Psychological healthcare for adults in South Gippsland
Supporting people to learn new ways of coping with life’s challenges.
Based in Leongatha.
Are you facing any of these challenges?
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Anxiety and Stress
You spend most of your day worrying.
You avoid situations because of stress.
You find it hard to sleep because you can’t stop thinking.
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Depression
You have a persistent feeling of sadness.
You struggle with normal day to day activities.
You’ve lost interest in the things you once enjoyed.
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Grief and Loss
You are experiencing tremendous grief months, even years. after the loss of a loved one.
You don’t know who you are or what to do now your loved one isn’t with you.
You feel lonely and detached from others.
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Life Changes
You are going through a divorce or break-up.
You’re finding it hard adjusting to your new role as a parent.
You are struggling to settle in after a move or job change.
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Family and Relationships
You and your partner don’t talk, and when you do it’s an argument.
You’re surrounded by your family, but you feel isolated.
You have unresolved issues from your childhood relationships.
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Work and Career
You’re finding it harder to deal with the stress of work.
You feel overwhelmed, burnt out.
You wonder if this is even the career for you.
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Problem Gambling
You gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve a desired level of excitement.
You use gambling to escape other challenges in your life.
You lie to conceal how much you are gambling.
Are your usual ways of coping no longer working?
How are you trying to cope with the challenges you are facing?
Perhaps you try to ignore them. Or you think nothing can be done and you have to accept the situation. Perhaps you try to reduce their importance. Or you distract yourself with other activities. Or you think you have to work things out yourself.
But none of this is working.
There’s a good chance that how you’re trying cope with the challenges you’re facing right now - ignoring them, trying to deal with them alone, minimising them, minimising yourself - is something you’ve done for a long time. Your early development played a crucial role in determining how you cope with difficult situations, shaping the way you respond to stress. These responses were the best your younger self could come up with to feel safer and in control. But they are no longer working. In fact, they have become part of the problem.
Learning new ways of coping will be the focus of our work together.
About the Therapy
The therapy will be personalised to your needs and preferences. This is so we can develop a strong therapeutic relationship and find the approach that you will best engage with. This makes an important contribution to the effectiveness of therapy, enabling you to gain insight and take action.
To achieve the desired changes, the therapy can draw on different approaches including:
Psycho-education, which involves learning about and understanding mental health and wellbeing.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, which examines the impact of childhood attachments and experiences on current behaviors and relationships.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy, which identifies problematic thinking patterns and creates alternatives.
Solution-focused therapy which, as the name suggests, focuses on the solutions to issues impacting on your life, rather than their causes.
We will work towards three key goals to address the challenges you are facing:
1) Establish a strong therapeutic relationship. This is crucial for building trust, promoting open communication, and fostering a sense of safety and security. I strive to create a warm and welcoming environment where clients feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. By forming a strong connection, I am better able to understand each individual’s unique needs and we can tailor the approach to your specific situation.
2) Gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Through deep listening, reflection, and exploration, I help my clients gain insight into their patterns and beliefs, uncovering the roots of their challenges. This insight can be incredibly empowering, as it will enable you to identify the underlying factors that drive your behaviors and emotions.
3) Take action. Insight is only valuable if it leads to action. We will work together to develop tangible goals and actionable steps that move you towards the change you seek. These actions can include practicing new coping skills, changing problematic thought patterns, or engaging in behaviours towards a specific goal.
About Me
I am a registered Psychologist (since 2007) and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society. I have provided psychological healthcare across a wide range of mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, difficulties in relationships and at work, as well as problems with anger and stress management. In addition to working in general practice, I have worked in dedicated programs for people experiencing gambling problems, and as an Employee Assistance Program provider.
Taking the next step
It is completely normal to feel hesitant or nervous about engaging in psychotherapy. Seeking help for mental health issues can be a daunting experience, and it is important to acknowledge that it takes a great deal of strength to take that step. It is common for people to feel uncertain about what to expect during therapy sessions and to worry about the potential outcomes. However, it is important to remember that psychological counselling is a safe space where individuals can explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors without fear of judgment or criticism. Psychotherapy can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth, and it can help individuals learn new coping mechanisms and improve their overall wellbeing.