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main areas of practice
stress and burnout
intrusive thoughts, worry and overthinking
stress and burnout
Our stress and burnout management sessions are designed to teach clients practical skills and strategies to manage stress more effectively.
We help clients identify the sources of their stress and develop coping mechanisms to reduce its impact on their daily lives.
sleep issues
intrusive thoughts, worry and overthinking
stress and burnout
Sleep issues such as insomnia and nightmares require targeted intervention. Using evidence-based approaches like CBT-I, we help clients establish healthy sleep habits, address intrusive thoughts at night, and improve overall sleep quality, leading to more energetic and balanced days.
intrusive thoughts, worry and overthinking
intrusive thoughts, worry and overthinking
loss of meaning, hopelessness and depression
These patterns of thinking are at the core of many mental health issues, including anxiety, OCD, eating disorders and depression.
We use evidence-based interventions to help you recognise and break these patterns to lead a more fulfilling life.
loss of meaning, hopelessness and depression
loss of meaning, hopelessness and depression
loss of meaning, hopelessness and depression
Feelings of hopelessness and loss of meaning are challenging but treatable. Our therapy provides a safe space to explore these feelings, reconnect with your core values, and develop a renewed sense of purpose, helping you move forward with optimism and resilience.
self-esteem and confidence
loss of meaning, hopelessness and depression
self-esteem and confidence
Our self-esteem and confidence sessions help clients develop greater confidence in themselves and their abilities. We help clients identify and change belief systems and behaviour patterns that may be keeping them stuck.
shame and guilt
loss of meaning, hopelessness and depression
self-esteem and confidence
Shame and guilt are often deeply connected to emotional distress and longstanding patterns of self-criticism. Our sessions focus on helping clients develop a more compassionate and balanced relationship with these feelings, so they no longer dictate their choices, relationships, or sense of self.
substance use
cultural identity
grief and loss
We use well established psychological treatments to help people reduce or cease the problematic use of alcohol, nicotine and cannabis.
We may be able to offer support for dependency on other substances, pending an assessment of your needs.
grief and loss
cultural identity
grief and loss
Our grief and loss sessions help clients process the emotional pain of losing a loved one or experiencing other significant losses. We provide clients with a supportive and compassionate space to express their feelings and work through the grieving process.
cultural identity
cultural identity
cultural identity
Our cultural identity sessions help clients explore their cultural identity and its impact on their mental health and well-being. We help clients understand the ways in which their cultural background shapes their beliefs and values, and work with them to develop strategies to manage cultural stressors and build resilience.
LGBTQIA+ issues
chronic pain and health issues
cultural identity
Our LGBTQ+ issues sessions are designed to provide a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ individuals to explore the unique challenges they face. We work with clients to address issues such as coming out, family and relationship dynamics, and discrimination, and provide them with the tools they need to build a fulfilling and authentic life.
body image and eating
chronic pain and health issues
chronic pain and health issues
We use evidence-based interventions to target the patterns of thinking, feeling and acting that maintain body image and disordered eating issues.
chronic pain and health issues
chronic pain and health issues
chronic pain and health issues
Chronic pain, medical / injury trauma and health issues affect all areas of our functioning. Our sessions focus on making room for the difficult emotions that come from the impact of these issues and increase resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy with a Psychologist
Please reach out to us at contact@personalgrowthpsychology.com.au if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Raissa works with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, insomnia, grief and loss, existential issues, transitional life stages, and relationship issues. This list is not exhaustive and Raissa considers each referral received.
No, you do not need a referral to see a psychologist. However, you may wish to see your GP for a mental health assessment, as having a valid referral and treatment plan from your GP will give you access to Medicare rebates. See more information about rebates in our Fees & Rebates page.
Raissa has completed extensive training in psychology. She completed all her training in Melbourne and holds a Master of Clinical Psychology degree. Prior to that, she successfully completed her B.A. Psychology degree with First Class Honours.
Raissa has been providing mental health services since 2017, initially as a mental health practitioner and counsellor, and later as a psychologist. She has training and experience using evidence-based therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and motivational interviewing. She also uses aspects of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) skills in her practice.
The therapeutic relationship is different to other relationships in our lives. While in most relationships there will be space for each person to talk about themself, in therapy the focus is on you. The role of the psychologist is to use their extensive training in human behaviour and the human mind to help you uncover how your belief system and your relationship with your emotions may be getting in the way of your mental wellbeing and general life satisfaction. The psychologist will also use examples of what is happening between the two of you to help uncover patterns of feeling, thinking and acting in your relationships with other people.
Raissa works with adults aged 18 and older. If you are 16+ and have worked with Raissa previously, she will also consider your referral.
This is the golden question for which, unfortunately, we do not have an answer. The reality is that the process of uncovering and changing destructive or unhelpful patterns is different for everyone. Some people may start to feel better after just a few sessions, while others may need longer than that.
During your first session, Raissa will give you information about your rights and responsibilities while you are engaged with us. Raissa will then ask you questions about what prompted you to seek therapy, what is going on in your current life and your life story to gain a better understanding of who you are and what may be helpful for you.
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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work and pay our respects to Indigenous Elders past and present. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
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