https://www.rebeccaridani.com/resources-articles daily 0.75 2021-06-06 https://www.rebeccaridani.com/resources-articles/im-so-glad-you-dropped-by monthly 0.5 2021-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1621405286065-YKJZVQM3JIVLLG6MNSHK/image-asset.jpeg Resources - Articles - I’m so glad you dropped by https://www.rebeccaridani.com/resources-articles/can-we-just-skip-over-the-childhood-stuff monthly 0.5 2021-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1620794630831-7OS8A0PTYLPXNK5X18SQ/unsplash-image-EwFChj2yI3c.jpg Resources - Articles - Can we just skip over the childhood stuff please? https://www.rebeccaridani.com/resources-articles/5-reasons-you-may-feel-depressed monthly 0.5 2021-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1621405171718-KDAALUT3M4A1WPFSLZT9/image-asset.jpeg Resources - Articles - 5 reasons you may feel depressed https://www.rebeccaridani.com/resources-video-audio daily 0.75 2021-06-10 https://www.rebeccaridani.com/resources-video-audio/connecting-with-your-breath monthly 0.5 2021-06-10 https://www.rebeccaridani.com/resources-video-audio/category/Meditations monthly 0.5 https://www.rebeccaridani.com/resources-video-audio/tag/Mindfulness monthly 0.5 https://www.rebeccaridani.com/home daily 1.0 2023-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1604534546191-DHLU5CMY0VEI6Q7BXINZ/Rebecca-Ridani-psychologist-couples-counselling-meet-rebecca-3.jpg Home - Hi, I’m Rebecca I’m really passionate about what I do and would go so far as to say that I don’t see my job as merely a career but as my life’s mission. In my work with clients I intermingle my academic knowledge with the lessons that have come through the ‘school of heart knocks’ (coined by author Jeff Brown). I’m a self-confessed human optimisation junky and this has seen me change careers and take more workshops, seminars, retreats, and courses than you can count. All this knowledge and experience I bring to my sessions and share with you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1605660214768-7LB8MINFX3AAWGKMBRR9/image-asset.jpeg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1605660371767-5P9EXHJ1SP32YKU9FFY1/image-asset.jpeg Home https://www.rebeccaridani.com/contact daily 0.75 2023-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1605676647993-7B0W59MCUQNDNV5G07XK/rebecca-ridani-psychologist-contact-me.jpg Contact - Contact me Have some questions or want to book an appointment? I’d love to hear from you! You can reach out on email, mobile or use the contact form below. I usually get back to you within 2 business days. Email: hello@rebeccaridani.com Phone: 0481 464 969 Please note that I don’t provide any crisis services. If you do find yourself experiencing a crisis please call one of the services below: Lifeline on 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 Emergency Services on 000 https://www.rebeccaridani.com/meet-rebecca daily 0.75 2023-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1604533646204-6O6ZGLZXT32NHSK45UFG/Rebecca-Ridani-psychologist-couples-counselling-meet-rebecca-1.jpg Meet Rebecca - Who am I? I’m really passionate about what I do and would go so far as to say that I don’t see my job as merely a career but as my life’s mission. In my work with clients I intermingle my academic knowledge with the lessons that have come through the ‘school of heart knocks’ (coined by author Jeff Brown). I’m a self-confessed human optimisation junky and this has seen me change careers and take more workshops, seminars, retreats, and courses than you can count. All this knowledge and experience I bring to my sessions and share with you. At times it can feel like there is a war raging inside us with our inner critics yelling harsh things, our inner children flooding us with difficult emotions and the external world wanting our attention and needing us to keep doing what we’re doing. My mission is to help bring peace and ease to the internal chaos so that you can hear that still, small, quiet voice inside and allow it to guide you to your most authentic, truthful and fulfilled life. I don’t have a one size fits all formula which is why I spend the first session getting to know you so that we can map out a way forward that is specific to you and your own history. Some of the therapeutic styles that I use are cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, schema therapy and mindfulness-based interventions. Although there are so many wonderful therapeutic modalities out there, I find that my favourite one is internal family systems since it has compassion, kindness, respect and non-violence at its core. Those who know me describe me as empathetic, compassionate and non-judgemental. I think these qualities have always been in me, even as a little child when I used to secretly save caterpillars from being squashed by other kids. Although I’m still a big fan of caterpillars, nowadays I use these qualities to provide a safe and welcoming space for individuals to unburden themselves and share openly what is on their hearts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1604534472658-GOKWXW8TWPHQD3JG31AR/Rebecca-Ridani-psychologist-couples-counselling-meet-rebecca-2.jpg Meet Rebecca - My education Although I always had a burning hunger for self-discovery, I wasn’t always a clinical psychologist. When I left school, I studied computer science (see below for the formal university education that I’ve completed) and ended up working as an IT project manager in the corporate world. Master Coach with the Elementum Coaching Institute Master of Psychology (Clinical) – University of Wollongong, graduated with Disctinction Graduate Diploma of Psychology + Honours (University of Sydney) Bachelor of Computer Science and Technology (University of Sydney) This goes to show that sometimes one needs to take a meandering path and become a little (or a lot!) lost before the right way appears. On the plus side, at least I can fix my own computer….how many psychologists can say that!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1604534708515-VF7UIJ45I9MKTZKPJ87L/Rebecca-Ridani-psychologist-couples-counselling-meet-rebecca-4.jpg Meet Rebecca - My areas of interest I’m most passionate about helping people in the arena of sex, love and relationships and provide couples as well as individual therapy. I’m especially interested in how our past experiences shape who we are and what we do and enjoy working with people to help them shift long-standing patterns that may be getting in the way of living a wholehearted life. I also have a particular interest in religion and spirituality and am passionate about working in the arena where spirituality and psychology intersect. Other areas that I find fascinating to work with include: Grief, loss and bereavement including loss/changes in identity and relationship breakups Life transitions and changes that occur when moving from one stage of life to another Perfectionism Burnout Self-esteem, self-confidence, self-worth issues Challenges with emotions. This may include not being able to regulate emotions, feeling too much of something e.g. anger, anxiety, numbness or not feeling enough of something e.g. joy, contentment, peace. If, after reading the above, you think I may be able to help you as you journey forward into growth and transformation then please feel free to get in touch. I look forward to working with you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1605664675924-8792FOEVC0A5OBOOW5AY/rebecca-ridani-psychologist-app-development-mental-health.jpg Meet Rebecca - My publications and past experience Eventually, my IT skills did come in handy. I had the opportunity to mix my IT education with my interest in psychology. Me and a cast of thousands created an app for suicide prevention in Aboriginal Youth. The app has even been studied scientifically to prove that it did what we hoped it would do. If you’re curious about some of this work check out the publication details below and feel free to get in touch if you’d like more information. Shand, F., MacKinnon, A., O’Moore, K., Ridani, R., Reda, B., Hoy, M., Heard, T., Duffy, L., Shanahan, M., Jackson-Pulver, L., Christensen, H. (2019). The iBobbly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander app project: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 20(1):198. Ridani, R., Torok, M., Shand, F., Holland, C., Murray, S., Borrowdale, K., Sheedy, M., Crowe, J., Cockayne, N., Christensen, H. (2016). An evidence-based systems approach to suicide prevention: guidance on planning, commissioning, and monitoring. Sydney: Black Dog Institute. Ridani, R., Shand, F., Christensen, McKay K., H., Tighe, J., Burns, J., Hunter, E. (2015). Suicide prevention in Australian Aboriginal communities: A review of past and present programs. Suicide and Life Threatening Behaviour, 45(1), 111-140. Shand, F., Ridani, R., Tighe, J., Christensen, H. (2013). The effectiveness of a suicide prevention app for Indigenous Australian youths: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials,14:396 Tighe, J., Shand, F., Ridani, R., Mackinnon, A., De La Mata, N., Christensen, H. (2017). Ibobbly mobile health intervention for suicide prevention in Australian Indigenous youth: A pilot randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 7(1), e013518. https://www.rebeccaridani.com/faqs daily 0.75 2025-01-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1605663823419-5YBAXMJNGFO0PVGO0C6P/image.jpg FAQs What happens at the first appointment? In order to tailor a treatment plan specifically for you, I need to have a thorough understanding of your challenges. As such, the first session is spent getting to know you. I’ll be listening out for the factors that may have contributed to your current challenges and may be keeping them going. The first session may also include a brief discussion of your goals for treatment. How long do sessions last? All sessions are 50 minutes long. Can I get a Medicare rebate? You will need to see your GP who will determine whether you are eligible for a Medicare rebate. If so, you may be able to claim up to 20 Medicare rebated sessions per calendar year with a Mental Health Care Plan. The rebate for each session is $141.85. How many sessions will I need? This may be difficult to answer without having a better understanding of what you wish to get out of therapy. Generally speaking, the longer and more persistent an issue, the more sessions you may need in order to achieve your desired goals and outcomes. While tools, strategies and ‘quick fix’ solutions can be helpful, they don’t tend to address the underlying issues which, when healed, can lead to longer term change. Imagine a patient who needs blood transfusions because they keep loosing blood. While the addition of blood to their system can certainly help them keep going, we also need to address why they are loosing blood in the first place. Therapy can be a little like this. Often the symptoms are indicative of a deeper cause, and longer-term change usually happens when we explore, understand, and heal the underlying causes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1608181984449-T40104T0LO5H730RY3X7/Rebecca-Ridani-Psychologist-Office-2.jpg FAQs What happens in therapy? After obtaining a shared understanding of your challenges, a treatment plan will be developed and agreed upon together. This will serve as a guide for future sessions to ensure that we meet your goals. Sessions may involve a mixture of talking and practical exercises. Most likely, there will be between session activities for you to complete in order to practice new skills and solidify any gains made during our time together. Who do I help? I work with individuals aged 18 and over as well as couples. Please note that I do not work with children or adolescents. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1605664373467-IZ034MIWKL1NT6AUKP1Y/image.jpg FAQs What's the difference between a psychologist and a clinical psychologist? Choosing someone to work with is an important decision and you may be confused by all the different names out there: life coach, counsellor, psychotherapist, psychologist, clinical psychologist. It can be a minefield! To help simplify things, think about it this way. Chances are, anyone who you are considering working with has had specialist training. The differences in the names and titles can be thought of as a difference in education. For example, most (if not all) psychologists have had 4 years of university education with an additional one or two years of practical/supervised experience. Many clinical psychologists have had 4 years of university training, then completed at least 2 years of higher education training (at a masters or doctorate level) and an additional 2 years of supervised experience. Regardless of who you decide to work with, you may wish to ask your treating professional about their training background, any associations they have membership with and their preferred working modality. As for me, I’m a member of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA). What's the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that has undertaken a medical degree at university then completed further training in mental health. They understand the biological basis of mental illnesses and can prescribe medication where needed. A psychologist has not completed a medical degree and therefore cannot prescribe medication for mental health issues. The underlying premise of psychiatry is that medication changes the way individuals think, feel and behave through biological mechanisms. Clinical and other psychologists also aim for change in feelings, thoughts and behaviour but use different methods to enact these changes. These methods might include, amongst others, talking, increasing insight and awareness, identifying and coping with emotions, and increasing motivation to change behaviour. Can you prescribe medication for me? Since I have not completed a medical degree, I cannot prescribe medication for your mental wellbeing. If you wish to explore medication as part of your treatment, you may wish to speak to your GP. Your GP may also refer you to a psychiatrist for a more comprehensive exploration into the best medication for your individual circumstances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1605664486234-9H891I8V43N710C18JUF/rebecca-ridani-psychologist-couples-therapy-zoom-telehealth-sessions.jpg FAQs Do you offer online sessions? I offer face-to-face and online sessions. Telehealth sessions are eligible for the full Medicare rebate of $129.55 per session for up to 20 sessions in a calendar year. Are online sessions secure? I use an integrated telehealth system which lets me conduct secure video calls with you. It’s end-to-end encrypted and suitable for use in Health Care. If you choose to have a telehealth session, I will email you a secure link which you can use at the time of your session. This link requires no software download. https://www.rebeccaridani.com/couples-therapy daily 0.75 2021-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623302014912-XNGSPJTFN8CA451FU0XZ/unsplash-image-8c3zjKrkkBA.jpg Couples Therapy - Why consider couples therapy? Relationships are an integral part of our daily lives and for many of us, the quality of our relationships impacts our overall wellbeing. Relationships can be challenging and we may become stuck for several reasons. The way we relate to others is usually learned from our early caregivers. Those of us who may not have had healthy relationships modeled to us when younger may struggle with healthy relating during adulthood. Others may lack the skills needed for harmonious relationships. We may not know what we are feeling or needing and therefore unable to communicate this to others. Individuals seek couples therapy for many reasons including communication issues, sexual difficulties, infidelity, anger, conflict, distance in the relationship or assistance in mediating the ending of a relationship. Most of us seek therapy when our intimate relationships become stuck, but therapy may be beneficial for any type of relationship including those between family members and those with our friends and colleagues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1605660370083-GJOUCO20T5K5IXPFNYBW/image-asset.jpeg Couples Therapy - What's involved in couples therapy? It’s natural for one or both partners to feel some anxiety or apprehension before the first appointment. My priority is to create a safe space where both people feel comfortable sharing their perspective on the relationship issues. I’ll be listening and looking for any factors that may be contributing to your relationship challenges. After I’ve listened to both of your stories in the first session, I’ll also ask you about your hopes for therapy and for the relationship. At the end of that session I’ll provide some feedback regarding focus areas for treatment and a potential roadmap moving forward. Couples therapy usually involves a focus on improving the attachment bond between partners. This may be achieved through in-session dialogue or training of specific skills for communication and conflict management. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1622954542980-HLFMOADK47CBBIR5L623/DSC03236.jpg Couples Therapy - What type of therapy do I use for couples? I have had specialist training in couples therapy and use a variety of therapeutic styles including Gottman therapy, Imago therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as well as elements of Emotion Focused Therapy. https://www.rebeccaridani.com/individual-therapy daily 0.75 2021-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623306965872-9VLQ9T1U21PPHXQJ8OCB/unsplash-image-J3JMyXWQHXU.jpg Individual Therapy - Why consider individual therapy? You may have landed on this page because you’re exploring whether therapy might be right for you and wondering what you might get out of your sessions. People choose to engage in therapy for many different reasons. Some feel stuck and are unsure how to move forward with their lives. Others have achieved many of their dreams and are still not feeling content. Some may be feeling too much of something (anxiety, sadness) and not enough of other things (peace, joy, contentment) and may want tools to manage their moods. Others may need a space to sort out their thoughts and make sense of their journey thus far. Whatever your reasons, you are welcome to browse through the below categories and tune in to whether there might be particular areas you want to work on. If so, I may be able to help since the below areas are of particular interest to me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623223508262-BHOI1TOZP7ZNSY5X0WHF/unsplash-image-7SRymDKKDus.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623284760449-SAO94I72JY6FMD6N2BYE/unsplash-image-kgZFViswqxg.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623284824353-W90OQCYW16UDGHBVU9QQ/unsplash-image-nF8xhLMmg0c.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623284892219-MN6TS5M3N99L2XOHVHBT/unsplash-image-QJNUZiqrXPc.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623285062633-2UBACIPWLRGRHRJ0BB1L/unsplash-image-oe_03B2Q5A4.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623285130024-04XUZH224CHJTBYPMKTU/unsplash-image-zUIPCm2Pycc.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623285176703-TC3TL8EHH6V2KO06DH7W/unsplash-image-in9-n0JwgZ0.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623285381944-IPD6QJPAR0ZGQC0TEZRO/unsplash-image-6VWTC9sWu8M.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623285456597-4LKZPPN8Y9A2JO5K7P6N/unsplash-image-FOsina4f7qM.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623285830160-RV8CEKKWLS3K6TP8VU5V/unsplash-image-sLp-kPZatLc.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623285912281-2ISE6BFBFFQ2W7ZMZOQI/unsplash-image-s9CC2SKySJM.jpg Individual Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1623286026306-O4IN33HSU6WP4CVOBV0C/unsplash-image-wuo8KnyCm4I.jpg Individual Therapy https://www.rebeccaridani.com/sessions-with-me daily 0.75 2022-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1621134055025-SNQTWF6AEJ8P7LXBSODE/DSC03477.jpg Sessions With Me - Before you consider working with me… Whether you’re an individual or a couple, there are some things you may want to know before deciding to start sessions with me so read on to find out more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1620130525484-5P5P34Z25VXH06UXAOAL/unsplash-image-gGmSBAps6K0.jpg Sessions With Me - Couples Therapy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f87e2a8523be9674ca62473/1620130545306-AROP9KYO0SS5EO0EK89U/unsplash-image-HiE1bIIoRqQ.jpg Sessions With Me - Individual Therapy