Suite 1, Level 3, 20 Wentworth Street, Parramatta Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · By appointment only
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1300 084 200 Appointments

What's going on

Anxiety & worryPanic, phobias, worry Depression & low moodWhen nothing feels worth it Trauma & PTSDEMDR and trauma therapy Stress & burnoutRunning on empty Sleep & insomniaCBT-I Relationships & couplesConflict, distance, repair ADHDAssessment and support OCDExposure-based treatment Grief & lossAfter a death or a loss Anger Pregnancy & new parents All conditions

How we help

Individual therapyOne-to-one or online Couples therapyGottman and EFT-informed TelehealthAustralia-wide, by video
Therapy approachesCBTACTEMDRDBTSchemaAll approaches
Programs & groupsMindfulness-X, P3, EAP AssessmentsADHD, autism, cognitive

Getting started

AppointmentsReply within one business day Fees & rebatesMedicare, NDIS, private Your first sessionWhat happens on the day Find a psychologistBy concern, language, day Urgent helpIf you need support now Free · 5 to 10 minMind Health Check
New here?How Medicare worksCommon questionsAbout the practice Not sure where to start? 1300 084 200

GPs & health professionals

Refer a clientOne form, every pathway For GPsPlans, letters, reports Referrer HubYour referrals, in one place Reports & assessmentsADHD, autism, cognitive Medico-legalFor insurers and schemes

Workplaces & organisations

Employee Assistance ProgramStaff book directly Training & wellbeingWorkshops and first aid Work Development OrdersFines cleared by treatment Workers compensationicare and insurers

Families & carers

Supporting a loved oneWhat helps, what to say Request for someone elseFor a partner or parent NDISPlan- or self-managed

Editorial pick

The referral pathways guideWhich form, which plan, how long a report takes.Read the guide
Referrers:Refer nowCare plansReport turnaround A real person answers 1300 084 200

Latest articles

ADHD in women and girls: Why it is often missed and what assessment involvesADHD · 12 minAI companions: When a chatbot becomes your 2am confidantWellbeing · 12 minGeneralised anxiety disorder (GAD): When worry won't switch offAnxiety · 12 min TheJournalBrowse all articles

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Free resources

Fact sheets36 PDFs, plain language Worksheets & guidesPractical and printable CoursesFree and self-paced HEALTHY frameworkHow the practice thinks Free · 5 to 10 minMind Health Check

Editor's pick

Read with intentionA plain guide to stress: what it is, and everyday ways to manage it.Read article
From the journal:Clinician notesSubscribe Plain-language insights from our clinicians

The practice

Our storyWestern Sydney, since 2004 Approach & valuesHow we think about good care Practice newsWhat is changing, and when Room rentalConsulting rooms, Parramatta CareersJoin a values-led practice

Our clinicians

Bülent AdaPrincipal Psychologist & Director Sijal AnsariClinical Psychologist Robert RuaneClinical Neuropsychologist Taline BardakjianConsultant Psychologist Mohan ShankarappaClinical Psychologist Michael L. T. CheungConsultant Psychologist Shahim AhmadClinical Psychologist Steve SuttonCounselling Psychologist Irfan YigitSenior Consultant Psychologist Bill SinghConsultant Psychologist Elizabeth LeeClinical Psychotherapist Shareen BirgesCounselling Social Worker Annette HaggertyConsultant Psychologist

Practical

Your first sessionWhat happens on the day Fees & rebatesMedicare, NDIS, private Questions & answersThe ones we are asked most Contact & locationParramatta, and by video Client portalAppointments, forms, invoices FormsConsent and authority

Find your fit

Meet the cliniciansWarm and down-to-earth. Find the right match for you.Find a psychologist
Visit us:Parramatta clinicTelehealth AU-wideGet directions New clients welcome · no referral needed
Alcohol · Drugs · Gambling · Behavioural

Addiction support, without judgement.

Alcohol, other drugs, gambling, or a habit that has taken over: change is possible, and you don't need it all worked out first. Confidential help in Parramatta or online.

Request appointment How therapy helps
Sound familiar?

Addiction rarely arrives all at once.

It builds quietly, as a way to cope that slowly asks for more. You do not need to tick every box, or hit any kind of rock bottom, to reach out.

  • You have tried to cut back or stop, and it has not held.
  • It takes more than it used to for the same effect.
  • The craving or urge is loud, and hard to sit with.
  • It is costing you money, sleep, work, or the people you love.
  • You use to take the edge off stress, low mood or memories.
  • You have started hiding how much, or how often.
  • Stopping brings on withdrawal: restlessness, shakes, irritability.
  • A part of you wants to change, and a part of you is not sure.

Mixed feelings are normal. It is possible to want change and feel unsure at the same time. Addiction is a health issue, not a failure of willpower. If use ever feels unsafe for you or someone else, our urgent help page lists people you can talk to right now.

How therapy helps

Evidence-based, and paced to you.

There is no single path out of addiction. Your psychologist draws on evidence-based approaches for your situation, and explains the reasoning as you go.

CBT

Cognitive behaviour therapy helps you notice the triggers, thoughts and situations that drive use, and build responses that serve you better.

Motivational interviewing

A calm, judgement-free way to work through mixed feelings about change and find the reasons that matter to you.

ACT

Acceptance and commitment therapy makes room for cravings and hard feelings while you move toward the life you want.

Relapse prevention

Mapping high-risk moments and planning for them in advance, plus distress-tolerance skills for when the urge is loud.

We work at your pace and toward your goals, whether that means stopping, cutting back or staying safer. With your consent we can work alongside your GP, a specialist service or a support group so everyone is pulling the same way.

What to expect

Your first weeks, step by step.

No lectures, no pressure. Here is how the early sessions usually unfold.

  1. 1

    Mostly a conversation

    Your psychologist asks what has been happening and what you would like to be different. You go only as far as you are comfortable, and together you sketch a plan.

    Session one
  2. 2

    Understanding the pattern

    You map when the urge shows up, what it does for you, and what keeps it going. Then you start practising specific skills between sessions.

    Sessions two to four
  3. 3

    Reviewing together

    Progress is checked against your goals, not a fixed program. Where it helps, and always with your consent, we can involve your GP or family.

    Ongoing
The waiting lounge with round timber tables, plants and natural light.
Fees & funding

Know your costs before you start.

We confirm your fee and any rebate in writing before your first session. If a funding body covers you, we bill them directly wherever possible.

See fees
  • Medicare: rebates on up to 10 sessions a year with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP.
  • NDIS, DVA, Workers Comp & CTP: usually no out-of-pocket cost when approved.
  • Private health: claim through your extras cover, with no referral needed.
Your clinicians

Meet our clinicians.

See all clinicians
Further reading

From our journal

JournalThe science of habit formation: 5 essential tips for lasting changeJournalCodependency explained: Signs, causes and how therapy helps
Free tools

Check in with yourself.

Free, private tools to try before or alongside sessions. They are not a diagnosis.

Free · 5 to 10 min

Take the Mind Health Check

Short questionnaires, scored privately in your browser. We have ticked the ones most related to this page, and you can change them.

Start the check

Or take the K10 (distress) on its own

Try this week

  • Notice the times, places and feelings that come before using.
  • Plan one alternative for your most common trigger.
  • Tell one person you trust that you are making a change.

Need help now? Our urgent help page has who to call, day and night.

Common questions

Things people ask before booking.

Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can book directly at any time. A GP referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan is only needed if you would like Medicare rebates on your sessions.
Do I have to stop using before I come in?
No. You are welcome exactly as you are. Your psychologist meets you where you are and sets goals with you. For some people that means stopping; for others it means cutting back or staying safer. You decide the direction, at a pace that fits your life.
Is what I share confidential?
Yes. What you discuss stays confidential, with narrow legal exceptions such as a risk of serious harm, which your psychologist explains up front.
Can therapy work alongside my GP or a program?
Yes. Psychological support works alongside your GP, a specialist service or a support group. With your consent we can work as part of your wider care team.
Can I get Medicare rebates for addiction treatment?
Medicare rebates apply when your GP prepares a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which they do when it's clinically appropriate for you. With a plan, rebates cover part of a set number of sessions each calendar year. You can also start privately and add a plan later. We confirm your fee and any rebate in writing before your first session. How Medicare works
Do you help with gambling, gaming or other behavioural addictions?
Yes. The approaches that help with alcohol and other drugs, such as CBT, motivational interviewing and relapse prevention, are also used for gambling, gaming, pornography and other behaviours that have started to cost more than they give. Your psychologist starts from what is happening for you, not from a label.
Can my family get support too?
Yes. Living alongside someone's addiction is hard in its own right. Family members can book their own sessions, and with your consent some sessions can include the people close to you.
What if I need help right now?
If things feel unsafe for you or someone else, our urgent help page lists services you can contact any time, including Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency call 000.
Two adults talking in a warm consultation room
Confidential addiction support

Change is possible, one step at a time.

Tell us what is going on and we will match you with a psychologist who works with addiction, usually after a free triage. No referral needed to begin, and no judgement when you arrive.

Get addiction support Call 1300 084 200
ConfidentialReply within one business dayMedicare rebates may apply
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Suite 1, Level 3, 20 Wentworth St, Parramatta
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
info@mindhealth.com.au1300 084 200
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