The anxiety and fear-like symptoms you experience are neurobiological symptoms. Your amygdala - the part of the brain that registers and records emotional responses, is sending you false brain messages. In this case, it's sending the message of 'threat' and 'danger'. Once, often out-of-the-blue, you felt your heart racing, your palms sweating and your tummy churning. You FELT...terrified. Maybe that first experience was on a freeway, in an elevator (lift), on a suburban train. The next time you had to face that 'event' (get back into that lift/elevator), your amygdala sent adrenaline surging through your body to GET OUTTA THERE. That's your brain getting things wrong. We can and will re-write that message.
Therapy focuses on the provision of a nurturing and empathetic space for individuals to delve into the underlying sources and root causes of their anxieties. Utilising evidence-based techniques (schema therapy methods, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic approaches, attachment approaches), fostering a healthy safe therapeutic alliance and tailoring interventions to each client’s unique needs, clients are empowered to develop practical coping skills for anxiety management and fear modification. Whether the focus is on generalised anxiety, trauma-related concerns, specific phobias, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, social anxiety, or other anxiety-related challenges, the primary objective is to help clients reduce distress and enhance emotional well-being. The therapeutic approach is collaborative, aiming to cultivate resilience and instill a renewed sense of overall well-being in clients.
Call for a free consultation. Medicare rebated sessions (obtained from a GP called mental health care plan) and private health insurance rebates session available.
Dimitri's experience extends to conducting psychological assessments and offering counselling support to Victims of Crime through (VOCAT), clients associated with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Workcover clients, and those covered by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and has previously provided psychological support within prison settings.
Psychologist, BA (Hons), DPsych (Forensic), MPsych (Clinical)
Illume Psychology is a boutique psychology practice that offers a nurturing space to meaningfully and collaboratively work through your inner troubles and the complexity of life's concerns. We understand how limiting the experience of anxiety can be and work carefully and closely with you to be able to expand and enrich your life.
Registered Psychotherapist, Masters in Gestalt Therapy
The pressure to 'be' something in the world can be overwhelming. Add to that the distress of what's happening in our ecosystem and, through that lens, having anxiety absolutely makes sense.
When it comes to the climate crisis, feelings such as anxiety, guilt, terror, grief, anger, despair and helplessness are not something to be fixed or cured. They are healthy, appropriate responses. They show that you care.
My experience is that anxiety and fear often come from needing, but not being able, to predict the future. And the fear of the fear itself can be debilitating. It doesn't have to be that way.
We work to bring your body on board so that your mind can take a break from its catastrophic thought cycles. Bringing the body on board also helps to build your supports and your ground and to soothe your weary mind.
Trying to deal with anxiety can be exhausting and overwhelming. My approach focuses on providing relief through techniques that promote clear thinking, self-awareness and healthy coping mechanisms. Additionally, I guide you in uncovering the unresolved issues or internal conflicts at the root of your anxiety, paving the way for long-term emotional.
Understanding anxiety and fears is key to dealing with their effects on life, relationships, work and many other aspects. We work with you to increase your awareness of the triggers and perpetuating factors around anxiety or fears, which will usually include specific evidence-based treatments to quickly provide relief and then to provide ongoing strategies to manage and deal with the cause of the anxiety or fear.
Social anxiety is certainly an area of speciality and interest for me as a clinical psychologist. I aim to help the client understand their anxiety better and to develop effective ways of managing anxiety. Anxiety can really get in the way of living and experiencing life the way we want, and my work is focused on helping clients develop the ability to once again move in valued directions without anxiety being in control any more.
20 Years Experience
