Services Provided
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT – Enhanced.
A specialist intensive treatment program for eating disorders and body image concerns such Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. Through careful collaboration with your GP, dietician and psychiatrist, mental health counselling can assist with cognitive restructuring and skill development to restore health and wellbeing once again.
Schema Focussed Therapy
A stream of treatment for shedding light on old patterns of behaviour that may have kept you feeling stuck or unable to move forward. Through assessing and exploring your deeply held core beliefs (schemas) a step-by- step approach is developed, and empathically attuned therapy then helps to untangle you from the schemas sometimes unhelpful influence.
Trauma-informed
Rebecca approaches all presentations from a trauma informed perspective. Your lived experience and the wisdom you have cultivated is not only respected, but is the centre of any CBT work you embark on. Your thinking has evolved as it has for a reason, and as such top down approaches are balanced with bottom up modalities that serve to sooth your physiological responses to life challenges.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is a mindfulness based treatment approach that explores how our emotions, thoughts, and beliefs can take us away from leading a satisfying life based on our individual values. Through the practice of mindfulness meditation we can learn to stay present in our here and now, and to accept our feelings, situations and ultimately ourselves, and learn strategies such as defusion to then approach our thoughts and feelings in a way that allows us to choose actions consistent with our values.
Teens, anxiety and school avoidance.
Stress and anxiety can creep into the nervous systems of teenagers for various reasons as they try to maintain engagement with their learning at school. Support is available to help overcome social anxiety, navigate flexible learning options, develop return-to-school plans and improve educational outcomes.
ADHD and Autism related concerns
Having a neurodiverse brain at school can feel like being a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Affirming and strength based models of intervention aim to draw on unique abilities to overcome challenges, which naturally leads to being able to enjoy increased confidence and feelings of self-worth.
Gender dysphoria or transgender related concerns
Expression and role of gender can be explored in a safe and affirming manner at Seagrass Psychology. Regular consultation with a treating GP will occur if clinically indicated.
Parenting challenges
Providing a firm but loving approach to parenting can sometimes be easier said than done. Support is available to nurture the most important family relationships, so that parents can share what feels heavy and reduce stress levels, allowing for better day to day functioning whilst sailing the high seas of family life.
Relationship difficulties
Learn the polyvagal theory informed tools of creating nourishing relationships, remaining authentically yourself, whilst practicing psychological flexibility to overcome relationship ruptures which in many ways are part of the human experience.
Depression
When a nervous system feels overwhelmed and has found its way to states of hypoarousal, it can feel it’s a long way back. With one tiny step at a time, as your guide, you may find new ways of managing low mood and disconnection. Also learning to feel safely embodied, find self compassion and be free to grow.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
A sensitised nervous system may be prone to frequent states of hyperarousal which can lead to excessive worrying and overthinking. Learn new and effective ways to self sooth and quieten down the background noise, so that the calm waters of wellbeing may return.
Panic attacks
When it feels like anxiety symptoms might sweep you away, like seagrass holding the ground firmly, learn ways to calm the nervous system, relax the body, and sort out the many aspects of your inner world.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Cognitive distress, unhelpful patterns of ritualistic behaviour and or debilitating procrastination can be hard to live with. There are effective treatments available to assist with understanding and getting past these symptoms, so that you are free to enjoy the things in life you care about.
Polyvagal Informed Therapy
Embedded in the foundations of therapy at Seagrass Psychology, polyvagal theory provides the underlay of deep transformative work.
Together, we use tools for self-regulation and co-regulation which are grounding, holistic and effective. As your guide, you can learn new ways to recognise embodied trauma, to honour how the nervous system has protected you, and to gently start to let go of what no longer serves you. Through embodiment, together we can find order from the disorder.
Clinical Supervision
Rebecca offers individual Clinical Supervision, either in person or via telehealth, to registered Psychologists, Provisional Psychologists (who require a period of supervision for full registration), and other mental health professionals.
Supervision will focus on case formulation, building specific skills in clinical practice and self-reflection.
Supervision is offered online or in person for an investment of $130 for
a one hour session.
Please contact Rebecca for further discussion about your supervision
needs.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Enhanced for Eating Disorders (CBT-E)
CBT-E treatment focusses on the unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are maintaining an eating disorder. Through a compassionate lens you are able to gently see how your thoughts and feelings drive behaviours such as binge eating, restriction, excessive exercise or avoidance behaviours.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is a mindfulness based psychotherapy that draws on positive psychology and fosters attending practices. Through awareness and focussing on the present moment, accepting thoughts and feelings without judgement, and choosing values based goals, you can create stability and meaning in life.
Schema Focussed Therapy
Therapy aims to recognise and change life patterns that no longer serve you. When basic childhood needs for safety, acceptance and love are not met adequately, unhealthy ways of interpreting and interacting with the world can develop. With insight and self-understanding, it becomes possible to choose the path ahead in your relationships, work and other pursuits.
Interpersonal Neurobiological Therapy (IPNB)
A framework developed by Dr Dan Seigal and Dr Allan Shore, IPBN uses clinical evidence that supports continuous brain growth through a lifetime, as its powerful underlay. This therapy opens up opportunity for healing trauma by stimulating the brain to fire and rewire new neural pathways, that then form the structures to support personal growth and restoration of wellbeing.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
At Seagrass Psychology, IFS is helpful for individuals to conceptualise their issues in way that is non-pathologizing and reduces shame. Developed by Dr Richard Schwartz, the IFS model of counselling uses the language that we all contain many different ‘parts’ which all attempt to help us in survival. At times these parts can seem to create further difficulties but therapy can help to integrate the parts towards a whole person sense of functioning and inter-connection. Through gaining new clarity, IFS seeks to empower and heal from all aspects of life, and is a therapeutic approach that can be woven into many treatments with Rebecca.
How Do I Know if Therapy is Right for Me?
If you feel overwhelmed with stress, anxiety, and sadness on a regular basis, professional counselling may be a good source of help. Therapy isn’t only for times of crisis or severe distress.
Life isn’t always difficult, but every life has challenging times. Everyday stresses from relationships, work, and/or school can pile up, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, flat or stuck.
Therapy isn’t only for people diagnosed with mental illnesses. Everyone can benefit from therapy. Seeking professional input can be especially helpful when our usual coping strategies (talking to friends, reading, or doing research online) don’t make us feel better.
Think of it as emotional self-care. Therapy can be a time and space where you feel supported and heard. Therapists are trained to listen carefully and teach you new ways to tackle problems (old and new), manage symptoms, and build healthy habits for dealing with life’s curveballs.
There is a voice in all of us that doesn’t use words, listen….
-Rumi