Aya Phelan

Aya is a registered psychologist. She has completed her Bachelor of Honours (Psychology) and Master of Professional Psychology at Macquarie University. She is also undertaking a Graduate Certificate in Play and Art Therapy training to become a registered play therapist.

Aya is warm-hearted, easy to approach, and empathic. Her approach is nonjudgmental and trauma-informed. Aya has worked in not-for-profit community organisations, a disability sector and NSW Health to treat individuals of all ages across various cultural and social backgrounds. She has a particular passion for supporting children and their families. Aya understands the importance of supporting parents when children experience emotional/behavioural issues.

Aya provides client-centred interventions using a range of treatment modalities, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and play-based therapy.

Presenting issues that she has treated include anxiety, depression, grief/loss, separation, divorce, domestic violence, addiction, trauma, LGBT-Q, ADHD and more. Aya is determined to support her clients in reaching their goals, including becoming the person they want to be and having the life they want. Aya focuses on her clients’ strengths and believes in their ability to recover. She provides a safe space for clients to help them explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Children can also express their difficult emotions and experiences through play once they feel safe. Aya understands that without a safe and trusting client-therapist relationship, therapy is not effective.

Aya can provide therapy in both English and Japanese.