Psychoanalytic Counselling in Mittagong, NSW

Counselling Northern Beaches is staffed by Leisa Brown, who is a compassionate and dedicated counsellor committed to prioritising her clients' comfort and safety as they develop clarity and direction on their journey towards healing and personal growth. With a profound respect for each individual's dignity. She creates a supportive and non-judgemental environment where clients feel empowered to explore their innermost thoughts and emotions. Her approach is practical and grounded employing the Healing Inner Conflict (HIC) model, guiding clients to uncover and understand their triggers. She is supervised by David 'Bhakti' Gotlieb.

Making contact with your feelings and thoughts brings new energy to face ongoing challenges, because your thoughts and feelings determine the quality of your moment by moment experience. Talking about your situation, sharing your problems, your achievements and disappointments, your relationships, your fears and desires with an empathic listener, provides enormous relief from carrying these burdens on your own. In our weekly conversations you will learn to understand yourself at a deeper level, so that you can transform problems and worries into new life giving possibilities.

Existential therapy focuses on freedom, responsibility, and the meaning of life coupled with a mindfulness based approach to alleviate anxieties and fears while working towards integration and self-actualization. We all need a tailored therapy just for us, which is why sessions are never limited by one approach. I also take inspiration from the psychoanalytic tradition through Horney and Kernberg as well as my foundational practice in CBT and ACT.

It is said that the trauma we experienced in our past can inform the way we learn to experience our current world. Not having the supports we needed along the way may have also lead us to cope in unhealthy ways, all while searching for ease and peace. Unique to us all, unresolved pain and disconnection can feel too complex or overwhelming to face by ourselves. For many, a range of bio-psycho-social issues develop, including anxiety, depression, loss of motivation, interpersonal conflicts or a negative view of self or the world. So how do we begin to identify and learn healthier ways of coping and reconnecting with the self?

Psychoanalysis perceives every person as a unique individual, principally different from others, with own life perspective, personal desires, aspirations, and strengths, as well as weaknesses, fears and concerns. In psychoanalysis there is no ‘one solution’ that fits all. Because every human being is a unique person, his/her solutions in life would be essentially individual and discovered via a journey of self-exploration, reflection, and insight within the process of psychoanalytic treatment.

If you are haunted by traumatic past or challenged by present life circumstances, I invite you to take an active step towards clarity, self-understanding and change. Whether it is about making sense of childhood experiences or improving current relationships with self and others, psychoanalytic and existential approach with a close focus on childhood experiences provides a solid way forward. With more than ten years of experience in psychoanalytic practice, I offer individual therapy, training and supervision in the area of complex or single incident trauma.

My expertise and guidance come from a psychoanalytic perspective which primarily focuses on the role childhood trauma and social conditioning have on shaping the person you've become. I specialise in redesigning the subconscious mind. I help you and others understand the relationship you have with yourself and the world around you. As a result, I help you change your old and dated beliefs, get rid of unwanted addictions, and help you find meaning and purpose in your life. ​I help you find the missing piece of the puzzle. I help you find yourself!

I enjoy establishing an authentic relationship by means of an unconventional therapeutic process, particularly when working with young people. I provide a compassionate and insightful approach to therapy as I journey with my clients through a variety of challenges they may face. Our life experience, positive or negative, are building blocks for who we are today and can be effective tools in creating who we aspire to be tomorrow. I believe that with the right tools, empathic support, and personal determination, we can live life with confidence and become the best version of ourselves.

Ed is a kind and open-minded clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. Ed’s main interest is long-term therapy with adults who have complex trauma. Ed works with people who experience relationship issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, self-worth issues, eating and body image concerns, and existential issues. Ed’s approach is mainly influenced by psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, attachment research, interpersonal neurobiology, family systems, and mindfulness. Ed has a diverse background that includes working at the Birchtree Centre of Excellence, the Black Dog Institute, and the Mt Druitt Centre for Addiction Medicine.

Fayez is a passionate and skilled counsellor, with vast life experience and a substantial background working in private practice that makes him care, empathetic and engaging. He provides effective therapeutic support across a diverse range of issues to individuals, couples and families. Fayez also provides supervision to other counsellors. Fayez is registered with the Australian Counselling Association, the Professional Counselling Association of the ACT & NSW, Australian Association of Social Workers and Resolution Institute.

Hi, my name is Trisha Harris, I am a mum of 4, including 3 who are neurodivergent. I work with individuals, couples and teens, including NDIS. I understand the need for support, to be heard, to have undivided attention that is just for YOU. I can help you handle the 'right now' with a safe space for you to plan for your future and reach your goals. Supporting you, every step of the way.

I am a counsellor, clinical nutritionist, mental health first aid trainer and parent to three teenage boys. I support people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, work-life balance, trauma, substance abuse, parenting struggles and grief. ​​ As a qualified clinical nutritionist I also support people looking to lose weight or struggling with their relationship with food. I work to support you from the very first session, so that you leave feeling more aware, more empowered, and have the tools to help tackle the challenges you are facing.

I strive to ensure my clients feel heard, understood and respected, regardless of their situation, past or concern. Taking a positive psychology and humanistic approach, I fundamentally believe that every person has a unique strength and I strive to maximise and build upon that strength. I focus on the person as a whole and want to help people be the best version of themselves. Moving away from a deficit focus, I use strengths-based approaches with my clients. I aim to continuously provide clients with respect, a collaborative approach to working on goals, with compassion and authenticity.

I particularly enjoy working with people who are experiencing relationship difficulties. I see many individuals, couples and families, who are struggling with disconnection or conflict in their relationships. This disconnection can often lead to discontentment, feelings of isolation, loneliness and just a general feeling of being misunderstood. My aim is to help each person examine their hopes, needs and concerns, and help them find their own path to a healthier, more satisfying day-to-day existence.

Inner Strength Therapy offers counselling in Sydney for trauma and anxiety to individuals and couples who are finding life challenging and stressful due to adverse past trauma. We address and treat a wide range of mental health issues including mood and anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Counselling and Therapy are about healing and finding your way again towards a life of contentment and purpose. Sometimes this comes down to simply talking it out with an understanding and perceptive person trained in areas of counselling.

I am a Registered Psychologist with experience working with various presentations pertaining to neurodiversity (e.g. Autism and ADHD), anxiety, depression, familial challenges, sexuality and relationship challenges. I also have an interest in sports psychology and HR selection. I am passionate in supporting my clients to navigate barriers and empower them to live fulfilling lives. I like to think my approach is professional and insightful but warm and authentic at the same time.

I'm Hitika Bhatia, Principal Clinician at Blossoming Minds Therapy, providing Psychosynthesis psychodynamic psychotherapy which emphasizes the integration of different aspects of the self. This approach is beneficial if you are seeking to explore how your past experiences impact your current relationships. This can lead to improved communication, and stronger connections with self, and others. Exploring difficult emotions in a safe, and supportive environment can help people reduce stress. By exploring unconscious thoughts, and emotions, people may find new sources of inspiration, and increase creativity.