Suite 1, Level 3, 20 Wentworth Street, Parramatta Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · By appointment only
Mind Health Check
info@mindhealth.com.au Client portal Urgent help
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

Browse by topic

Anxiety & stressBrowse the topic Mood & depressionBrowse the topic Trauma & griefBrowse the topic ADHD & neurodiversityBrowse the topic Relationships & familyBrowse the topic Wellbeing & selfBrowse the topic

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
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

Make room for a fuller life.

ACT helps you stop fighting difficult thoughts and feelings, and start investing your energy in what actually matters to you. It's about psychological flexibility: living well alongside what's hard.

Request appointment How it works
What it helps with

What ACT helps with

Every plan is tailored to you. This is a guide to where this approach is most often used.

Not sure if it's the right fit? That's exactly what your first session is for. We'll recommend the approach (or blend of approaches) that suits you.

How it works

The approach, step by step.

A clear sense of how the work unfolds, always at your pace.

  1. 1

    Unhook from the struggle

    We practise noticing thoughts and feelings without being ruled by them, loosening the grip of the mind's constant commentary.

    Early sessions
  2. 2

    Clarify what matters

    We get clear on your values (the kind of person you want to be) as a compass for decisions, rather than waiting to feel ready.

    The sessions that follow
  3. 3

    Take committed action

    Small, values-based steps, taken with your difficult feelings along for the ride rather than in charge.

    Ongoing

ACT is experiential: expect mindfulness exercises, metaphors and hands-on practice, not just talking.

Fees & funding

Know your costs before you start.

With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, Medicare rebates apply to individual therapy. We'll always be clear about costs before you begin.

See fees
  • Medicare: rebates on up to 10 sessions a year with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
  • NDIS, DVA, Workers Comp & CTP: usually no out-of-pocket cost when approved.
  • Private health: claim through your extras cover, with no referral needed.
A consulting room with a desk, a tan leather chair, an armchair and a sofa by the windows.
Your clinicians

Practitioners who use this approach.

See all clinicians
Common questions

Things people ask before booking.

Is ACT a type of CBT?
ACT grew out of the CBT family but takes a different angle: rather than changing thoughts directly, it changes your relationship to them.
Do I have to meditate?
No. ACT uses brief mindfulness skills, but they're practical and secular: short, everyday exercises, not lengthy meditation.
What happens in an ACT session?
ACT sessions mix conversation with short exercises, metaphors and practical skills. You might practise noticing a difficult thought without getting tangled in it, or clarify what really matters to you and plan a small step towards it. Your psychologist will tailor the pace to you.
Can ACT be done online?
Yes. ACT works well over telehealth, and many of its exercises are easy to practise at home between sessions. You can choose online sessions, in-person sessions in Parramatta, or a combination.
What are values in ACT?
Values are the qualities you want to bring to your life, such as being caring, curious or brave. ACT uses them like a compass: they help you choose actions that feel meaningful, even when anxiety or low mood show up. Working out your values is a big part of the therapy.
Is ACT covered by Medicare?
Psychologists can provide ACT within Medicare's Better Access arrangements. If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates on sessions with a psychologist. We're happy to talk you through the process.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly with us any time. A referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP is only needed to claim Medicare rebates.
Related
References
  1. A-Tjak JGL, Davis ML, Morina N, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Emmelkamp PMG. (2015). A meta-analysis of the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy for clinically relevant mental and physical health problems. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 84(1), 30-36. doi.org/10.1159/000365764
  2. Gloster AT, Walder N, Levin ME, Twohig MP, Karekla M. (2020). The empirical status of acceptance and commitment therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 18, 181-192. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.09.009
Reading and tools

Further reading and free tools.

From the Journal

All articles

Fact sheets

All fact sheets

Free self-checks

The Mind Health Check
Which approach might suit? A rough guide to what each therapy focuses on most; your psychologist will help you choose, and many people use more than one.

Thinking and behaviour

Emotion and acceptance

Trauma memory

Relationships

Strengths and solutions

Two adults talking in a warm consultation room
Accepting new clients

Your next step starts here.

Tell us what's going on and we'll match you with the right psychologist, usually after a free triage. No referral needed to begin.

Request appointment Call 1300 084 200
ConfidentialReply within one business dayMedicare rebates may apply
Mind Health
Quick access
Request an appointment Urgent help Find a psychologist Telehealth Fees & rebates The Journal Refer a client Client portal
TheJournalFree · 5 to 10 minMind Health Check
Browse
Suite 1, Level 3, 20 Wentworth St, Parramatta
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
info@mindhealth.com.au1300 084 200
Urgent helpIf you need support now
CallAppointments →
Call Appointments