T H E R A P Y for

Positive Relationships with Yourself and Others

Breaking the Cycle of Abuse

Recovery from Relationship Abuse

and more…

  • PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF DEFENCE IS an ally to our Indigenous peoples, the LGBTIQA+ community and CALD communities. We respect and recognise the diversity of the Illawarra region and beyond.

  • All pages after the home page are intended to be a resource. You will note in some sections of this website, I  use ‘men’ to describe dangerous personalities. This is because men are far more likely to commit violent or coercive acts than women.

  • I acknowledge that women can also be dangerous people and to my male identifying and LBTQIA+  viewers, such labels may not apply.

  • Please read the information on this website accordingly and apply to your individual relationship as appropriate.

    Thanks, Sky

Hi, I’m Sky

Hello and welcome to my therapy page. I have designed this page as a way for you to get to know a bit about me and what I am about. Whilst this page is titled Psychological Self Defence, I work mostly from a lovely Psychology and Wellbeing centre in Wollongong. Read on for details

I AM A TRAUMA THERAPIST with 20 years experience under my belt and specialise in the area of recovery from relationship abuse be it historical child abuse in your family or a relationship that you are in or have recently left.

That said, I do also work with people with other challenges and have worked extensively treating anxiety, depression, complex mental health presentations and drug and alcohol issues.

The reason I love focusing on relationships is that I believe most of our issues in life stem from our relationships. As a result of challenging, controlling, abusive, confusing relationships so many of us are left with our sense of self and identity, our self esteem and self respect damaged. So many people struggle with feeling comfortable in their own skin.

Therapy is often about understanding who you are and what you need in order to live a life worth living. If that knowledge of self has been damaged, we can end up in harmful, unstable and controlling relationships in which our needs get left behind.

Most of us just want a decent fulfilled life, partnered with someone we trust, right?

There is a bunch of reasons why this can be hard and I can support you with understanding the ‘why’s’. Sometimes the why is we’ve had the unfortunate luck of being partnered with or raised by toxic people or dangerous people and this has left its mark.

This is my area of speciality. ‍ ‍‍ ‍ ‍

I work with women and men, members of the LGBTQIA +, CALD people and our Aboriginal peoples if suitable. I work mostly with ages 18 and up.

I have a very warm, non - judgemental, authentic and some would say easy going approach SO PLEASE REACH OUT if you are needing support in this area.

The very best, Sky

P R A C T I C E

Individual therapy

I work from Mind Mode Psychology and Wellness in Wollongong

Tuesday - Friday. https://mindmode.com.au

Get in touch and request to see Sky

You may also contact me via email at psychologicalselfdefence@gmail.com

I can offer face to face individual therapy or via telehealth.

To book directly with me - https://clientportal.zandahealth.com/clientportal/mind-mode/

Clinical Supervision

I offer clinical supervision to Social Workers, Accredited Mental Health Social Workers and Counsellors. Please contact me via email: psychologicalselfdefence@gmail.com

I offer therapy under the following schemes

M E D I C A R E

Obtaining a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP will enable you to claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 sessions. Appt $190 - rebate approx $87. 25

V I C T I M ‘S O F C R I M E

If you have been a victim of a crime such as domestic violence, sexual assault, coercive control or witnessed abuse yourself, you are eligible for 22 free counselling appointments with an approved Victim’s Services Therapist.

To learn more - . https://www.nsw.gov.au/legal-and-justice/information-for-victims-of-crime/victims-support-scheme/counselling

W O R K E R ‘S C O M P E N S A T I O N

I am a SIRA approved Allied Health Worker

SIRA https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au

N D I S

I am registered with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). There are item numbers under the NDIS relevant to various services provided by social workers, with two item numbers specifically dedicated to social workers.

D V A D E P A R T M E N T O F V E T E R A N ‘S A F F A I R S

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSWs) are recognised DVA providers who deliver specialised mental health services to veterans and their families. They provide evidence-based, focused psychological strategies, including CBT, trauma counselling, and PTSD management. Veterans with a DVA Gold or White Card can access these services, with White Card holders covered for mental health conditions under Non- Liability Health Care

Accessing DVA Mental Health Social Work Services

Eligible People: Veterans with a Gold Card (all conditions) or White Card (accepted conditions/mental health conditions).

How to Access: A referral is required from a GP, psychiatrist, or medical officer.

Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC): White Card holders can receive treatment for mental health conditions without the condition being accepted as service-related.

Coverage: Covers individual counselling, trauma support, addiction and relationship challenges.  

Private Health Funds‍ ‍

AMHSW services are recognised by some private health insurance funds such as Bupa, HCF, Teachers Health (including UniHealth and Nurses and Midwives Health), Doctors Health and St Lukes Health. Benefits paid by these funds vary depending on the level of ancillary cover and your eligibility.Bupa, HCF, Teachers Health, UniHealth, Nurses & Midwives Health and St Lukes Health.

B I O

I have 20 years of experience supporting people with drug and alcohol presentations, complex mental health, domestic and family violence, intimate partner violence and suicide prevention.

T H E O R E T I C A L A P P R O A C H E S

Feminist Theory, DBT, CBT, Schema, ACT, Somatic Inner Child therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Existential Theory, Person Centred and Strengths based approaches. I am also learning the ways of EMDR.

I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) and Counsellor (DipCouns) by trade.

WHAT IS AN Accredited Mental Health Social Worker I imagine some of you thinking?‍

  • Highly trained mental health professionals in Australia with advanced education and experience in mental health.

  • Like psychologists we must undergo a comprehensive accreditation process by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) to ensure we meet a high standard of professional regulation and ethical practice.

  • Like registered psychologists we are recognised providers with Medicare and can be referred by GP’s under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative. You might know it as a Mental Health Care Plan.

  • We take a ‘person- in- environment’ approach to support which means we view people in the context of their relationships, environment and social systems that are affecting your wellbeing……… That’s the ‘social’ in ‘social work’

  • We are trained not to stigmatise or make assumptions about people but to build relationship first in order to understand what is going on for you.

    Similar to psychologists as we learn clinical skills and work from Theories of Practice.

  • We approach each person from a lens of ‘what’s happened to you’?

  • Social Justice, Equality, Self Determination and Human Rights are at the core of any social workers worth the title.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Lived Experience

Psychological Self Defence acknowledges the individual

and collective contributions of those with a lived and

living experience of mental ill-health, suicide, domestic

and family violence and intimate partner violence and

those who love, have loved and cared for them.