Individual therapy. Supervision.
Support when life feels like a lot.
Or enhancing an already good life.
We believe that effective therapy is tailored to individual needs, is evidence-driven, and translates into real-life changes.
We all experiences stress, at times.
We all grapple with sadness, at times.
We all
feel
overwhelmed, at times.
And we all hope for a better future at times.
These experiences are an integral part of being human. Yet, navigating these trials needn't be a solitary journey. We understand and are committed to aiding you in your personal growth and discovery.
About Our Practice
Therapy for Individuals
We can help with all kinds of life challenges, opportunities, and mental health problems.
Psychologist Supervision
We provide supervision services in Wollongong and Australia wide.
Chris Allan
Chris is a clinical psychologist with 40 years of experience. He provides long-term therapy primarily utilising schema therapy or psychodynamic psychotherapy. He also provides clinical supervision across a range of professions.
PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY: Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a talk therapy approach that delves into the unconscious mind and its influence on an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. It draws upon theories of human development, particularly emphasizing the impact of early experiences on personality and emotional patterns. Two guiding frameworks in psychodynamic psychotherapy are relational psychoanalysis and object relations theory.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy aims to help clients gain insight into unconscious patterns, resolve past conflicts, and develop adaptive coping strategies. The therapeutic process may involve exploring childhood memories, analyzing dreams and fantasies, and addressing transference and countertransference dynamics. Through this comprehensive approach, psychodynamic psychotherapy enables individuals to develop a greater understanding of themselves and their relationships, leading to improved emotional well-being and a more fulfilling life.
SCHEMA THERAPY: Schema therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed to address negative patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that originated in childhood and continue to impact individuals' lives. These patterns, known as schemas, can lead to various issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, and self-defeating behaviours. Schema therapy helps patients understand and change these schemas through a collaborative therapeutic relationship. It combines cognitive, behavioural, and experiential techniques to challenge and modify negative schemas and develop new coping skills.
Schema therapy offers a comprehensive approach to address deep-rooted patterns of negative thinking, feeling, and behaving. It is particularly beneficial for individuals with a history of trauma or attachment issues. By integrating principles from object relations theory and focusing on modes, schema therapy facilitates healing, adaptive change, and improved well-being. The length and frequency of therapy vary depending on individual needs, with some clients experiencing significant improvement in a few sessions while others requiring longer-term therapy for more profound issues. Ultimately, schema therapy empowers individuals to break free from negative schemas, leading to healthier relationships and a greater sense of fulfillment in life.
SUPERVISION: With over 25 years of experience, Chris is a seasoned supervisor across various professions, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and psychotherapists. Chris specializes in depth-focused supervision, emphasizing reflective practice, countertransference processing, and the integration of values, personality, and theoretical stance. As an internationally accredited schema therapy supervisor, Chris is well-versed in multiple theoretical models, such as object relations, relational, attachment, schema, cognitive behavioural therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. He also provides mandated supervision.
Chris's professional supervision services offer a wealth of experience and expertise to professionals in various fields. With a focus on depth-focused supervision, reflective practice, and the integration of values and theoretical stance, Chris creates a supportive and enriching environment for supervisees. The Supervision Session Pyramid (SSP) and the emphasis on relationship, reflection, and reorganization ensure a comprehensive and effective supervisory experience.
Dr Sue Martin
Sue is a registered psychologist and holds a PhD in coaching. She is a registered provider for Medicare, Workcover, and Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. This means that clients seeking psychological support through these avenues can access her services.
Her expertise extends to various areas of mental health and well-being, making her a valuable resource for individuals seeking mental health support and coaching guidance. Throughout her career, Sue has gained extensive experience in many areas, including positive psychology, sleep problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma, health psychology, panic attacks, phobias, perfectionism, anxiety, stress, burnout, communication, depression, individual relationship issues, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), pain management, work and study issues, and mindfulness/focus of attention training, among others. This wide range of expertise allows her to address diverse concerns and provide tailored assistance to individuals seeking help in any of these areas.
Sue is a pioneer in the field of personality research. Her doctoral research focused on assisting individuals to explore their current self and reflect on aspects of themselves they may wish to strengthen. She developed a model of intentional change, designed to help clients set meaningful goals and embark on a journey of personal growth and meaning. The outcomes of this research were very positive, with the vast majority of participants achieving their goals and maintaining this in a follow up study four years later. Sue offers these learnings to both coaching and psychology clients today.
In addition to her clinical work, Sue has a keen interest in the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of psychology, and more broadly. She is developer and presenter in the Australian Psychological Society (APS) workshop entitled “ChatGPT for mental health workers”.
Recognizing the potential benefits and risks associated with this emerging technology, Sue can facilitate exploration of this area with clients who share her curiosity and interest in this area. She can guide exploration of risks and benefits that GPT can bring to these fields, encouraging clients to consider the ethical, practical, and social aspects of utilizing this tool in their well-being journey. She has been active in developing client education and informed consent in this area.
She is also mindful that clients may not wish to explore this area, hence the majority of Sue’s client work continues to be traditional therapy.
Sue is also mindful that some clients may have anxieties around future implications of this fast-moving technology. Sue can provide support around coping with change in this and other areas.
Sue has a passion for her profession and is dedicated to staying informed about advancements in the field, in order to provide a high standard of care to her clients.
Whether it's overcoming personal challenges, improving relationships, managing stress, or working towards meaningful goals, Sue's skill set and compassion blend to support clients in their personal well-being journey.