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I’ve Tried Therapy Before but Still Feel Stuck - What Next?

Schema Therapy + EMDR

Healing patterns at their roots, not just managing symptoms

Many people come to therapy feeling frustrated because they’ve understood their problems - yet still find themselves reacting in the same ways emotionally. If this resonates, Schema Therapy combined with EMDR may offer a different path forward.

The Reframe

Diagnoses help describe what you’re experiencing. Schema Therapy helps explain why these patterns formed - and why they keep repeating.

Your patterns are not flaws or failures. They are adaptations your nervous system developed when important emotional needs were not consistently met (Young, Klosko, & Weishaar, 2003).

From a Schema Therapy perspective, many long-standing difficulties are not about having “one disorder,” but about enduring patterns shaped by early experience.

How Patterns Form

Schema Therapy understands emotional difficulties as developing over time through a predictable pathway:

Unmet Core Needs → Schemas → Modes

Unmet Core Emotional Needs

Such as:

• Safety and protection

• Emotional connection and being understood

• Acceptance and belonging

Schemas (Deep Emotional Beliefs)

Schemas are deeply held emotional beliefs about yourself, others, and the world. They are not conscious thoughts - they are felt truths that shape how you interpret situations and relationships.

Examples include:

• “I’m unlovable.”

• “I don’t matter.”

• “People will leave or reject me.”

Because schemas are stored in emotional memory, they don’t feel like opinions - they feel like facts.

Modes (Emotional States or “Parts”)

Modes are different emotional states or “parts” of you that get activated when a schema is triggered. They tend to follow a predictable sequence:

• Vulnerable Child - feels hurt, scared, ashamed, lonely, or rejected

• Protector Modes - attempt to prevent further pain by overcompensating, withdrawing, attacking, pleasing, or staying in control

• Inner Critic - steps in with harsh, shaming, or punitive messages

Everyday example: A schema of “I’m unlovable” is triggered when a friend doesn’t reply to a message. The Vulnerable Child feels rejected and panicked. A Protector mode overcompensates by sending an angry or demanding text to regain control. The friend pulls back or avoids the interaction. The Inner Critic then attacks: “See? You always ruin things. You’re too much.”

What this teaches the nervous system: The original schema feels confirmed - “I really am unlovable” - even though the reaction was driven by protection, not truth.

This is how patterns become self-reinforcing, and why insight alone often isn’t enough to break them.

Why This Keeps the Pattern Going

Because the Vulnerable Child’s need for reassurance, safety, or connection is never directly met, the original schema (for example, “I’m unlovable” or “I’ll be rejected”) remains unhealed.

The Protector steps in by overcompensating or lashing out in an attempt to regain control. This often pushes others away - not because the schema is true, but because the behaviour is driven by fear rather than connection.

When the other person withdraws, the Inner Critic attacks with shame and self-blame - and the nervous system takes this as “proof” that the schema was right all along.

Because the system never experiences calm connection in the present, it never learns that the past is over - and the same pattern repeats.

Why “Think Positive” or Logic Alone Often Doesn’t Work

Schemas are stored in emotional memory, not just thoughts. When they’re activated, the nervous system responds as if the past is happening again.

This is why:

• Insight doesn’t always lead to change

• Reassurance doesn’t settle the reaction

• You may know something logically, yet still feel overwhelmed

As trauma research shows, the body responds before the thinking brain can intervene (van der Kolk, 2014).

How Schema Therapy + EMDR Helps

Schema Therapy

• Maps your patterns with compassion rather than judgement

• Identifies schemas, modes, and coping strategies

• Strengthens the Healthy Adult part of you — the part that can notice, reflect, and respond rather than react

EMDR

• Targets the memories and emotional learning that shaped these patterns

• Helps the nervous system update old beliefs and threat responses

• Reduces the emotional charge that keeps patterns repeating

Together, this approach works at both the psychological and nervous system level (Shapiro, 2018).

What Therapy Typically Looks Like

• Stability & Safety first: building awareness and stabilisation without pressure

• Understanding the roots: mapping schemas and modes together

• EMDR reprocessing: updating old emotional learning at a tolerable pace

• Strengthening the Healthy Adult: developing new emotional and behavioural choices

You remain in control throughout the process. Therapy is paced, collaborative, and responsive to you.

The Bottom Line

You are not broken. You adapted to what you were given.

Schema Therapy and EMDR help your nervous system learn that the present is safer than the past - so you can respond to life with more choice, calm, and self-compassion.

References

Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioner’s guide. Guilford Press.

van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books.

Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.

If you’ve tried therapy before and still feel stuck, this approach may help explain why — and offer a way forward.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is different from traditional talk therapy approaches like CBT and ACT. In EMDR, you don't have to reveal every detail of your painful experience like you would in talk therapy and the bulk of EMDR therapy work is done in session. This makes EMDR particularly useful for people who have difficulty talking about their trauma.

EMDR therapy was founded by Francine Shapiro in the late 80s and has since emerged as a key intervention in treating trauma, which is now recognised by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) as a Level 1, top tier, evidence-based psychological intervention for PTSD in Adults, and Level 2 for children. Extensive international research also reveals that EMDR therapy’s effectiveness extends- far beyond addressing trauma, as it has been found that it can heal developmental wounds that underlie a wide-range of psychological and behavioural issues. For example, EMDR has been shown to be effective for addressing issues like anxiety, phobias, panic, social anxiety, OCD, depression, chronic pain, grief & loss, addictions, and even performance enhancement. EMDR Therapy is also beneficial in addressing non-diagnostic issues, such as attachment-based/childhood wounds, shame and perfectionism.

The main idea underpinning EMDR, is that when we experience an intense negative event that is too overwhelming for our minds to make sense of, this information is thought to form a ‘stuck’, unprocessed, or Dysfunctional Memory Network - and so EMDR is thought to help by processing memories in a way that discards unhelpful or harmful information about an event (e.g. negative and inaccurate beliefs about yourself), while keeping more balanced and adaptive information that has arisen during the process.

EMDR helps your mind and body to process your past trauma and get over ‘stuck’ memories, so they no longer show up as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and depression. EMDR taps into the brain’s natural ability to heal and helps it file away memory appropriately so that when a previously overwhelming memory is recalled, there is no longer any distress associated with the memory.In addition to decreasing the distress associated with trauma and other mental health issues, EMDR can also help a person to gain confidence in their ability to perform a task or reach a goal. EMDR works to achieve this by installing positive beliefs, and by having the person imagine doing the thing they are nervous to do/or want to improve in, while undergoing bilateral stimulation (I'll explain this more soon). This has the effect of simultaneously decreasing the fear, anxiety, or stress associated with the task, and boosting confidence. It seems that EMDR helps the brain to think in a healthier, more adaptive way by removing blocks (such as negative self-limiting beliefs) and helps the person to tap into his or her strengths and potential.

What is Bilateral stimulation (BLS)

BLS is a unique aspect of EMDR Therapy. This is believed to relate to how the brain processes memories while we are asleep. One of the most important stages of sleep is called ‘rapid eye movement’ (or REM). REM sleep is where we process and consolidate learning and memories from the previous day. As an example of what REM does- have you ever woken up after a good sleep and realised that your dream actually gave you the answer/or shed light on a problem you've been dealing with? Yep- that's the power of REM- solving your latest dramas while you sleep.

 A key component of REM sleep is bi-lateral eye movements (when our eyes flicker rapidly from left-to-right). EMDR Therapy utilises this process by mimicking the eye-movements of REM sleep to stimulate the brain’s natural way of healing and processing memories. EMDR does this by using sounds, lights, movement, and vibrations to stimulate both sides of the brain, using a technique called bilateral stimulation (BLS).

EMDR Therapy identifies a stuck memory and brings the information into the persons' present awareness, while pairing it with the bilateral eye movements observed in REM sleep. This in turn allows the brain to process the memory, resulting in the resolution of distress- associated with the memory, and a sense of freedom from related emotional, psychological and behavioural issues holding people back.

Does EMDR Therapy Work Online?

There is strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of EMDR Therapy delivered online, with research reporting that online EMDR therapy can be just as effective as in person sessions. Prior to commencing online EMDR therapy, your psychologist will work with you to make sure that you are emotionally ready to engage in trauma processing work, and that you have some self-care and emotional regulation tools to manage any distress that may arise.

Recommendations include:

1.            Ensuring a reliable and stable internet connection, the use of a hands-free device with a suitable/large screen to facilitate the required left-to-right eye movements for BLS.

2.            It’s also key to have a quiet, private uninterrupted space for memory processing sessions, free from potential disruptions such as people, pets, or device notifications. 

3.            Also ensure that a phone next to you during the session so that your psychologist can easily contact you if there are technological issues.

4.            Having tissues, water, and other comfort items close by can also help

RESILIENT ROOTS: EMDR Group for Parenting Stress in Second - Generation Refugees & Immigrants - Part 1 of 2 .

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DATES:

TBC

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LOCATION: TBC

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REGISTER YOUR INTEREST - via our Enquiry Form below

(booklet available upon request).

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Part 1. Resilient Roots: "Foundations" course - lays the groundwork for common experiences and an understanding of the hidden stress of growing up as second-generation refugee or immigrant and how this may impact on your parenting and everyday life. It also provides a foundation into EMDR Group Therapy.

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Part 2: "Going Deeper" course - continues the memory processing work, clears away "stuck" emotions and builds upon the skills learned in Part 1.

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BENEFITS:

- Find healing in the context of a supportive and safe group community with likeminded people.

- Improve/eliminate symptoms of stress, anxiety, PTSD, and mental unwellness, and embrace the parent you long to be.

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* Subsidised by Medicare

* $100 Out of Pocket Cost per 2-hr group session - with a MHCP from your GP ($166 without a MHCP). 

* Group size: 4 - 8

* Facilitated by Malika Ferry and Jane Bensen.

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A standard session with Malika is 50 minutes in duration, with a fee of $250 per appointment.

Malika’s fees are set below the current APS recommended rate for Clinical Psychologists ($318 / 50min), reflecting her commitment to accessible, high-quality care while maintaining a sustainable practice.

Initial Appointments

• 60-minute initial consultation (in-office): $260

• 90-minute initial psychology/coaching consultation: $340

After-Hours- Appointments scheduled from 5:00pm onwards are considered after-hours and attract a $20 surcharge.

Medicare Rebates

• ​With a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) GP referral letter, Medicare provides a rebate of $145.25 per session when you see a Clinical Psychologist.

• Medicare rebates are processed after full payment of the session fee.

Payment Terms and Methods

***Direct Bank TransferPayment is required prior to your appointment to avoid delays. Payment may be made at the beginning of your session or at any time beforehand.

***Halaxy (Credit/Debit Card)Secure online card payment via Halaxy is available as a backup option if you are unable to complete a bank transfer.

All sessions must be paid via direct bank transfer before commencement. This process supports consistency and streamlines administrative management.

There is strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of EMDR Therapy delivered online, with research reporting that online EMDR therapy can be just as effective as in person sessions. Prior to commencing online EMDR therapy, your psychologist will work with you to make sure that you are emotionally ready to engage in trauma processing work, and that you have some self-care and emotional regulation tools to manage any distress that may arise.

Recommendations include:

1.       Ensuring a reliable and stable internet connection, the use of a hands-free device with a suitable/large screen to facilitate the required left-to-right eye movements for BLS.

2.       It’s also key to have a quiet, private uninterrupted space for memory processing sessions, free from potential disruptions such as people, pets, or device notifications.  

3.       Also ensure that a phone next to you during the session so that your psychologist can easily contact you if there are technological issues.

4.       Having tissues, water, and other comfort items close by can also help.

CBT teaches us to change and reframe negative thought patterns, while ACT teaches us to accept negative feelings or situations as part of the human experience. Both are considered ‘talk therapies'. CBT helps us to identify unhelpful or unbalanced thinking patterns we have, and then challenge them with more helpful and balanced ways of thinking. CBT also involved changing our patterns of behaviour, such as gradually facing our fears or things we’ve been avoiding, or role playing ‘what if’/worst case scenarios with your therapist and seeing how likely they are to happen and figure out ways you can cope. The goal of CBT is to improve your quality of life through shifting your thoughts and behaviour patterns.

ACT helps us focus on our motivations and values once we have learned to accept the challenges in our life, while CBT helps us identify things that we need to change ACT acknowledges that sometimes using logic doesn’t work and aims to help people to accept what kinds of things are not in their control and once that is achieved, ACT helps us to commit to actions that will us move in a positive and meaningful direction. ACT teaches us that suffering is a normal part of life and utilises mindfulness approaches to help us accept reality has it is. ACT helps us to make room for undesired feelings, emotions and sensations, and practice moving forward with our life at the same time.

CBT and ACT often involves practicing skills outside of session and includes worksheets for you to do on your own to become more self-aware. ACT can be considered is an action-oriented approach that helps people build their psychological flexibility to promote a better quality of life, while CBT can be considered a goal-oriented therapy that is mainly interested in tackling specific problems, and less interested in the delving into causes.

Somatic Experiencing can be thought of as a body-mind approach to healing from trauma, as it does not focus on thoughts or emotions associated with a traumatic event. Within SE, trauma is defined as the constant dysregulation of the nervous system and bodily experiences. It was created by Dr. Peter Levin, PhD, and is based on the notion that trauma gets trapped in the body and thus SE works with the body to access and change feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. Somatic experiencing helps us increase our awareness of our internal experience and release trauma, finding ways to relax and calm the body and mind.

Empirical research has shown that SE can be an effective therapy for treating trauma and many trauma therapists utilise SE as an adjunct to other level 1 evidence-based psychological intervention for PTSD, such as EMDR and CBT.

Positive Psychology Coaching is a proactive and solution focused approach to dealing with personal and professional growth. This coaching package integrates foundational principles of positive psychology to promote an increase in your wellbeing. Positive psychology sits in a the space that focuses on helping people to thrive and building strengths, rather than just relieving mental illness symptoms and weaknesses. A growing body of research has shown that the absence of mental illness does not imply the presence of mental and visa versa (i.e., just because a person is no longer depressed, it does not mean that they have the tools to reach for their dreams). Creating weakness does not create optimal performance. According to Martin Seligman, positive psychology aims to move people not from -5 to 0 but from 0 to +5 , and to do this, a different focus is needed, a focus on what is right with people and boosting their strengths. The questions that positive psychology aims to answer include: What are the characteristics of people with high levels of happiness? What are the qualities of people who manage their troubles effectively?

This coaching intervention is a 6-session structured program for increasing wellbeing that is based on positive psychology. The core ingredients of this protocol are awareness, behavioural change and coping.  The upcoming sessions all share one purpose: to help you move closer to your personal goals and increase your well-being. To do so, we adopt a positive focus. Rather than merely focusing on what is wrong and what prevents you from reaching your goals, we will also consider your personal strengths. In this intervention, we will focus on what is most important in your life and consider all the personal qualities you already possess that will allow you to reach your personal goals and deal with challenges that may arise on your journey.

The topics that we cover:

• VALUES AND GOAL SETTING

• STRENGTHS

• BEHAVIORAL CHANGE

• OBSTACLES AND COPING

• POSITIVE EMOTIONS

• EVALUATION AND THE FUTURE

Cost: $900. Payment plan available.

***Satisfaction guaranteed- If after the first the first session you don't want to continue - let me know and your money will be returned, no questions asked.

**This coaching package to delivered just to you and is provided via telehealth– Contact me for more information.

Resilience: Navigating Life’s Challenges and Thriving

Life is a journey filled with highs and lows. While we relish the good moments, we inevitably face setbacks, adversity, and challenges. How often do you feel defeated by obstacles, overwhelmed by work pressures, or haunted by past failures? These moments test our emotional strength and ability to bounce back. Building your resilience is the key to navigating these challenges and emerging stronger. It is the asset that helps us transform adversities into learning opportunities, adaptability, and growth, ultimately leading us toward meaning and flourishing. My Program, Resilience XL, will teach you how to do exactly that. You’ll learn to apply evidence-based resilience strategies when dealing with challenges, adopt the mindsets and practices of a resilient person, and ultimately bounce back from hardship more successfully, bringing you closer to your ideal life.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Every session, we’ll dive deep into a specific facet of resilience, giving you plenty of time to digest the information and implement your new techniques and mindsets into practice more successfully.

• You’ll learn about resilience using an intuitive evidence-based framework for applying positive psychology concepts, giving you the structure and clarity that most training programs lack.

• The program and its contents are fully integrated with research and evidence; everything is based on science.

• I’ll assign you homework and reflections between each session so you can consolidate your learnings and continue staying resilient both now and in the future.

• You’ll receive a detailed handbook with worksheets and homework clearly explained so that you can study at your own pace.

• A community of fellow participants will help keep you accountable.

• Over the duration of the course, I can provide weekly 1-1 consultation for you ask me anything to overcome any doubts related to building your resilience.

Program outline:

Session 1: Introduction, The Sailboat Metaphor

Session 2: Mastering Attention

Session 3: The Power of Thoughts

Session 4: Motivation To Push Forward

Session 5: Effective Coping

Session 6: The Resilience Plan

Countless peer-reviewed research studies have validated the benefits of resilience, and we have made sure that everything in this program is underpinned by rigorous science and references.

[Optional: And since the training is online, you can always repeat or catch up on content with the session recordings.] I’m really passionate about helping others enhance their resilience, so if you have any questions, just reach out.

Cost: $80 per session.

This training is offered online. Minimum of 4 (maximum of 8) people need to register for this workshop to run.

***Satisfaction guaranteed- If after the first the first class you don't want to continue - let me know and your money will be returned, no questions asked.

**Contact me to register your interest.

The mind is a living miracle. It allows us to function, make plans, and solve challenges. But at the same time, it also triggers many of our problems. How often do we get lost in endless worrying, engage in non-stop mental chatter about all the things we need to do, or stew in difficult emotions like fear and sadness? Practicing mindfulness can be a powerful antidote to these problems and can even help you thrive. Mindfulness can be defined as the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment – without judgment, and the goal of mindfulness interventions is to teach participants to become aware of body sensations, thoughts, and emotions and to relate to them with an open, non-judgmental attitude. With my program, Mindfulness XL, I’ll help you integrate mindfulness into your life so that you can feel happier while reducing stress, anxiety, and difficult emotions.

Mindfulness XL is an 8-session program where I will walk you through a lot of the science and important theory behind mindfulness so that you have a comprehensive understanding of the subject, while also giving you plenty of practical tools to help you implement it into your everyday life. Over the course of [8 weeks], we’ll dive into one element of mindfulness at a time, giving you enough space to process and practice it in your everyday life. With my guidance and support, you’ll overcome common challenges of building a mindfulness practice, like attention redirection or losing patience. We have small groups, which means plenty of personal attention, as well as a community to keep each other accountable. You’ll get a digital workbook containing all the theory and practical exercises to complete between sessions at your own pace.

Over the duration of the course, I can also provide 1-1 consultation for you ask me anything to overcome any doubts related to building your mindfulness practice.

[Optional: And since the training is online, you can always repeat or catch up on content with the session recordings.] I’m really passionate about helping others experience the profound benefits that mindfulness has to offer, so if you have any questions, just reach out.

Cost: $80 per session.

This training is offered online. Minimum of 4 (maximum of 8) people need to register for this workshop to run.

***Satisfaction guaranteed- If after the first the first class you don't want to continue - let me know and your money will be returned, no questions asked.

*Contact me to register your interest.

Black Box Parenting: Navigating Trauma in Parenting Groups

For some parents who have experienced trauma, sitting in a parenting group can be quite challenging, as the content presented can often be without context. The Black Box Parenting program is written for parents who find their experiences of abuse, neglect and violence get in the way of them engaging in mainstream parenting groups and implementing the strategies they teach.

Black Box parenting is not intended as a substitute for other social learning theory-based groups (e.g. Triple P Parenting), but rather as a precursor to the more common parenting groups. Black Box does not aim to ameliorate child symptoms in only 10 weeks, but rather it aims to increase a parent's understanding of how their own and their child's past may be affecting how they are interacting in the present, and what they can do about it.

The Black Box program is intended for parents who are no longer in crisis and are safe enough to allow time for reflection and for trying new strategies.

About the Course

Explore how experiences of trauma and/childhood abuse influence your parenting and how you interact with your children. Facilitators will provide a non-judgmental/non-blaming environment to help you improve your social and emotional wellbeing to support your parenting journey.

The course is designed to run over 10 weeks, as five fortnightly, 2-hour Group Sessions and on the off/in-between weeks, parents/Carers are offered a 30min Individual Check In via Telehealth/in person session.

Commitment to the group: We ask participants to attend all the Group Sessions and to be available for the Check In on the off/in-between week. If a person misses a Group Session and

then is unable to make the Catch-Up session, we ask that the person starts the group again next

term.

What will I learn?

Understand your Black Box – the filter that affects the way you communicate and parent.

Session Topics:

·         The effects of trauma on the brain

·         How attachment disruption affects behaviour and the parenting bond

·         Understanding child and parent reactions in the context of past experience and sociocultural influences

·         Discussion on the differences between regret, guilt and shame and their effect on parenting

·         Using “Special Play” to repair the attachment bond

·         Affect regulation for child and parent and how this affects what behaviour management techniques to use when

Cost: $500 (check with your GP to see if you are eligible for a Medicare Rebate)

This training is offered in person and requires a minimum of 4 participants (maximum 8).

Contact me to register your interest.

We specialise in providing top quality, accessible, and affordable online therapy and services:

Extensive research has found online therapy can be just as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy. Telehealth removes the need to travel to an appointment, which providing more flexibility, convenience, saving on time and travel cost, and takes away the issue of having travel after a heavy session.

Telehealth also improves access to psychological support by removing geographical barriers, where you can choose to work with any therapist regardless of their location.

Although Telehealth may not suit everyone, most people report they find it more convenient than travelling to / from a doctor’s office for appointments. Your psychologist will ask you some intake questions to help determine if telehealth is good option for you.

Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching uses Microsoft (MS) Teams which is compliant with the Australian standards for online security and encryption. MS Teams provides flexibility for clients, who can use Teams on Windows or Mac computers, as well as tablets and phones running Android or Apple operating systems, with no cost to you. On most platforms clients can choose between a downloaded application or a Web-based version.

Prior to commencing online therapy, your psychologist will work with you to ensure that telehealth therapy is a suitable option for you.

Basic requirements for Telehealth:

-A reliable and stable internet connection.

-A laptop, desktop computer, iPad/tablet or smart phone.

-Headphones and an in-built camera or webcam on your device.

-If you are going to be using your smartphone or tablet for teletherapy, you will need to download the Microsoft Teams app. Just search ‘Microsoft Teams’ in the app store.

a.      If you are going to use your desktop computer, then you need to have the latest version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

b.     If you don’t want to use these browsers, then you can download the Microsoft Teams desktop app. You don’t have to setup an account to use Microsoft Teams for telehealth, but you can if you like.

c.      Your psychologist will send you a Microsoft Teams meeting request by email. In the email there will be a link to join the meeting. 

d.     If you have setup a Microsoft Teams account, then you will be taken to the meeting in the app or your browser. You may have to sign in.

e.      If you haven’t setup an account, click ‘Join as a guest’ and type in your name.

-A private, safe and uninterrupted space where you feel able to speak freely with minimal distractions.

-A phone next to you during the session so that your therapist can easily contact you if there are technological issues.

-Tissues, water, other comfort items nearby during your session.

-Make sure that your psychologist has the details of your key support person in case of emergency contact.

When work has become unsafe, unfair, or traumatic, it can leave you with big reactions: anxiety, anger, numbness, self‑doubt, or a constant replaying of events. I help people on workers compensation in NSW make sense of what has happened, so they feel less overwhelmed and more in control of their next steps.

In our work together, we don’t just talk about the story. We pay attention to how your body and mind react in the moment, gently process the memories and beliefs that keep you stuck, and build skills to stay grounded when you are triggered. Over time, this helps difficult memories feel less intense and less present in your everyday life.

I work best with people who are motivated for healing and willing to put in the work - showing up, practising strategies between sessions, and being open to gently examining old patterns. You do not need to have it all together; you just need a willingness to engage in the process.

In sessions with me you can expect:

• A calm, structured space where you are listened to and believed, at a pace that feels safe for you.

• Support to process distressing work events so they feel less overwhelming and less defining.

• Practical tools to manage triggers, anxiety, and shutdown - simple strategies you can use between sessions.

• Help to step back from harsh self‑judgements and fear‑driven choices, and move toward what actually matters to you.

• Space to think clearly about return‑to‑work options or new directions that align with your wellbeing and values.

  
  

My aim is that you leave therapy with a clearer understanding of what has happened to you, a quieter nervous system, and a stronger sense of agency about where you go from here.

Trauma is a very common experience that lots of people sweep under the rug. Trauma doesn’t discriminate. But the good news is that you don’t have to live with it for the rest of your life (more about this later).

Trauma and PTSD can be experienced in situations such as a witnessing or being in an accident, natural disasters, being assaulted, bullied, betrayed, or in a war.

Trauma which occurs overtime between people is called complex trauma and is also common. When we have been through complex trauma, we often don’t realise that there are other ways of being- how we think and feel about ourselves, what we expect from others and how we function in the world. When we are been through trauma, we might feel alone and unsafe (even in our own bodies and even our dreams can feel like they’re against us), so we scramble for whatever works to help us survive and feel safe again. These coping strategies can include things like people pleasing, perfectionism, dissociating, feeling empty, cutting off from our emotions, we might turn to substances or other addictions to numb out the pain, or default to fight mode to feel in control and safe.

If you have experienced trauma, learning about trauma can help you to understand yourself better, realise that your reactions and behaviours make sense given what you have been through, and find freedom from unhelpful or painful beliefs (e.g. “It was my fault”, “I’m worthless”), distressing feelings, and memories. Malika, has applied effective evidence-based approaches that has helped many people find healing from trauma and towards a life where you don’t just survive, but thrive. We are here to support you.

Is it normal to feel so wound up all the time, is something wrong with me? Do I have an anxiety disorder? These are common questions that a significant number of Australians adults ask themselves at some point in their lives. You are not alone. Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense, or afraid – particularly about things that are about to happen, or things that we think could happen in the future. Anxiety is a natural human response when we feel that we are under threat and plays a key role in keeping us safe and alive. Without anxiety we'd all be in serious trouble.

When our brain senses we’re in danger, a part of our brain called the amygdala kicks into action and sends out an S.O.S message to brain to release stress chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol that gets our body ready to react and run away or fight - it's called the fight flight or freeze response.

The only problem is that while our anxiety is vital at keeping us alive – it’s not so great at knowing what to do when our threat is only an emotional one. When our threat is an emotional threat, like taking a challenging test, meeting new people, or speaking in front a group, when we don’t actually have to fight or run away, our brains misread the risk and it overreacts- our hearts beat faster and we breathe heavily to pump more oxygen into our muscles so that were ready to fight or run if needed. When we don’t need to run for our lives, all that adrenaline running through our veins has nowhere to go (we don’t get to discharge all the energy), so we end up just feeling really tense and sweaty, sometimes our minds go blank, we hyperventilate, or we feel like we’re frozen and just want to disappear. When this happens, there's nothing actually physically wrong with you, it's just your amygdala trying to keep you safe, even if it gets confused about how much danger you are actually in.

So how does knowing all this help? Well, understanding and being able to label all of the above as a survival or anxiety response is an important first step in learning how to manage it. Therapy can equip you with the tools to cope (like using calm breathing and ground strategies).

A quick note about panic: panic attacks are common to many anxiety disorders and can seem impossible to overcome. A panic attack can be very distressing and make you feel like you are dying, but they cannot directly turn into a heart attack.  With a systematic approach and adopting some straightforward strategies, panic attacks can become manageable.

“Anxiety disorders are very treatable. The majority of people who suffer from anxiety are able to reduce or eliminate symptoms after several (or fewer) months of therapy, and many people notice improvement after just a few sessions. Our psychologist Malika is trained in evidenced based therapy approaches that can help you to tame your anxiety and be free from its control.

Grief is a natural response and a term used to describe what we feel and how we respond to a significant loss in our life. Grief often involves a roller coaster of feelings including deep sadness, feelings of shock and numbness, or denial and anger.  We can feel grief over a range of things, including the death of a loved one, family breakdown, miscarriage or infertility, loss of a pet, work changes, loss of good health, sense of having lost ‘what could have been’, or separation from friends and family.

There is no right way to grieve. Grief is an important process that eventually allows us to come to accept our loss. It is important that we allow ourselves time to grieve, so that we can move forward. It’s key to understand that ‘moving on’ doesn’t mean forgetting, but rather, it’s about learning how to live without that person or thing in your life. ‘Moving on’ doesn’t mean that your grief will end, but that you will learn to live with it... that you will figure out how to live a meaningful life again.

For some people, feelings of loss an become debilitating, overwhelming and where you can struggle to resume your own life. If you have persistent feelings of sadness and despair, and if your feelings are getting in the way of your everyday life, then it’s important to seek help. We are here to listen to your loss and help you find relief from your pain.

From Self‑Blame to Self‑Trust

Have you been affected by a relationship that leaves you feeling confused, belittled, distressed, or alone? Narcissistic abuse recovery therapy can help you make sense of what’s happened and rebuild your sense of self.

What is narcissistic abuse?

Narcissistic abuse is a form of relational trauma that can occur in romantic relationships, parent–child relationships, workplaces, community settings, and other close connections. It may include:

• Gaslighting and manipulation

• Emotional or verbal abuse

• Physical or sexual abuse

• Financial control or exploitation

Over time, narcissistic abuse can erode your confidence, wellbeing, and sense of reality, leading to thoughts such as, “Am I even worthy of love or respect?” or “It was probably my fault anyway.”.

People with narcissistic personality traits often appear self‑centred, lacking in empathy, and skilled at manipulation and control, using charm, blame, and empty promises to keep others emotionally hooked.

Signs of Complex PTSD after narcissistic abuse

Narcissistic abuse can contribute to Complex PTSD (C‑PTSD), a form of trauma that develops in the context of ongoing, repeated harm. Common signs include:

• Flashbacks (visual and emotional) and nightmares

• Hypervigilance and a persistent sense of threat, such as feeling jumpy or “walking on eggshells”

• Avoidance of people, places, or situations that trigger reminders of the abuse

• Feelings of worthlessness, shame, and self‑blame

• Difficulties regulating emotions, including intense sadness, anger, or numbness

• Relationship struggles, including difficulty trusting others

• Feeling detached from your body or emotions, and memory gaps

You may find yourself constantly monitoring the other person’s mood, minimising your own needs, or questioning whether your perceptions are accurate.

Trauma bonding and feeling stuck

Many survivors describe a powerful “trauma bond” with the abusive person. Trauma bonding refers to an emotional attachment that forms when cycles of abuse are interspersed with moments of care, apologies, or affection.

This pattern can create:

• Strong dependency on the abusive person

• Intense guilt or fear at the thought of leaving

• Confusion about whether the relationship is “really that bad”

If you’re asking, “I know this relationship is hurting me, so why can’t I leave?”, you are not alone - and you are not weak. Your mind and nervous system are responding in ways that make sense, given what you’ve been through.

Why narcissistic relationships are hard to leave

From the outside, people may say, “Why don’t you just leave?” In reality, it is rarely that simple. Many people in narcissistic dynamics carry deeper patterns of thinking and feeling that make leaving feel frightening, confusing, or even wrong.

In schema therapy, these patterns are called early maladaptive schemas - core beliefs about yourself and relationships shaped by earlier life experiences. Common schemas that show up in narcissistic abuse include:

• Emotional deprivation: “My needs won’t really be met.”

• Defectiveness/shame: “If I’m treated badly, it must mean something is wrong with me.”

• Self‑sacrifice or subjugation: “Other people’s needs matter more than mine.”

• Approval‑seeking: “My worth depends on keeping others happy.”

• Mistrust/abuse: “People will hurt or take advantage of me.”

When these schemas are activated, it can feel automatic to minimise the other person’s behaviour, work harder to please them, feel guilty at the thought of leaving, or doubt your own perceptions.

How EMDR helps with narcissistic abuse recovery

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a trauma‑focused approach that helps your brain and nervous system process distressing experiences so they no longer feel as overwhelming or “stuck.”.

In the context of narcissistic abuse, EMDR can:

• Link present‑day triggers to earlier experiences of criticism, neglect, or instability

• Reduce the intensity of traumatic memories and body responses

• Shift core beliefs (for example, from “I’m powerless” to “I have choices now”)

Your nervous system may currently respond to conflict or criticism as if you are back in earlier unsafe situations. EMDR supports your system to recognise that you are in the present, increasing a sense of safety, clarity, and choice.

Understanding your reactions through schema “modes”

Schema therapy also describes different modes, or parts of you, that come forward in response to stress. Many people in narcissistic relationships recognise patterns such as:

• A Vulnerable Child part that feels scared, alone, or ashamed

• A Compliant Pleaser that works hard to keep the peace and avoid conflict

• A Detached Protector that numbs, withdraws, or disconnects

• An Angry Child that feels trapped, frustrated, or unheard

• An Inner Critic that repeats messages of not being “enough”

These parts developed to help you survive emotionally difficult environments. None of them are flawed; they are creative attempts to cope when it didn’t feel safe to have needs, feelings, or boundaries.

A central goal of schema therapy is strengthening your Healthy Adult mode - the part of you that can:

• Validate your own thoughts and feelings

• Hold boundaries with others

• Make decisions based on your values and safety rather than fear or guilt

EMDR can support this process by helping reprocess the memories and body responses that keep certain parts feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

What therapy with me might look like

If we were to work together on narcissistic abuse recovery, the focus would not be on changing the other person; it would be on supporting you - your safety, understanding, and ability to move forward.

1. Mapping your patterns

We begin by gently understanding your history and current situation: how the abuse unfolded, how it has affected you, and how your body has been holding the stress.

Together we identify your schemas and modes in language that feels accessible and non‑judgemental. For many people, simply being able to say, “My pleaser part is activated,” instead of “I’m the problem,” brings relief and clarity.

2. Creating a different relational experience

Schema therapy emphasises a therapeutic relationship that is consistent, safe, and validating. In our work, this may include:

• Having your experiences taken seriously and not minimised

• Being able to express anger, sadness, or fear without it being turned against you

• Feeling supported as you experiment with new boundaries or changes

Over time, this offers your nervous system a different relational template: being seen and heard does not lead to punishment or rejection.

3. Processing past and present experiences (Schema + EMDR)

We may use schema‑informed techniques such as imagery rescripting to revisit earlier or more recent experiences, supporting the parts of you that felt powerless, silenced, or alone.

When appropriate, EMDR is integrated to:

• Target specific distressing memories and relationship events

• Reduce the emotional intensity and physical reactivity attached to them

• Support shifts from self‑blame and helplessness toward self‑trust and choice

As this work progresses, many people notice that triggers feel less overwhelming and it becomes easier to stay grounded in the present.

4. Supporting real‑life change

Alongside insight and trauma processing, therapy focuses on practical support tailored to your circumstances. This may involve:

• Exploring boundaries or changes in contact

• Considering options for leaving, if and when that feels right and safe

• Identifying supports and strengthening your support network

• Rebuilding routines that support your physical and emotional wellbeing

The pace is guided by your readiness and safety. There is no expectation that you “should” leave or make major decisions before you feel steadier and more supported.

What healing from narcissistic abuse can look like

Healing from narcissistic abuse is rarely linear. It’s common to move back and forth at times, or to feel pulled toward the relationship even when you know it has been harmful. With time and support, many people begin to notice:

• Less anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional reactivity

• Greater trust in their own perceptions and instincts

• Reduced physical tension and exhaustion

• More confidence in setting and maintaining boundaries

• Space for other relationships, interests, and goals

Most importantly, there is often a gradual shift from self‑doubt and self‑blame toward a quieter, more grounded sense of self‑trust.

Narcissistic abuse recovery therapy in-person/Sydney and online

If you recognise yourself in this description- feeling confused, stuck, or worn down in a relationship that others may not fully understand - you are not alone. You deserve support that acknowledges the full impact of what you’ve been through and helps you move toward a life that feels safer, clearer, and more aligned with your values.

If you’re considering therapy, you’re welcome to reach out for a confidential consultation to discuss whether this approach feels like a good fit for you.

We all go through ups and downs where we can feel sad or dejected, but often these feelings are situational and pass on their own. However, if these feelings go on for weeks at a time, or get in the way of everyday life stuff, you might be experiencing depression. Depression is a mental health problem that involves having ongoing low mood, a loss of interest and in things and it can also cause a heap of other changes to how you think, feel or act. While mild depression might not stop you from living your life, severe depression can make you feel suicidal and unable to function normally. One of the biggest misconceptions about depression is that people can just snap out of it, but depression is quite complex and involves structural changes and chemical interactions in our brain. Often someone with depression has very little control over how they feel and telling them that they should just stop being depressed is invalidating and hurtful.

No body is immune to depression, it has been estimated that more than 260 million people worldwide, suffer from depression at some point in their life. Depression does not discriminate and effects people from all walks of life. The good news is that there are many effective treatments for depression. Our psychologist is experienced in helping many people overcome their depression and reconnect with the things that matter most to them.

Anger is a normal and valid emotion. Like any emotion, it conveys a message and gives us clues about how to respond in a situation. Anger can indicate to us that a situation is unjust, unfair or threatening and that we need to put some boundaries in place or act to defend ourselves. So, while it’s perfectly normal and valid to feel angry when we’ve been wronged, anger can become a problem when we express it in a way that harms us or others.

For some people, may we turn to anger as a kind of amour to protect ourselves, or maybe it masks a bunch of vulnerable feelings and experiences we haven’t dealt with, or maybe unleashing anger to deal with problems was modelled to us - so it’s what we know… Either way, there is probably a valid reason why it’s hard to let go of the unhelpful parts of your anger. However, we know that an unhealthy relationship with anger can take a huge toll on our relationships, work, success, quality of life, and even our health.

If you want to find new ways to relate with and express your anger, we are here to support you.

Most people go through periods where they feel tired or unhappy at work. However, if your job leaves you feeling emotionally exhausted, beyond the point of caring, or unable to function normally, you might be experiencing burnout.

While stress is one of the main causes of burnout, the two are quite different. Most people experience stress as being too ‘full’ of tension, pressure, or anxiety. Burnout, however, feels like you’re extremely ‘empty’ of energy, motivation, or hope.

‘Burnout’ describes what happens when we feel so depleted by the stresses of work that we struggle to perform. It can leave us feeling emotionally drained, unmotivated, and ineffective.

We understand that burnout doesn’t happen in a vacuum: people get burnout when they work in environments that they find highly stressful. The good news is that burnout can be addressed in lots of different ways, whether working at the level of an individual, a team, or an organisational level. We understand and are here to support you.

A perinatal mental health problem is one that you experience any time from becoming pregnant and up to a year after you give birth. Research suggests that factors such as the changes to your hormones during pregnancy and after giving birth, lack of support, difficult childhood experiences, history of abuse, low self-esteem, and stressful life events can make some women more vulnerable to developing mental health issues.

Having a baby is huge life transition and it’s natural to experience a roller coaster of feelings. But if these feelings begin to impact your daily functioning, this might be a perinatal mental health issue. It can be tricky to know what is normal and when it might be time to seek help.

If you have a mental health issue and you get pregnant, it’s a really good idea to talk to your GP as soon as possible. This is because having pre-existing mental health issue can increase your risk of becoming unwell in the perinatal period.

There are a range of individual perinatal mental health problems that include, perinatal anxiety, perinatal depression, perinatal eating disorders, and postnatal PTSD. We are here to listen, and nurture you through this new chapter in your life.

Privacy Policy the Handling of Personal Information

This privacy policy applies to both our website and our business. This document describes the privacy policy of Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching for the management of clients’ personal information. Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching collects, utilises and retains its clients’ personal information. This information is important in the optimal provision of psychological services. We understand that it is also important that the information is appropriately managed in accordance with law and ethical guidelines of the profession. The psychological service provided is bound by the legal requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Rights as a client of a psychologist

Please refer to the Charter for Clients of APS Psychologists : APS25-charter-clients-aps-psychologists-final.pdf from the Australian Psychological Society, that explain your rights as a client of a psychologist. Alternatively you can request a copy from your psychologist or psychology.org.au. 

Personal information

Client files are stored securely in electronic document management systems, which complies with various privacy legislative requirements (i.e., the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and is accessible only to authorised employees or any authorised service provider in accordance with the practice's policies and procedures. The information on each file includes personal information such as name, address, contact phone numbers, medical history, and other personal information collected as part of providing the psychological service.  This includes keeping a record of what happens during sessions, any psychological tests you complete, and any information received from others, such as your GP, lawyer or insurance company.  Your information is stored using Halaxy, that adheres to Australian Privacy laws / secure filing system. We may use secure, compliant AI tools (e.g., Heidi Health) for clinical documentation with your explicit consent. All processors are bound by Australian Privacy laws via contractual obligations.

What is personal information?

Personal information is any information which identifies you or could reasonably be used to identify you.

De-identified information

You can browse our online website anonymously (although cookies may identify your IP address). However, if you use, request or sign up for any of our services, you will need to identify yourself and at that point we will start collecting your personal information in order to deliver a service or send information about our services. If you do not give personal information to us, it will affect our ability to deliver our services or to provide you with requested information.

How clients' personal information is collected

At all times we aim to only collect the minimum information we need to keep to provide our services (as requested by you) and to keep our records up to date. All personal information collected once engaged with our service is stored for as long as is required under relevant health regulations.

There are a number of ways your personal information is collected, including when: 

• You provide information directly to your psychologist in your session and in writing such as letters, email or text messages. when the client provides information directly to Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching when you contact us; when you submit information to our website, email, or in person (e.g. initial intake forms); correspondence via email; when you correspond with us in person, over the phone, via email or through completion of online forms; when you ask for access to information we hold about you; and when other health practitioners provide personal information to Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching via referrals, medical reports, and correspondence.

• When you use our website, we may receive data from third parties such as analytics providers and advertising networks like Google and Facebook.

• You interact directly with Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching employees or any authorised service provider such as our administration staff.

• Other health practitioners, such as your GP, provide personal information to Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching, through referrals, correspondence and medical reports.

• We receive personal information from other sources, such as lawyers, employers or insurance companies through correspondence or reports. 

If you have concerns that the information recorded is not correct, please discuss your concerns with our administration staff or your psychologist/life coach.   

Consequence of not providing personal information

Psychologists are required to keep clear and accurate client records as part of their professional obligations. If you do not wish for your personal information to be collected, we may not be able to provide the psychological service to you. Please discuss any concerns you have with your psychologist.

Requests for access and correction to client information  

At any stage, you can request to access your personal information kept on file. The psychologist may discuss the contents with them and/or give them a copy, subject to the exceptions in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).  There may be some exceptions that impact your ability to access the information, which are outlined in the relevant legislation. If your psychologist is satisfied that your personal information is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete, reasonable steps will be taken in the circumstances to ensure that this information is corrected. All requests by you for access to or correction of personal information held about you should be lodged with your psychologist or our administration staff.  

If you would like to access your information, please discuss it with us or you can request in writing. All written requests for access to information will be responded to in writing within 30 days and an appointment will be made if necessary for clarification purposes.  

Purpose of holding personal information

Your personal information is gathered and used for the purpose of providing a psychological service to you. Your personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions and enables your psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service to you. This information and record keeping is a necessary part of the services provided and guides treatment.

Confidentiality of information

Clients’ personal information will remain confidential except for certain circumstances. In most cases, any sharing of information will only occur with your consent.

Our practice asks for your consent to share information when:

• Sharing information with a family member, guardian or carer.

• Discussing with others, such as your GP, employer, or any agencies which may be paying for your attendance.

• Providing a written report regarding your assessment or treatment to another professional or agency, such as your GP, lawyer or insurance company.

• For disclosing the information in any other way not referenced in this document.

Psychologists are required to consult and receive supervision from colleagues from time to time. If your information is shared in this context, all care is taken to deidentify your information in such a way that you remain anonymous.

Exceptions to confidentiality

There are times when your psychologist may release your information without obtaining your consent such as:

• It is subpoenaed by a court, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law;

• When it is required because the psychologist must make a mandatory report on a concern.

• When the psychologist/life coach discloses information because they believe you or someone else is at risk of serious harm.

A client's personal information is not disclosed to overseas recipients, unless the client consents or such disclosure is otherwise required by law. Clients' personal information will not be used, sold, rented or disclosed for any other purpose.

In the event that unauthorised access, disclosure or loss of a client’s personal information occurs Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching will activate its data breach plan and use all reasonable endeavours to minimise any risk of consequential serious harm.

We may also share your personal information (e.g. contact details) for business purposes including:

• Third party suppliers we engage to provide services which involve processing data on our behalf, for example IT and system administration services, website developers. In this case, we will require them to use that information only for the purpose of providing the services we have requested, and in compliance with the provisions of this privacy policy (or equivalent standards).

• Payment third parties if there is a dispute over a payment. For example, if our third-party payment provider contacts us regarding a dispute over a payment, we will provide them with requested information and billing details on our system etc to allow the payment dispute to be resolved.

• If you have received Medicare or health insurance rebates and we receive a request for information from that provider, we will share information with them to validate your claim.

• Professional advisers including accountants, lawyers, bankers, auditors and insurers for the compliant operation of our business.

• Government bodies that require us to report processing activities.

• Third parties where we are required to in accordance with the law. We reserve the right to fully co-operate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requiring or requesting us to disclose the identity or other usage details of any user of our online services, or in accordance with a properly executed court order, or as otherwise required to do so by law.

Telehealth Services

The privacy of any form of communication via the internet is potentially vulnerable and limited by the security of the technology used. To support the security of your personal information this practice uses Microsoft Teams, which is compliant with the Australian standards for online security and encryption.

Testimonials, Service ratings and public comment

Under national health regulations we are prohibited from publishing testimonials from our clients. You may talk about our services on websites or social media platforms that are not under our control.

Please be aware that if you provide any public rating or comment about your use of our services, you will be making your status as our client part of public record.

Third Party Links

Our website may contain links to other websites who will have their own privacy policies. Once you leave our website, we are no longer responsible for your personal information, and you should ensure you are familiar with the privacy policies of third-party sites you visit.

Concerns and Complaints

If you have a concern about the management of your personal information, you may inform your psychologist or our reception staff. Upon request you can obtain a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which describe your rights and how your personal information should be handled. Client records are retained for 7 years post-discharge (15 years if under 18), per Psychology Board requirements, then securely destroyed.

Complaints can be made to Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching by email (Malika@freedompsychologyandlifecoaching.com.au). We will endeavour to respond appropriately to reasonable complaints within 30 days of the receipt of the email. Ultimately, if clients have a concern about the management of their personal information, they may also inform the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner. Upon request they can obtain a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which describe their rights and how their personal information should be handled.

Ultimately, if you wish to lodge a formal complaint about the use of, disclosure of, or access to, your personal information, you may do so with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: 

•             By phone on 1300 363 992.

•             Online at https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints/lodge-a-privacy-complaint-with-us .

•             By post to: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5288, Sydney, NSW 2001.

Data breach plan

In the event that any unauthorised access, disclosure or loss of your personal information Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching will activate its data breach plan and use all reasonable endeavours to minimise any risk of consequential serious harm. 

We follow the national requirements. See here:

https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches/

Changes to this policy

We may from time to time make changes to this policy to reflect changes in the law or professional best-practice guidelines. All clients and referrers are encouraged to periodically review this policy found on our website to remain informed.

A typical therapy/coaching appointment is approximately 50 minutes in length. Whilst the frequency of sessions depends on the client and the nature of the concern, I do recommend an initial commitment to five appointments preferably on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

# What should I expect during scheduled sessions?

Sessions via phone or video conferencing are provided on the basis that we both:

·         Ensure that we have a confidential and uninterrupted space; this may or may not involve using a headset (feel free to indicate your preference)

·         Will not record sessions (unless consent is granted), and

·         Will do all that is practically possible to aim to have reliable connectivity.

1. A reliable and stable internet connection.

2. A laptop, desktop computer, iPad/tablet or smart phone.

3. Headphones and an in-built camera or webcam on your device.

4. If you are going to be using your smartphone or tablet for teletherapy, you will need to download the Microsoft Teams app. Just search ‘Microsoft Teams’ in the app store.

a.       If you are going to use your desktop computer, then you need to have the latest version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

b.      If you don’t want to use these browsers, then you can download the Microsoft Teams desktop app. You don’t have to setup an account to use Microsoft Teams for telehealth, but you can if you like.

c.       Your psychologist/coach will send you a Microsoft Teams meeting request by email. In the email there will be a link to join the meeting. 

d.      If you have setup a Microsoft Teams account, then you will be taken to the meeting in the app or your browser. You may have to sign in.

e.       If you haven’t setup an account, click ‘Join as a guest’ and type in your name.

5.      A private, safe and uninterrupted space where you feel able to speak freely with minimal distractions.

1. A phone next to you during the session so that your therapist can easily contact you if there are technological issues.

2. Tissues, water, other comfort items nearby during your session.

3. Make sure that your psychologist has the details of your key support person in case of emergency contact.

Cancellation Policy:

Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching has a policy regarding late cancellation. To cancel or reschedule your appointment, please give your psychologist/Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching at least 48 hours’ notice, otherwise you will be charged a cancellation fee. To make a cancellation- please send Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching/your health provider an email titled: CANCELLATION - with the date of the session to be cancelled. Email:  Malika@freedompsychologyandlifecoaching.com.au

This timeframe allows the appointment to be offered to another client on our waitlist.

A summary of the cost of cancellation fees is as follows:

• Cancellations made within 24-48 hours – results in being charged 50% of the full session fee.

• Cancellations made less than 24 hours’ notice – results in being charged the full session fee.

• Missed appointments- results in being charged the full session fee. Missed appointments will not attract a Medicare rebate.

• Cancellations fees are charged, as this time has been set aside for you and cannot be filled at short notice. For this reason, the fee applies regardless of the reason for the cancellation (i.e., you will still be charged for cancellations due to work or health reasons- unless you are able to provide a medical certificate within 2 days of the missed appointment) if we cannot fill the appointment. Cancellation fees are not covered by Medicare; they are your responsibility; and become due immediately.

Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching reserves the right to reschedule appointments at any time, without compensation, if it is deemed necessary due to staff illness or other unforeseen circumstances.

Repeated Cancellations:

If three (3) or more sessions are cancelled or rescheduled within a single calendar month, Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching reserves the right to review the therapeutic arrangement. The clinician may determine that therapy be paused or the client file closed.

This policy is not punitive; it exists to maintain the continuity and effectiveness of therapy, ensure fair access for all clients, and support the sustainability of the practice.

If your file is closed under this policy, you may request to re-engage in therapy, at a later time when regular attendance can be maintained. Where appropriate, referrals to other practitioners or services may be offered.

By continuing with services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the attendance and cancellation terms outlined above.

Discharge and Continuity of Care

If we haven't connected for more than a month (no contact or booked appointments), and there has been no prior agreement about a longer gap, it will be gently assumed that you no longer wish to continue/pause services. Your file will then be closed, and you will be discharged from ongoing care.

If you have provided consent for communication with your General Practitioner (GP) or referring health professional, we'll let your GP or referrer know about the discharge so they can support you. We'll offer referrals or resources when it fits.

Discharge may also happen if:

• Your treatment goals have been achieved.

• You are referred to another practitioner or service for more appropriate or specialised support.

• There is repeated non-attendance, cancellation, or lack of engagement.

• Continuing therapy is no longer clinically appropriate or in your best interests.

It is your responsibility to stay in contact and book sessions if you wish to continue therapy. After discharge, your records will be securely stored according to privacy and record-keeping requirements. Your psychologist/life coach won't reach out unless there's a clinical need or prior agreement. Discharge does not mean an end to support - you are always welcome to request to return when you are ready to re-engage in therapy, or we can help connect you with more suitable services.

Privacy Policy the Handling of Personal Information

This privacy policy applies to both our website and our business. This document describes the privacy policy of Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching for the management of clients’ personal information. Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching collects, utilises and retains its clients’ personal information. This information is important in the optimal provision of psychological services. We understand that it is also important that the information is appropriately managed in accordance with law and ethical guidelines of the profession. The psychological service provided is bound by the legal requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Rights as a client of a psychologist

Please refer to the Charter for Clients of APS Psychologists : APS25-charter-clients-aps-psychologists-final.pdf from the Australian Psychological Society, that explain your rights as a client of a psychologist. Alternatively you can request a copy from your psychologist or psychology.org.au. 

Personal information

Client files are stored securely in electronic document management systems, which complies with various privacy legislative requirements (i.e., the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and is accessible only to authorised employees or any authorised service provider in accordance with the practice's policies and procedures. The information on each file includes personal information such as name, address, contact phone numbers, medical history, and other personal information collected as part of providing the psychological service.  This includes keeping a record of what happens during sessions, any psychological tests you complete, and any information received from others, such as your GP, lawyer or insurance company.  Your information is stored using Halaxy, that adheres to Australian Privacy laws / secure filing system. We may use secure, compliant AI tools (e.g., Heidi Health) for clinical documentation with your explicit consent. All processors are bound by Australian Privacy laws via contractual obligations.

What is personal information?

Personal information is any information which identifies you or could reasonably be used to identify you.

De-identified information

You can browse our online website anonymously (although cookies may identify your IP address). However, if you use, request or sign up for any of our services, you will need to identify yourself and at that point we will start collecting your personal information in order to deliver a service or send information about our services. If you do not give personal information to us, it will affect our ability to deliver our services or to provide you with requested information.

How clients' personal information is collected

At all times we aim to only collect the minimum information we need to keep to provide our services (as requested by you) and to keep our records up to date. All personal information collected once engaged with our service is stored for as long as is required under relevant health regulations.

There are a number of ways your personal information is collected, including when: 

You provide information directly to your psychologist in your session and in writing such as letters, email or text messages. when the client provides information directly to Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching when you contact us; when you submit information to our website, email, or in person (e.g. initial intake forms); correspondence via email; when you correspond with us in person, over the phone, via email or through completion of online forms; when you ask for access to information we hold about you; and when other health practitioners provide personal information to Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching via referrals, medical reports, and correspondence.

When you use our website, we may receive data from third parties such as analytics providers and advertising networks like Google and Facebook.

You interact directly with Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching employees or any authorised service provider such as our administration staff.

Other health practitioners, such as your GP, provide personal information to Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching, through referrals, correspondence and medical reports.

We receive personal information from other sources, such as lawyers, employers or insurance companies through correspondence or reports. 

If you have concerns that the information recorded is not correct, please discuss your concerns with our administration staff or your psychologist/life coach.   

Consequence of not providing personal information

Psychologists are required to keep clear and accurate client records as part of their professional obligations. If you do not wish for your personal information to be collected, we may not be able to provide the psychological service to you. Please discuss any concerns you have with your psychologist.

Requests for access and correction to client information  

At any stage, you can request to access your personal information kept on file. The psychologist may discuss the contents with them and/or give them a copy, subject to the exceptions in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).  There may be some exceptions that impact your ability to access the information, which are outlined in the relevant legislation. If your psychologist is satisfied that your personal information is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete, reasonable steps will be taken in the circumstances to ensure that this information is corrected. All requests by you for access to or correction of personal information held about you should be lodged with your psychologist or our administration staff.  

If you would like to access your information, please discuss it with us or you can request in writing. All written requests for access to information will be responded to in writing within 30 days and an appointment will be made if necessary for clarification purposes.  

Purpose of holding personal information

Your personal information is gathered and used for the purpose of providing a psychological service to you. Your personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions and enables your psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service to you. This information and record keeping is a necessary part of the services provided and guides treatment.

Confidentiality of information

Clients’ personal information will remain confidential except for certain circumstances. In most cases, any sharing of information will only occur with your consent.

Our practice asks for your consent to share information when:

-Sharing information with a family member, guardian or carer.

-Discussing with others, such as your GP, employer, or any agencies which may be paying for your attendance.

-Providing a written report regarding your assessment or treatment to another professional or agency, such as your GP, lawyer or insurance company.

-For disclosing the information in any other way not referenced in this document.

-Psychologists are required to consult and receive supervision from colleagues from time to time. If your information is shared in this context, all care is taken to deidentify your information in such a way that you remain anonymous.

Exceptions to confidentiality

There are times when your psychologist may release your information without obtaining your consent such as:

-It is subpoenaed by a court, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law;

-When it is required because the psychologist must make a mandatory report on a concern.

-When the psychologist/life coach discloses information because they believe you or someone else is at risk of serious harm.

-A client's personal information is not disclosed to overseas recipients, unless the client consents or such disclosure is otherwise required by law. Clients' personal information will not be used, sold, rented or disclosed for any other purpose.

In the event that unauthorised access, disclosure or loss of a client’s personal information occurs Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching will activate its data breach plan and use all reasonable endeavours to minimise any risk of consequential serious harm.

We may also share your personal information (e.g. contact details) for business purposes including:

• Third party suppliers we engage to provide services which involve processing data on our behalf, for example IT and system administration services, website developers. In this case, we will require them to use that information only for the purpose of providing the services we have requested, and in compliance with the provisions of this privacy policy (or equivalent standards).

• Payment third parties if there is a dispute over a payment. For example, if our third-party payment provider contacts us regarding a dispute over a payment, we will provide them with requested information and billing details on our system etc to allow the payment dispute to be resolved.

• If you have received Medicare or health insurance rebates and we receive a request for information from that provider, we will share information with them to validate your claim.

• Professional advisers including accountants, lawyers, bankers, auditors and insurers for the compliant operation of our business.

• Government bodies that require us to report processing activities.

• Third parties where we are required to in accordance with the law. We reserve the right to fully co-operate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requiring or requesting us to disclose the identity or other usage details of any user of our online services, or in accordance with a properly executed court order, or as otherwise required to do so by law.

Telehealth Services

The privacy of any form of communication via the internet is potentially vulnerable and limited by the security of the technology used. To support the security of your personal information this practice uses Microsoft Teams, which is compliant with the Australian standards for online security and encryption.

Testimonials, Service ratings and public comment

Under national health regulations we are prohibited from publishing testimonials from our clients. You may talk about our services on websites or social media platforms that are not under our control.

Please be aware that if you provide any public rating or comment about your use of our services, you will be making your status as our client part of public record.

Third Party Links

Our website may contain links to other websites who will have their own privacy policies. Once you leave our website, we are no longer responsible for your personal information, and you should ensure you are familiar with the privacy policies of third-party sites you visit.

Concerns and Complaints

If you have a concern about the management of your personal information, you may inform your psychologist or our reception staff. Upon request you can obtain a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which describe your rights and how your personal information should be handled. Client records are retained for 7 years post-discharge (15 years if under 18), per Psychology Board requirements, then securely destroyed.

Complaints can be made to Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching by email (Malika@freedompsychologyandlifecoaching.com.au). We will endeavour to respond appropriately to reasonable complaints within 30 days of the receipt of the email. Ultimately, if clients have a concern about the management of their personal information, they may also inform the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner. Upon request they can obtain a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which describe their rights and how their personal information should be handled.

Ultimately, if you wish to lodge a formal complaint about the use of, disclosure of, or access to, your personal information, you may do so with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: 

•             By phone on 1300 363 992.

•             Online at https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints/lodge-a-privacy-complaint-with-us .

•             By post to: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5288, Sydney, NSW 2001.

Data breach plan

In the event that any unauthorised access, disclosure or loss of your personal information Freedom Psychology and Life Coaching will activate its data breach plan and use all reasonable endeavours to minimise any risk of consequential serious harm. 

We follow the national requirements. See here:

https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches/

Changes to this policy

We may from time to time make changes to this policy to reflect changes in the law or professional best-practice guidelines. All clients and referrers are encouraged to periodically review this policy found on our website to remain informed.

Freedom psychology and Life Coaching (FPLC) acknowledges that social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) is the foundation of physical and mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people. A SEWB framework takes a holistic view of health and acknowledges that social, historical and political factors can also affect wellbeing. It is acknowledged that approaches such as Narrative Therapy can be of particular benefit to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to reclaim strong stories of strength, connection, and resilience and healing.

FPLC recognises Australia’s First Peoples and value their cultural knowledge, ways of being, strength and resilience. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and we are committed to the empowerment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Do you find yourself stuck in the same relationship patterns, no matter how hard you try to do things differently? You might be arguing about the same things, choosing similar partners, or swinging between clinging and shutting down. These patterns often come from deep‑seated “schemas” formed in childhood - the mental templates you use to understand yourself, other people, and the world.

Schemas are like the pair of sunnies you’ve worn for so long that you forget you even have them on. They shape what you notice, how you interpret situations, and how you react, often outside your awareness. They develop from your temperament and your earliest experiences of relationships – how the adults around you responded (or didn’t respond) to your core needs for safety, love, attention, and guidance. Once formed, schemas tend to stick and repeat unless we actively work to update them.

For example, if your parents regularly prioritised their own needs – work, social life, substances, or unmanaged mental health – you may have developed an abandonment schema. Little you learned, “People are unreliable; they can leave at any moment,” and you did your best to cope. Maybe you became very clingy and anxious in relationships, constantly seeking reassurance so people wouldn’t leave. Or maybe you went the other way and became fiercely independent, putting up strong walls so no one could hurt you again. Both are understandable survival strategies for a child.

The challenge is that these old strategies often continue into adult relationships, long after the original situation has changed. Without realising it, we can create self‑fulfilling prophecies: the same core needs that weren’t met in childhood still don’t get met now. You might push people away just when you need closeness, or hold on so tightly that relationships become strained. And if you now have safer, more stable people in your life, the old schema can still convince you that danger or abandonment is just around the corner.

Schema work is about bringing these patterns into focus. When you understand where your schemas come from, you can start to see them as learned perceptions, not absolute truths. It’s like realising you’ve been wearing an old pair of scratched sunnies and deciding it’s time for a clearer, updated lens. From there, you can experiment with new ways of thinking and behaving that fit your life now – not the life you had as a child.

A practical first step is to identify your main schemas, for example by using a schema questionnaire and reflecting on your relationship history. From there, therapy can help you gently challenge outdated beliefs, practise new coping strategies, and experience healthier ways of relating in the here and now. If you recognise yourself in these patterns and want support to change them, you’re welcome to reach out. You deserve relationships that feel loving, secure, and supportive of the person you are becoming.

Malika is available to mentor and support psychologists in Australia via Telehealth. She is a board approved supervisor with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (since 2020) and supervises clinical psychology registrars (principal and/or secondary supervisor), registered psychologists, and clinical psychologists.

Malika provides supervision for psychologists who work with children, teens, and adults, across a wide range of presentations including dissociative disorders, dual diagnosis, personality disorders, and elite athletes. Malika has worked with in various private practice settings, Drug Health and Adult Community Mental Health, Whole of Family Team, CYMHS/CAMHS settings, Department of Communities and Justice, over her 12+ years of clinical psychology practice. Her area of specialty is complex trauma, PTSD, grief and loss, anxiety, depression. The frameworks that inform her supervision include and integration of Trauma Informed Care, Attachment based, Interpersonal Neurobiology, family systems frameworks, and modalities such as CBT, ACT, Schema Therapy, Positive Psychology, Narrative Therapy, Emotion coaching, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing.

Malika provides an understanding, encouraging, and reflective space for her supervisees and helps people to strengthen their professional identity. She is committed to understanding her supervisee’s processes, exploring hypotheses around clients’ presentations and evidenced based ways to assist.

Malika is passionate about contributing to the psychological community with what she has experienced and learned over the years, she also continually learns from her supervisee’s and feels grateful to be able to share this journey with others.

People injured in road accidents often carry far more than physical pain. The shock of the crash, changes to your body, and the stress of navigating the CTP system can leave you feeling on edge, flat, or like you are no longer yourself. I help you make sense of what has happened, calm your nervous system, and gently rebuild a life that feels safer and more workable again.

For people impacted by car accidents (CTP)

A motor vehicle accident can be sudden and life‑changing. You might find yourself replaying the moment of impact, feeling jumpy in the car, avoiding certain routes, or struggling with sleep and concentration. You may also be dealing with pain, medical appointments, financial pressure, and uncertainty about the future, all while trying to “get on with it.”

In our work together, we do more than talk about the crash. We pay attention to how your body and mind react now - things like tension, numbness, panic, guilt, or anger - and we use structured, evidence‑based approach/es to safely process those reactions. Over time, this can help reduce the intensity of memories, ease anxiety and hyper‑vigilance, and support you to re‑engage with driving and everyday activities at a pace that feels manageable.

How I can help after a crash

In sessions with me you can expect:

• A calm, validating space where your experience is taken seriously, including fear, grief, anger, and the impact on your relationships and identity.

• Support to process distressing memories of the accident and the aftermath, so they feel less overwhelming and less in control of your day.

• Practical strategies to manage flashbacks, nightmares, panic in the car, and ongoing pain‑related stress.

• Help to notice and gently loosen unhelpful beliefs such as “I should have prevented it,” “I’m broken now,” or “The world is not safe anymore.”

• Space to think clearly about what recovery can realistically look like for you, including returning to driving, work, and the activities that matter to you.

  
  

I work best with people who are motivated for healing and willing to put in the work - showing up, practising strategies between sessions, and staying open to trying new ways of responding to thoughts and feelings. You do not need to feel “brave” or “strong”; you only need a willingness to engage in the process, and we will go at a pace that feels safe for you.