Individual Therapy & Adult Psychology in Drummoyne & Sydney
Drummoyne Psychology provides individual therapy for adults in Drummoyne, the Inner West and across Sydney. Our experienced Psychologists work with adults experiencing a wide range of psychological, emotional and life difficulties, including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, women's mental health concerns and relationship difficulties.
Our approach to therapy is personalised, evidence-based and focused on understanding the whole person. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all treatment, we work collaboratively with you to understand what is contributing to your difficulties, identify patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and develop practical strategies to support meaningful and lasting change.
You do not need to have a formal diagnosis to benefit from psychological therapy. You may be struggling with a specific mental health concern, navigating a difficult period or major life transition, experiencing problems in your relationships, or simply feel that something in your life is not working as you would like. Whatever brings you to therapy, our psychologists provide a warm, compassionate and clinically informed space to help you better understand yourself and move forward.
How Can Individual Therapy Help?
Individual therapy can help with a wide range of psychological, emotional and life difficulties. You do not need to have a mental health diagnosis to see a psychologist. Many people seek therapy because they feel overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected from themselves or others, or are finding it difficult to manage a particular situation or period of change.
Our Psychologists work with adults experiencing a broad range of concerns, including:
Anxiety, stress and overwhelm
Therapy can help when worry, fear, stress or feeling overwhelmed begins to affect your thoughts, emotions, relationships, work or everyday life. This may include generalised anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, health anxiety, chronic stress, burnout or difficulty switching off.
Depression and low mood
Depression can affect much more than mood. It can influence motivation, energy, sleep, concentration, relationships and your sense of meaning or enjoyment in life. Psychological therapy can help you understand the factors contributing to depression and develop strategies to improve your mood, functioning and quality of life.
Trauma and difficult life experiences
Difficult or traumatic experiences can continue to affect the way we think, feel, behave and relate to others, sometimes long after the event itself. We provide psychological therapy for trauma, complex trauma and the emotional impact of difficult life experiences, using evidence-based approaches tailored to each person's needs.
Relationships and interpersonal difficulties
Our relationships can have a significant impact on our psychological wellbeing. Individual therapy can help you understand recurring relationship patterns, attachment difficulties, boundaries, communication problems, emotional reactions and difficulties with trust or intimacy. It can also provide support when you are navigating separation, relationship changes or other significant interpersonal challenges.
Self-esteem, perfectionism and emotional difficulties
Low self-esteem, self-criticism, perfectionism and difficulty managing emotions can affect many areas of life. Therapy can help you understand where these patterns come from, develop greater self-compassion and learn healthier ways of responding to yourself, your emotions and the people around you.
Eating disorders, body image and disordered eating
Eating disorders and difficulties with food, eating and body image can have significant psychological and physical consequences. We provide specialist psychological treatment for eating disorders and disordered eating, including support for concerns around body image, self-esteem, perfectionism and the emotional functions that eating disorder behaviours may serve.
Learn more about Eating Disorder Treatment →
Women's mental health
Women may experience particular psychological challenges during different stages of life, including pregnancy and the postnatal period, perimenopause and menopause. We provide psychological support for women's mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, PMDD, adjustment to life changes and the emotional impact of reproductive and hormonal changes.
Learn more about Women's Health Psychology →
ADHD and neurodivergence
For adults with ADHD or other neurodivergent experiences, difficulties with attention, organisation, emotional regulation, relationships and self-esteem can have a significant impact on everyday life. Psychological therapy can help develop practical strategies while also exploring the emotional and relational patterns that may have developed over time.
Learn more about Adult ADHD Assessment & Support →
Grief, loss and major life changes
Life transitions and losses can be deeply challenging, even when they are not associated with a formal mental health diagnosis. Therapy can provide support through grief, separation, career changes, changes in identity, illness, retirement, becoming a parent and other significant transitions.
Personal growth and understanding yourself
You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Some people seek individual therapy because they want to better understand themselves, change longstanding patterns, improve their relationships, develop greater emotional awareness or create a life that feels more meaningful and aligned with their values.
Our psychologists can help you develop a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and relationships, and work with you to create meaningful and sustainable change.
Our Approach to Individual Therapy
At Drummoyne Psychology, we believe effective psychological therapy begins with understanding the person, not simply treating a diagnosis or a collection of symptoms. Everyone brings their own history, personality, relationships, experiences and circumstances to therapy, so our approach is tailored to your individual needs and goals.
Our Psychologists draw on a range of evidence-based psychological therapies and clinical approaches. We may use one therapeutic approach or integrate several approaches depending on what you are experiencing, what you want to achieve and what is likely to be most helpful.
Understanding what is keeping you stuck
Therapy is not simply about managing symptoms. While developing practical strategies to reduce anxiety, improve mood or manage stress can be important, we also seek to understand the underlying patterns contributing to your difficulties.
Together, we may explore your early experiences, relationships, beliefs about yourself and others, emotional patterns, coping strategies and the ways you respond when life becomes difficult. Developing this understanding can help you recognise patterns that may have once been protective but are no longer serving you.
Evidence-based psychological therapies
Our psychologists are trained in a range of psychological therapies, including:
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – helping you understand and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour.
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Schema Therapy – exploring longstanding emotional and relational patterns and the underlying needs that may not have been adequately met.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – developing psychological flexibility and learning to respond differently to difficult thoughts and emotions while moving towards what matters to you.
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EMDR – an evidence-based approach that can be particularly helpful when distressing experiences or trauma continue to affect you in the present.
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Mindfulness-based approaches – developing greater awareness of thoughts, emotions and physical experiences without automatically reacting to them.
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Other evidence-based approaches – selected according to your individual circumstances, goals and treatment needs.
Explore our psychological therapy approaches →
Therapy that is collaborative and personalised
We don't believe there is one “right” way to do therapy. Your psychologist will work collaboratively with you to develop a shared understanding of your difficulties and agree on treatment goals that are meaningful to you. Some people benefit from learning practical strategies and skills. Others need space to process difficult experiences, understand longstanding patterns or work through complex emotions and relationships. Often, therapy involves a combination of these approaches.
Our aim is not simply to help you feel better in the short term, but to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and create changes that can be maintained beyond therapy.
Our team includes experienced Psychologists with a range of specialist areas and therapeutic expertise.
Meet our team of psychologists →
A warm, compassionate and clinically informed approach
Seeking psychological therapy can feel vulnerable, particularly if you have never worked with a psychologist before. We aim to provide a therapeutic environment that is warm, respectful, non-judgemental and psychologically safe, while maintaining the clinical expertise needed to provide effective treatment. We take the time to understand your experiences and work at a pace that is appropriate for you. Our psychologists are committed to providing therapy that is compassionate, evidence-based and responsive to the complexity of each individual person.
What happens in individual therapy
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Starting therapy can feel daunting, particularly if you have never seen a psychologist before. You may not know what to expect, what you will be asked, or even where to begin. Our psychologists aim to make the process comfortable, collaborative and tailored to you. Individual therapy is an opportunity to work with an experienced Psychologist to better understand what you are experiencing, identify what may be contributing to your difficulties and develop ways of responding that help you move forward.
What happens in your first psychology appointment?
Your first appointment is an opportunity for your psychologist to get to know you and understand what has brought you to therapy. You may talk about what has been happening recently, your current concerns, your relationships, your personal history and any factors that may be affecting your psychological wellbeing. Your psychologist will also discuss what you would like to achieve from therapy. Depending on your circumstances, this may involve developing an initial understanding or formulation of your difficulties and discussing the treatment approaches that may be most helpful. You do not need to prepare a perfect explanation of why you are coming to therapy. Many people arrive feeling unsure about what they need or where to start. Your psychologist will guide the conversation and help you make sense of what is happening.
What happens after the first session?
As therapy progresses, your psychologist will work collaboratively with you to develop a clearer understanding of your difficulties and the patterns that may be contributing to them. Together, you may explore thoughts, emotions, behaviours, relationships, past experiences and the ways you respond to challenging situations.
Depending on your goals and treatment needs, therapy may involve developing practical psychological skills, changing unhelpful patterns of thinking or behaviour, processing difficult experiences, improving emotional regulation, strengthening relationships or developing a deeper understanding of yourself.
Your psychologist will regularly review your progress and ensure that therapy continues to be relevant to your goals.
How long does individual therapy take?
There is no fixed number of sessions that is right for everyone. The length and frequency of therapy depends on the nature and complexity of your concerns, your goals and how you respond to treatment.
Some people seek psychological therapy for a specific difficulty and may benefit from a relatively focused course of treatment. Others have longstanding or more complex difficulties that require longer-term therapy.
Your psychologist will discuss your treatment needs with you and work collaboratively to determine an approach that is appropriate for your circumstances.
What if I don't know what I need from therapy?
That's completely okay. You don't need to arrive with a diagnosis, a treatment plan or a clear understanding of what is wrong. Sometimes people simply know that they are struggling, feel stuck or have noticed that something in their life is not working as they would like. Part of the therapeutic process is helping you understand what is happening and identifying what needs to change. Our role is to work alongside you to make sense of your experiences and develop a path forward that is meaningful and achievable for you.
Interested in finding out which of our psychologists may be the right fit for you?
Meet our team of Psychologists →