About Sijal

Sijal Ansari is a Clinical Psychologist with over 5 years experience who works with adults, children, and adolescents. Her approach to therapy is to focus on the individual’s story, their personality, and their unique biology to understand the implications of current difficulties. Sijal takes a holistic, collaborative, and tailored approach in order to help each person harness their strengths and thrive. Sijal has a special interest in working with people to understand the impacts of neurodiversity (Autism / ASD / ADHD), complex trauma, and key life transitions (e.g. perinatal mental health).

When working with children and adolescents, she works with the family, education and wider support system to ensure intervention is consistent and individualised to the child and their broader systems. After all, it takes a village to raise a child.

Sijal provides clinical assessments and evidence-based therapies and for people experiencing a wide range of difficulties including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationship difficulties, difficulties with self-esteem, substance use, OCD, challenging child behaviour and perfectionism.

Sijal practices through a range of therapeutic techniques including CBT, ACT, Schema therapy, EMDR, DBT and family systems therapy.

Sijal has previously worked in private practice and intensive hospital outpatient settings.

🗓️ BOOK NOW • 1300 084 200

Therapeutic DNA

• Schema-informed, EMDR-capable, skills-focused. Sijal blends depth work (Schema Therapy) with practical strategies from CBT, ACT, DBT, EMDR and family-systems thinking—adjusting the mix to suit goals, culture and context.

• Trauma-aware & attachment-minded. She integrates imagery-based methods and trauma-processing protocols for PTSD and C-PTSD, while strengthening day-to-day regulation and relationships.

• Collaborative & paced. Clear goals, regular check-ins and between-session practices help translate insight into lasting change.

Areas of Expertise

• Anxiety (panic, phobias, OCD) • Depression • Stress & burnout
• Neurodiversity: ADHD, Autism / ASD, perfectionism, executive-function challenges
• Trauma & PTSD (including complex trauma) • Grief & adjustment • Self-esteem & identity
• Relationship and family challenges (communication, boundaries) • Sleep difficulties
• Substance use and relapse prevention
• Workplace issues and return-to-work support.

Treatments Offered

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Schema Therapy (contextual & advanced training)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) – individual and skills coaching experience
• Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Family Systems Therapy
• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
• Solution-Focused Therapy 
• Mindfulness & Psychoeducation
• Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1 & 2

Assessments & Reports

Sijal conducts comprehensive assessments and clear, actionable reports for care planning, education and services:

• Cognitive & Learning: e.g. WAIS, WISC, WIAT; academic / learning profiles
• Attention & Behaviour: ADHD evaluations (e.g., Conners), executive-function profiling
• Autism: ADOS-2, ADI-R, MIGDAS (child, adolescent, adult)
• Memory: WMS; screening of memory and processing concerns
• Reports for IQ / Cognitive ability, Autism / ADHD, Centrelink, Medicare, and student/university needs.

Availability

In-person at Mind Health Parramatta • By appointment. For current openings, please click Book Now or call 1300 084 200.

See Fees & Rebates for pricing and Medicare rebate information.

Languages

English, Hindi, Urdu. Culturally responsive care for CaLD communities.

Client Types

Adults • Older adults • Adolescents 13+ • Injured workers • People with disabilities • CaLD • LGBTIQ+ and Non-Binary clients.

Qualifications

• Master of Clinical Psychology, Western Sydney University (2019–2020)
• B.Psych (Honours), Macquarie University (2016–2018)
• AHPRA-endorsed Clinical Psychologist (Registration PSY0002273379)
• Selected publication: Ansari, S., McMahon, C., & Bernier, A. (2020). Parental mind-mindedness… Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Beyond the Therapy Room

Sijal recharges in nature—hiking and tending a veggie garden—and enjoys crocheting, sewing, puzzles and the occasional chat over coffee. Small daily rituals of self-care keep her grounded, creative and present.