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Melbourne Psychologist and Counsellor

Heba Bendak

I’m Heba, a counsellor and psychologist based in Naarm (Melbourne). I have spent many years working across a variety of mental health services including clinical, community, and hospital settings. As a Lebanese Woman, I have a personal and professional understanding about how culture, race and social systems shape each of us. As a therapist, my practice focuses on cultural safety, compassion and collaboration to allow each client to feel heard, honoured and understood. 

As your therapist my hopes are that we can uncover your authentic self, deepen your awareness of self and others, learn to regulate difficult emotions, process past traumas, grief and stressful events, and ultimately, deepen self acceptance and harmony.

There are many systemic forces that affect all of us and the generations before us such as societal expectations, gender norms, economic hardship, cultural messaging to name a few. Our work together will consider the cultural, ancestral and societal contexts that shape you and adopt a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive lens to therapy.

I have previously worked as a psychologist in community adult mental health, as a counsellor at Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault, and as a counsellor at The Royal Women’s Hospital. My clinical specialities include trauma, attachment issues, anxiety, ADHD, mood difficulties, and interpersonal challenges. I also have experience assessing and diagnosing mental health disorders including neurodivergence, if clinically indicated.

Languages Spoken: Arabic & English

What I Can Help With

  • Trauma processing & healing

  • Building self-esteem & self-confidence

  • Anxiety & Depression 

  • Stress & Overwhelm

  • Attachment difficulties

  • Social anxiety and other social difficulties

  • Cultural identity & belonging challenges

  • Racism, racial trauma & micro-aggressions

  • Sexual trauma & sexual assault recovery

  • Emotional Regulation

  • Work/career related difficulties​

  • Family conflict & difficulties

Qualifications

  • Masters of Clinical Psychology
    Swinburne University

  • Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) 
    La Trobe University
     

Professional Memberships​

  • Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

  • Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi)

How I Can Help

I have been trained in a range of modalities of therapeutic modalities which I apply based on what is evidence based and most helpful for your unique circumstances. Modalities incorporated in my approach include:

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  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (T-CBT)

  • Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 

  • Schema Therapy

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