Psychology for High-Functioning Adults
with Hidden Struggles
Life should feel as good as it looks
Hi, I’m Alana
I am a registered psychologist based in Sydney Australia, who has spent over ten thousand hours seeing, studying, and working behind the curtain of humanity. My love of psychology started with sport, moved into lived experience, and landed with the many people who have found their way into my therapy room since.
My work is firmly grounded in evidence-based psychology and years of clinical experience, but you will not be getting pantsuits and jargon from me. I will spare you the judgy "mm-hm's," I will probably resemble Mr. Bean at times, and I will not be too cool to laugh at your jokes (when they’re funny), because I strongly believe that at the end of the day, therapy should feel like you’re talking to a real human.
Interest areas
I am passionate about Autistic, ADHD and LGBTQIA+ mental health, as well as working with those who identify as ‘Type A’ and have spent a long time masking their emotional struggles.
Experience and Qualifications
AHPRA registered psychologist
ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician
Extensive experience working with complex trauma, eating disorders, and late-identified neurodivergence.
Additional training across 9 treatment modalities
Real healing happens in connection - in being seen, heard, and understood.
Dr. Gabor Maté
What we can work on:
Relationship problems
Body image dissatisfaction
Burnout and low mood
Disordered eating
Stress and anxiety
Masking and perfectionism
Sexuality and identity
Life transitions
Existential questioning
Self-worth and confidence
Anxiety Disorders
Depressive Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
Adjustment Disorder
PTSD and C-PTSD
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
Binge-eating Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Autism (adults)
ADHD (adults)
How we work:
Psychology sessions are provided individually, and begin with an initial assessment phase where goals, approaches and recommendations are discussed with you.
You will be presented with options, guidance, and rationales, but you will always be respected as the leader of your own life.
Early sessions have a light and gentle feel to them and are focused on gaining a deep understanding of who you are and what has been happening for you.
Once we have a good idea of where we need to focus, interventions are delivered with warmth, collaboration, and a steady build towards personal empowerment through applied insight.
Patterns, loopholes, and strengths, are discovered from your first session until your last, and these are highlighted for you in gentle ways throughout.
You will quickly be shown there is no hierarchy in the therapy room, everyone is human, and we are not allergic to humour.
Treatment Modalities
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Schema Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy - Enhanced for Eating Disorders (CBT-E)
Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RODBT)
Gottman Method
Research has indicated time and time again that the biggest predictor of therapeutic outcomes is not the modality that is used, but the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
Nevertheless, we have a range of modalities at our disposal, which we can draw from selectively as we tailor our interventions to your goals and needs.
There is no hierarchy in the therapy room
Everyone is human
And we are not allergic to humour
Sessions are available in-person and online
Location:
8/7 West Promenade Manly NSW 2095