How we can help?
Mental health support across the lifespan
People come to therapy for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a clear concern or diagnosis. Sometimes life has become overwhelming, relationships aren't working as they once did, or you simply know that something needs to change.
At Little Black Duck Therapy, we work with children, adolescents and adults across a broad range of mental health, relationship and life challenges.
Our multidisciplinary team includes experienced mental health social workers, psychologists and counsellors, each bringing different areas of expertise and ways of working. This means we can help you find a clinician whose experience and approach are a good fit for you.
Our approach is relationship-based, honest and human. We combine professional expertise and evidence-based therapeutic approaches with genuine connection, curiosity and respect for the person in front of us.
Adults
You don't need to be in crisis—or have a diagnosis—to benefit from therapy.
We work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, stress and burnout, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, emotional regulation difficulties, substance use, eating concerns and complex or longstanding mental health difficulties.
We also support people navigating difficult periods of life, including separation, parenting, changing relationships, work pressures, caring responsibilities and major life transitions.
Some people come to us knowing exactly what they want to work on. Others simply know that they aren't feeling like themselves. We can start from wherever you are.
Men's mental health
Men's experiences of mental health are varied, and can show up as depressed mood, anger, frustration and irritability or anxiety. At other times it can show up through withdrawing from relationships, increased alcohol or substance use, difficulties at work, problems with sleep, or simply feeling less able to cope with the things that once felt manageable.
We recognise that sitting in a room talking about feelings isn't necessarily everyone's idea of therapy. Our clinicians take a down-to-earth, respectful and collaborative approach, and therapy can be practical and focused on understanding what's happening, identifying what matters to you and finding useful ways forward.
Children & Families
Working effectively with children requires more than adapting adult therapy for a younger person.
Our clinicians have specialist knowledge in child development, attachment, trauma, emotional regulation, behaviour, neurodevelopment and family relationships. We understand that children's wellbeing is closely connected to the relationships and environments around them, so our work often involves parents and caregivers alongside the child.
We support children experiencing anxiety, big emotions, behavioural challenges, trauma, family separation, grief and loss, school or social difficulties, and developmental or mental health concerns.
Depending on the child and their needs, sessions may involve talking, play, creative approaches, Theraplay-informed work, parent consultation or working together as a family.
Our focus is not simply on changing a child's behaviour. We want to understand what is happening underneath it and help children and the adults around them build the skills, relationships and environments they need to thrive.
Young People
Adolescence can bring enormous change—in relationships, identity, family life, school, independence and expectations.
We work with young people experiencing anxiety, depression, social difficulties, emotional regulation difficulties, family conflict, school stress or disengagement, trauma, eating concerns, substance use and other mental health challenges.
Building a genuine therapeutic relationship is particularly important when working with adolescents. We aim to provide a space where young people can speak openly without feeling judged, lectured or treated as a problem to be fixed.
Where appropriate, we also work alongside parents and caregivers to strengthen communication, relationships and support around the young person while respecting their growing independence.
Trauma & Complex Mental Health
Trauma-informed practice is a core area of expertise at Little Black Duck Therapy.
Our clinicians have extensive experience working with people affected by childhood and developmental trauma, family and domestic violence, attachment disruption, complex PTSD, difficult relationships and other experiences that can continue to affect how people feel, relate and respond long after the immediate experience has passed.
We understand that trauma can show up in many ways—not only through memories of what happened, but through anxiety, emotional overwhelm, disconnection, relationship patterns, difficulties trusting others, strong reactions, avoidance or feeling constantly on alert.
Our approach prioritises safety, relationships and understanding before asking people to make change.
Across our team, trauma therapy may draw on approaches including EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), attachment-focused therapy, CBT, ACT, DBT and creative approaches. The approach used will depend on your needs, preferences and the training of your clinician.
Relationships, Couples & Families
Sometimes the difficulty isn't located within one person—it's happening between people.
We work with couples and families experiencing communication difficulties, recurring conflict, disconnection, parenting challenges, separation and changing family relationships.
Our couples work draws on the Gottman Method, an evidence-based approach focused on strengthening friendship and connection, improving communication and helping couples understand and manage patterns of conflict.
Family work may draw on attachment-focused and systemic approaches, including DDP principles where appropriate.
Our role isn't to decide who is right or wrong. We help people slow down difficult patterns, understand what is happening underneath them and find different ways of communicating and relating.
Family work may involve the whole family or different combinations of family members depending on what is most useful.
Parenting & Perinatal Support
Becoming and being a parent can bring enormous emotional and relational change.
We support parents through pregnancy, the transition to parenthood and the years that follow, including difficulties with adjustment, anxiety, relationships, attachment, parenting confidence and understanding children's emotional and behavioural needs.
We also work with parents who want to understand how their own experiences and relationships may be influencing the way they parent.
Parent support can be offered alongside a child's therapy or as a therapeutic intervention in its own right.
Eating & Body Image Concerns
Our clinicians have experience supporting children, adolescents and adults experiencing difficulties with eating, body image and their relationship with food.
Depending on age and circumstances, this may involve individual therapy, parent or family involvement, and collaboration with GPs, dietitians and other health professionals.
For children and adolescents, we recognise the particularly important role families can play in supporting recovery.
Our Therapeutic Approaches
There is no single type of therapy that works for everyone.
Our clinicians are trained in a range of evidence-based and evidence-informed therapeutic approaches. Rather than expecting you to fit a particular model, we consider your needs, goals, preferences and circumstances when deciding together how therapy might look.
Across our team, approaches include:
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)- Explores the connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and develops practical strategies for making change.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)- Helps people respond differently to difficult thoughts and feelings while moving towards the things that are meaningful to them.
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)- Provides skills and strategies for managing intense emotions, distress and relationship difficulties.
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EMDR Therapy- A trauma-focused therapy that can help people process distressing experiences and memories.
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Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)- An evidence-based approach designed specifically to support children and young people who have experienced trauma.
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Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) and attachment-focused approaches- Relationship-based approaches particularly relevant to children and families affected by developmental trauma and difficulties with attachment and relationships.
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Gottman Method Couples Therapy- An evidence-based approach to couples therapy focused on strengthening connection, communication and friendship while helping couples manage conflict more effectively.
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Theraplay-informed approaches- Uses playful, relationship-focused interactions to support connection, regulation and attachment between children and their caregivers.
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Art and creative therapies- Provides ways to explore experiences, emotions and relationships beyond talking alone, and can be particularly useful for people who find verbal expression difficult.
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CBT-E and Family-Based Treatment (FBT)- Specialist approaches used in the treatment of eating disorders and eating-related concerns.
Our clinicians may integrate elements from several approaches rather than using one therapy exclusively. You can read more about each clinician's experience, interests and way of working on our team page.
Support that fits the person
Therapeutic approach matters, but so does the relationship you have with your therapist.
We believe good therapy should feel collaborative. You should be able to ask questions, tell us when something isn't working and be actively involved in deciding where therapy goes.
Our clinicians have different personalities, professional backgrounds, areas of expertise and ways of working. We encourage you to read about our team and choose someone who feels like they may be a good fit.
Accessing Therapy
You can access Little Black Duck Therapy privately, and eligible clients may also be able to receive support through Medicare, NDIS, NSW Victims Services, DVA and other third-party funding arrangements.
Eligibility, rebates and fees vary depending on the clinician and funding pathway. You can find more information on our Fees & Rebates page.
You don't need to know which type of therapy or clinician you need before getting in touch. If you're unsure, our team can help point you in the right direction.
Ready to get started?
You can view available appointments and choose a clinician through our online booking system.
If you're not sure who would be the best fit, get in touch with our team and we'll help you decide where to start.