Psychology

Psychology

Visit our Psychologist Maria Rodrigues in Carina

Maria Rodrigues, experienced EMDR Psychologist, is committed to offering you the best practice in psychological care. She offers counselling and therapy to individuals of all ages, as well as couples and families. Maria has an extensive evidence-based approach to therapy. She works with cutting-edge neuroscience treatments demonstrated to be effective by current research.

Maria Is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). EMDR is a comprehensive therapy approach that addresses the physiological storage of memory and how it informs experience. EMDR therapy processes negative memories and is proven to reduce symptoms and emotional distress.

Maria has undertaken six years of training in psychology and is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. She established a successful private practice in 2008 and continues to see clients who are struggling with difficult personal issues. Before establishing a private practice, Maria worked in a broad range of settings including child protection, health and vocational psychology, and adolescent and family clinics. Maria is dedicated to ensuring that you develop the strength within and the skills to manage your concerns

Assisting Individuals

Maria is highly experienced in dealing with a wide variety of problems. She has a proven track record in producing positive outcomes for clients across a broad range of presenting. Much of her work involves helping clients overcome longstanding problems in these areas without the use of medication and works closely with the general practitioners. Maria works with individuals in a supportive and non-judgmental manner, creating relationships of trust which then empowers people to identify and achieve their personal goals.

Some Difficulties that Maria may assist you with include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Complex, sexual and/or interpersonal trauma
• Emotion regulation/managing difficult emotions
• Stress management
• Grief and Loss
• Self-esteem/self-confidence issues
• Work cover
• Work related difficulties

Supporting families

Maria works effectively with families and couples to create positive relationships, strengthening family bonds and developing skills for effective interpersonal communication.

Difficulties that Maria may assist you with include:

• Relationship/Marriage Difficulties
• Separation and Divorce
• Parenting Support
• Post-Natal Depression

​Current Programmes

OUR PSYCHOLOGIST WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR CHILD’S COPING AND BUILD THEIR RESILIENCE

This program aims to increase the psychological resilience and resourcefulness of young people. It is a strength focused program that will run for 2 x 2hr sessions. These sessions are conducted at the Medical Centre on a Saturday afternoon between 1:30pm – 3:30pm. It is run with groups of young people 7-13yrs old (maximum 10 participants per group).

This program aims to equip your children with the abilities to:

• Recognise and affirm their existing strengths and resources
• Promote self-management and self-regulation skills in the face of stress
• Engage in positive thinking
• create a personal problem-solving model
• build and know how to access psychological support networks
• consider other peoples’ perspectives and gain increased empathy
• keep and make the peace appropriately

A Medicare rebate may be applicable if the participant has a current mental health care plan in place.

Private health insurance rebates available.

For programme dates and to register your interest please contact the clinic: Phone 3398 8188.

FREE PARKING AND AFTERNOON SNACK PROVIDED

The Importance of Good Psychological Health

Good psychological health and a strong sense of self can play a significant role in how we handle the stresses of life and make important decisions. Throughout your life, you will likely encounter challenges and situations that test your self-esteem, stress management capabilities and capacity for resilience. When these times occur, it’s important that you have good psychological health or someone that you can lean on to help you through. This is the value of a good psychologist.

When to see a Psychologist

It can be difficult to know when you need to reach out and get help. Many people leave it too long, needlessly struggling through challenges on their own. If you’re suffering from overwhelming feelings of stress and anxiety or aren’t sure how to respond to particular challenges in your life, our psychologist can help you assess things from a new perspective and develop a strategy to deal with the issues facing you.

There are some, and not all, common triggers for when people usually see a psychologist, including, but not limited to:

• Over-thinking
• Perfectionism
• Flashbacks, consistent nightmares
• Difficulty being present in the moment
• Sleep disturbance
• Phobias and fear
• Relationship issues
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Workplace struggles