About Samantha
My Approach
I'm an experienced clinical psychologist who enjoys doing the deeper work with clients. In my experience touching on painful places with support is the key to real healing and lasting change. I provide a place where addressing deeper issues is a priority. Together we work towards your particular goals with your wellbeing as most important. With me you are safe to explore.
Experience
Samantha James has over 15 years experience working with complex trauma, mental health, substance misuse, relationship challenges, workplace issues, adolescent and child & family dynamics so I am able to provide effective strategies for pressing issues in your life.
Samantha has held positions as senior clinician for Whole Family Team and Headspace. She has provided mentorship and training for Substance Misuse Programs, borderline personality disorder, mental health & acute crisis interventions.
Qualifications
She is a fully registered clinical psychologist and board approved supervisor (with Psychology Board of Australia). Samantha holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Australian Catholic University and Bachelor of Psychology with first class Honours from University of New England in 2009. She is a fully qualified EMDR practitioner and has extensive trainings in many psychological therapies. (see below)
Therapies
Psychology & Psychotherapy
Samantha uses evidence based therapies to address issues you may be facing. Each person is unique and what works for you and your particular circumstances will also be a unique mixture of therapies. Samantha has a high level of training and many years experience in using and combining psychological therapies with trauma therapy and psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy involves Family of Origin work, Parts work and Schema Therapy. It is the process of getting unblocked emotionally and/or in your relationships, by healing family or other wounds of the past. Understanding of how the past might have impacted you on an emotional level and identifying any unhelpful core beliefs you may have developed about yourself, others and the world – enables you to change these unhelpful core beliefs.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behaviour therapy is an effective treatment approach for a range of mental and emotional health issues, including anxiety and depression. CBT aims to help you identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and to learn practical self-help strategies. These strategies are designed to bring about immediate positive changes in your quality of life. CBT can be good for anyone who needs support to challenge unhelpful thoughts that are preventing them from reaching their goals or living the life they want to live.
Dialectal Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) provides clients with new skills to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships.Rresearch shows that DBT has also been used successfully to treat people experiencing borderline personality disorder, depression, bulimia, binge-eating, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic-stress disorder, and substance abuse. DBT skills are thought to have the capability of helping those who wish to improve their ability to regulate emotions, tolerate distress and negative emotion, be mindful and present in the given moment, and communicate and interact effectively with others.
EMDR & Somatic Based Trauma Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.It is an effective treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a body-centered approach that aims to treat the somatic symptoms of unresolved trauma. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy holds that traumatic experiences may become trapped deep within the body, with those who are affected sometimes completely unaware of the existence of unresolved trauma. Traditional talk therapies may fail to unearth these unconscious issues. Therapists trained in sensorimotor therapy techniques can help an individual begin to heal by helping that person re-experience, in a safe environment, the physical sensations associated with a traumatic event.
Expressive Therapy
Play therapy is a form of therapy primarily geared toward children. In this form of therapy, a therapist encourages a child to explore life events that may have an effect on current circumstances, in a manner and pace of the child's choosing, primarily through play but also through language.
Sand tray therapy is often used with children, but can be applied to adults, teens, couples, families, and groups as well. Sand tray therapy allows a person to construct his or her own microcosm using miniature toys and coloured sand. The scene created acts as a reflection of the person’s own life and allows him or her the opportunity to resolve conflicts, remove obstacles, and gain acceptance of self.