more fulfilling lives.

Christine is a professional counsellor and psychotherapist. She holds a Bachelor in Social Science, a Graduate Certificate in Psychotherapy Studies and is a member of the Australian Somatic Psychotherapy Association and the Australian Hypnotherapist’s Association.

Christine has over 20 years experience as a clinical counsellor in the public sector (for the NSW Police and Women’s Health) and in private practice. She has experience working with a range of client presentations, including self-esteem, trauma, grief, sexual abuse, domestic violence, parenting, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, post natal depression, workplace stress, disorders of the self and addictive behaviour.

Whilst Christine’s underlying framework is psychodynamic and humanist, she takes a client-centred approach to her therapeutic interventions and utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches depending on the client’s specific issues and emotional capacity. Christine believes that each person’s requirements are unique and her therapy is guided by that belief. This is a collaborative approach, whereby Christine works together with the client to form a therapeutic alliance.

Both conscious and unconscious processes are explored as people are helped to manage their thoughts and emotions, and challenge patterns of behavior - enabling change, where desired, and better ways of being and living. When Christine works with couples, she uses a combined approach drawing on intra-psychic and systemic modalities, understanding the individuals and what happens between them as a system of relating.

Christine works with the client as a whole person, rather than as a set of ‘symptoms’ or ‘pathologies’ to be treated. People manifest their emotional difficulties in different forms in an effort to adapt. Christine focuses her therapy on what works and the resources people have within to draw from and help them to understand that they can make changes and improve their experience of life.

Andrea is a registered psychologist with over 20 years experience in the field. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology, and a Diploma in Sexual Health Counselling from ASSERT. She also completed a comprehensive one-year training course in Ellyn Bader’s Developmental Model of Couples Therapy.

Andrea has worked in private practice since 1999. She sees both individuals and couples and is able to provide both short-term and long-term therapy, as well as psycho-education, advice and support for people in emotional or relationship distress, sexual counselling services, and trauma-informed therapy.

Andrea uses a holistic approach which combines behavioural, interpersonal and mind-body therapies in her professional interactions with clients. She helps to locate the underlying emotional and physical responses to a particular problem, working at a deep level with both mind and body in order to effect long-lasting change. To this end, Andrea utilises her training in Inner Space Techniques - a form of meditative body-oriented therapy that helps to access these core emotional undercurrents within the body as well as change repetitive thought patterns.

She is also able to help her clients process and regulate their emotions, understand their negative patterns of behaviour, develop better communication strategies and increase their body awareness.

Andrea is experienced in working with a range of client presentations, including depression, anxiety, grief, stress, sexual difficulties, anger and complex trauma (including sexual trauma). Andrea is also an accredited sexual health counsellor.

As a relationship counsellor, she is able to support couples through all sorts of relationship issues, including infidelity, intimacy, arguments and communication problems.

Andrea is also highly experienced in dealing with the psychological repercussions associated with body-image, desire, sexual trauma and gynecological problems (including pregnancy issues, miscarriage, termination and menopause).

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.

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.

Atia is a psychotherapist and counsellor. She has over 15 years of experience providing support to individuals, couples and families. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Counselling) from the Australian College of Applied Psychology and is a clinical member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Prior to moving to private practice, Atia worked as a counsellor across multiple organisations, providing support to a diversity of individuals, including refugees and asylum seekers, carers of individuals living with complex mental illness and adult survivors of child abuse. Atia has expertise in providing effective treatment for issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, addictions, grief, sleep, low self-esteem and relationships. She also specialises in trauma, with extensive experience supporting survivors of psychological, sexual and physical abuse, assault and domestic violence. In her work with couples, Atia works with issues such as communication, separation and divorce, infertility and life transitions.

Atia is trained in a range of therapeutic approaches, including Existential Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, and Art Therapy. She employs an eclectic holistic approach to treatment, adapting her skills and knowledge to best suit the treatment needs of her clients.

In her work with clients, Atia aims to encourage insight and self-awareness, and improve her clients’ self-esteem, creativity, self-care, empathy, critical thinking, and the ability to adjust to challenging circumstances. With an emphasis on being a compassionate, non-judgmental and present therapist, she hopes to provide her clients with control over their journey to address their issues in a safe and empowering manner.

Dinah is a Registered Counsellor and member of the Australian Counselling Association. She holds both a Graduate Diploma in Psychological Sciences from the Australian College of Applied Professions and a Graduate Diploma of Counselling from the University of New England, as well as a Bachelor in Biomedical Science from the University of Technology Sydney.

Having worked in the medical and mental health space for a number of years, Dinah has supported individuals experiencing moderate to severe mental health concerns, providing acute care and support for those in crisis. Through her time in both private and non-government organisations, Dinah has used evidence-based therapies to empower patients on their mental health journey.

Within private practice, Dinah has a holistic, person-centred approach to her counselling, building personal strategies and developing positive thinking through empathy to strengthen her clients’ interpersonal skills. Using a range of therapeutic approaches, Dinah has a particular focus on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness Strategies. During her sessions, Dinah assists her clients in a range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, stress, grief and loss, self-esteem and phobias, as well as more complex mental health such as addiction and eating disorders. Dinah has a special interest in supporting clients with issues surrounding sexuality and gender identity.

Working with couples, Dinah has a broad range of experience with both traditional and non-traditional relationships, focusing on issues including arguments and communication, intimacy and sex, infidelity and stagnation.

Dinah is an empathetic and optimistic practitioner, taking a client-focused approach during her sessions. Working in partnership with her patients, Dinah aims to empower and bring about positive change as her clients move forward with their lives.

Chris is a qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), a Graduate Diploma of Counselling, and a Masters of Counselling and Applied Psychotherapy. Chris is also a registered member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Chris has experience working with individuals, couples, families and groups, across a broad spectrum of human issues. These include: relationship problems, depression, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, grief, addictions, and complex mental health problems. Chis is also experienced in working with corporate clients as an EAP counsellor and mediator.

Prior to completing his Masters in Counselling and Applied Psychotherapy, Chris’ professional background featured extensive HR management in corporate and non-for-profit organisations. This work regularly involved incidental counselling, coaching, mediation, assessment, and intervention strategies across a wide array of behavioural, relationship, performance, addiction, mental health and cultural issues.

Chris generally works across a range of evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy and others. Chris adapts his methodologies as required, to accommodate the unfolding process and the needs of his clients.

Chris is passionate about making a meaningful and empowering difference to the lives of people in need of quality support and a brighter future. Guided by this purpose and his strong belief in the curiosity, creativity and inherent strengths of his clients, Chris’ approach to counselling is couched within a broad framework of openness, empathy and good intention.