I want my clients to get the most out of therapy, so that, as soon as possible, they no longer need therapy. Foremost in how I work is the establishment of as much safety as is reasonably possible and a strong collaborative alliance. I bring my full being to meet clients where they are at and walk with them to where they want to be. I work with you to tap into and develop your own innate capacities for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healing. Whether it is trauma, grief and loss, or relational, emotional or life purpose issues, I help you get to the root cause of your experience and connect to it in a powerful, transformative way.
The parable of teaching a person to fish can apply here. Together we will catch some fish and address the immediate problems, but ultimately you will be better at fishing yourself, so you will carry the gifts of therapy with you long after we stop working together.
I chose the path of psychotherapy because I wanted to address the root cause of suffering and find a way to be of meaningful service. It is a deeply transformative and fulfilling path. There is something about being with another in therapy that leaves me never quite the same as when I entered the session. As such, my work brings me life, just as I endeavour the same for my clients. If this is resonating with you, I encourage you to contact me for a free consultation call.
Client Focus
Session Format: Individual sessions.
Age Specialty: Adult, Young Adult
Demographic Expertise: Asian, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, LGBTQ+, Men, Middle Eastern, Muslim, Pacific Islander, Persons with Disabilities, Women clients.
Languages: English
Treatment Approach
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them, while committing to actions that reflect their values. It blends mindfulness with practical behavior strategies.
- Biopsychosocial Therapy Takes into account biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding mental health. It looks at the whole person, not just symptoms.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) One of the most widely used approaches, CBT helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier patterns. It is effective for anxiety, depression, and many other concerns.
- Contemplative Psychotherapy Combines mindfulness and meditation practices with modern psychology. It encourages awareness and compassion as part of the healing process.
- Developmental Therapy Looks at how childhood and developmental experiences affect current challenges. It aims to repair unmet needs and foster healthy growth.
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Focuses on strengthening emotional bonds in couples or families. It helps people identify negative cycles and create more secure connections.
- Existential / Humanistic Therapy Encourages people to explore meaning, freedom, and authenticity in their lives. It focuses on personal growth and living in alignment with one’s values.
- Family Systems Therapy Looks at problems within the context of the family as a whole. It aims to improve communication and balance in family relationships.
- Feminist Therapy Addresses how gender roles, power, and social inequality affect mental health. It empowers clients to challenge limiting beliefs and systems.
- Gestalt Therapy Encourages awareness of thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. It helps people integrate different parts of themselves for wholeness.
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy Based on decades of research, this method gives couples tools to improve communication, manage conflict, and strengthen intimacy.
- Integrative Therapy Combines techniques from multiple approaches into a customized plan. It adapts to each client’s unique situation and needs.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) A short-term approach focused on improving relationships and social support. It is often used for depression and grief.
- Narrative Therapy Encourages people to view problems as separate from themselves and reframe their life story. It helps build resilience and self-identity.
- Object Relations Therapy Focuses on how early caregiver relationships shape current relationships. It aims to improve patterns of attachment and trust.
- Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) Emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity. It provides a safe space for self-discovery and growth.
- Psychodynamic Therapy Explores unconscious thoughts and patterns that influence current behavior. It builds insight into how the past impacts the present.
- Relational Psychotherapy Emphasizes the healing power of the therapist-client relationship. It uses trust and safety as a foundation for change.
- Schema Therapy Identifies deep-rooted negative patterns formed in childhood. It combines CBT, attachment theory, and experiential methods for change.
- Self Psychology Explores the development of self-esteem and identity. It emphasizes the importance of empathy in healing.
- Somatic Therapy Helps clients notice how emotions are stored in the body. It uses breath, movement, and awareness for healing trauma and stress.
- Transactional Analysis Explores interactions through the lens of Parent, Adult, and Child roles. It aims to improve communication and self-awareness.
- Transpersonal Therapy Integrates spirituality and higher states of consciousness with psychology. It encourages growth beyond the individual self.
Approach Description: The way I work is more than 'talk therapy'. And it's more than being held in a space of non-judgement and compassion.
It's about being gracefully supported to link together thoughts with feelings, insight with experience, past with present, sensations and behaviour.
Its about being able to feel and understand where patterns emerge from, so that instead of reacting, you can respond with greater clarity, choice and flexibility.
To suit your specific needs, I draw from different evidence-based modalities to co-create an integrated, unique treatment plan. These modalities include: parts work, attachment theory, developmental psychology, somatic and sensorimotor therapies, trauma theories, emotionally focussed therapy, existential therapy & focusing to name a few.
As an integrative psychotherapist, my work involves meeting you where you are at, as you are, and helping you to connect more deeply to yourself. This can involve pausing on thoughts, feelings and sensations, and more deeply experiencing and accepting them. It can be difficult work in the moment, but I will be with you every step of the way, co-creating an environment of safety and trust, so that you can feel supported to be-with your own experience of life in novel and transformative ways.
Unique to your needs, I will bring together different modalities so that you receive an absolutely unique treatment plan. My broad training in neuroscience, theory of mind, philosophy, evolutionary theory, and of course, many psychotherapeutic modalities and theories, equips me to meet the complexity of each client with the specificity that it deserves. Particular passions of mine are working with the Integrative Attachment Therapy model (a visualisation of one's Ideal Parents), working with complex trauma presentations, and working with psychedelic integration within therapy. If this is resonating with you, I welcome you to contact me for a free consultation call.
Education & Credentials
Sebastian Kitchen ACA Level 2,
- Male
- License # 86522
- Licensed in Australia
- Practicing Since 2024
Education: Bachelor of Counselling and Psychotherapy - IKON
Bachelor of Anthropology & Literature
P.G.Cert in Permaculture Design
Integrative Attachment Therapy Level One
Psychedelic Assistance Therapy (PAT) - IP&M - current
Case Conceptualisation - IP&M
The Gottman Method Couples Training Level One
Finances
Fees
- Average Session Fee $140
- Affordable sliding scale therapy: apply if you may be eligible.
- My standard rate is $140. However I can offer a concession rate of $120 upon request.
- Out of Network
Sebastian Kitchen Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available In-Person in Kyneton, VIC 3444 and East Melbourne, VIC 3002
- Available Online for residents of Australia
- Online Therapy Details: Signal, Zoom
Frequency
Research indicates that weekly sessions are most effective. Weekly sessions allow for a consistency, insight and accountability that fortnightly or monthly sessions do not afford. That being said, we will always discuss frequency in our initial session together.
Length
Therapy is about ongoing solutions, not just a quick fix.Research suggests that 50% of people show improvements in as little as 8 weekly sessions, and 75% of people are measurably improved by 26 sessions.
The initial phase of treatment (0-20 sessions) is focused on nervous system stabilisation and cultivating self-reflective capacity, before moving into deeper personality change, including trauma-resolution and attachment work if appropriate.
Short-term psychotherapy, structured around a specific focus, usually involves a minimum of 5 - 20 sessions.
Fees
My fees are adjusted so they are similar to out-of-the-pocket expenses one would pay seeing a psychologist.
Whilst psychotherapy is not available under Medicare rebates in Australia, my services can often be more affordable in the medium or long term when the rebate runs out.
Individual: $140 (50 minutes)
Couples: $200 (50 minutes)
I offer some concession spots for health care card holders, students, and people experiencing financial hardship. Please contact me to discuss your options.
Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours prior to scheduled appointments. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice will still require payment for the missed session.