My name is Raina Jardin and I am a Clinical Psychologist who provides counseling and treatment through Positive Growth Psychology, a private practice based in Surry Hills and Summer Hill, Sydney, NSW. 

My aim is to provide an individualised, holistic, empathic and caring service that is both personal and highly professional. 

Over the last 17 years I have provided therapy to a wide-range of people at different stages across the lifespan (adolescence to older adulthood) and from diverse cultural and social backgrounds for a wide range of counseling, mental health and medical concerns. For example, I have worked with individuals seeking to address mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety, medical concerns such as diabetes and chronic pain, and a wide-range of other concerns; such as stress, low mood, worry and substance use.

I hold extensive experience working with gay, lesbian and transgender individuals, those who identify as gender diverse or/and same-sex attracted, and those questioning their sexuality or gender.

My special interests include:

•           Depression and low mood

• •           Worry and stress

  •           Anxiety and anxiety disorders

  •           Transgender issues

• •           Gay and lesbian issues

• •           Gender and sexual identity concerns

  •           Difficulties with adjustment, adjustment disorders

  •           Drug and alcohol issues

  •           Medical concerns

  •           Issues across the lifespan (adolescence to older adulthood)

  •           Minority stress (stress due to diversity in sexuality, gender, culture)

  •           Wanting to be more present focused - to live more in the moment  

I provide counselling during and after-business hours, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Surry Hills, Sydney, and on Saturdays in Summer Hill, Sydney.

In addition to private practice, I also work at a major hospital providing assessment and treatment to those with liver related health concerns.

My qualifications include a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Western Sydney, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology from the University of Canberra, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Arts from La Trobe University. 

I am fully registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, a member of the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists, Association for Contextual Behavioural Science, Anxiety Practitioners Network, Neuropsychotherapy Interest Group and the Australian Psychological Society’s Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Interest Group and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Psychology Interest Group.

I work primarily within a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) framework, however, I also use other interventions depending on the your needs, such as Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Your first appointment with me will be an initial assessment appointment. The aim of this appointment is for us to reach a shared understanding of the concerns that you are seeking assistance with and your goals or what you’d like to get from our work together.

To enable me to obtain a more holistic understanding of the issues you’d like assistance with and how they affect your life, I will ask for some background information about you as well as information about the areas you’d like some assistance with. 

At the end of this session I will offer some recommendations for follow-up sessions, including advice about which interventions and techniques would be most useful and effective (based on recent evidence-based research findings). We will then decide upon on a treatment plan together.

Many people feel uncomfortable seeing a psychologist for the first time. This discomfort often passes by the end of the first one or two sessions. 

I provide treatment in a safe and confidential environment.

As a psychologist I provide services in accordance with the Australian Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics and Ethical Guidelines, which includes guidelines on confidentiality. In accordance with these guidelines, the information you disclose during therapy is strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone without your consent. However, in certain circumstances psychologists are required to disclose confidential information obtained during therapy – if you are at immediate and specified risk of harm to yourself or harming someone else, if there are child protection concerns, or, if it is compelled by law. When possible, I will discuss with you the information that I am required to disclose prior to doing so.

As a psychologists I also provide services in accordance with the Australian Psychological Society’s Charter for Clients of Psychologists. This charter specifies that as a client of an APS psychologist, you have a right to expect that:

•    You will be treated with respect

•    You will receive a clear explanation of the service you will receive

•    Your consent for any service will be sought by the psychologist prior to the service commencing and as it progresses

•    You will receive an explanation about the nature and limits of confidentiality surrounding the service

•    You will be clear about the goals that you and the psychologist are working toward

•    You will receive competent and professional service

•    You will receive a clear statement about fees

•    An estimate of the number of sessions required to achieve your goals will be discussed

•    You will receive a service free from sexual harassment

•    You will be shown respect for your cultural background and language tradition

Anxiety and/or Panic , Cross Cultural Issues , Depression , Gay and Lesbian Counselling , Gender Identity Issues

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy , Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) , Mindfulness approaches , Motivational Interviewing

Dark chocolate and the madness of self-criticism: The gift of self-compassion

I listened to an excellent interview the other day by David Van Nuys with Kristin Neff on self-compassion, which I’ve been thinking about and talking about quite a lot, so I thought I’d share it here.

When looking at unhelpful thoughts (for example, worrying thoughts and ‘I’m not good enough’ stories) and trying to work out a healthier and more helpful perspective, it can often be useful to pause and ask yourself; “What would you tell someone you cared about if they were thinking this way?” It is often quite amazing how very different the words we speak to ourselves are compared to those that we would speak to others. We can often be quite critical of ourselves and quite caring, supportive and nurturing of others. Kristin Neff in this interview and in an early chapter of her new book (Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind) titled ‘Ending the madness’, refers to the use of self-critical language towards self that we would not use towards others as ‘madness’.

Kristin says: “We suffer tremendously from self-criticism, feeling we aren’t as good as other people; from beating ourselves up, using language to ourselves that we would never say even to a stranger: “You’re so stupid. You’re so lazy. I can’t believe you said that.” You would never say that to anyone else unless you’re really, really, really angry at them, but not someone you cared about. And that’s why I say its madness, really.”

Why do many of us find it easier to be compassionate towards others than towards ourselves? There are many reasons. I believe that our social, cultural and historical environment plays a significant role in this. Just think about your upbringing and the messages you might have heard, for example, from your parents, teachers and religious leaders. As Kristin points out, many of us are told from a very early age that we should put our needs below others and be self-sacrificing and not to complain.

Another reason, one I find quite often in my work, is that many often confuse self-compassion with selfishness (a word I have often joked about wanting to remove from the dictionary). Kristin also notes confusion between self-compassion and self-pity or self-indulgence.

Another reason for the madness, is according to Kristin related to a ‘physiological social ranking system’. According to Kristin, we seem to have a drive related to a physiological social ranking system, which ‘wants to see ourselves on top’. She suggests that self-criticism and ego-inflation are ways that we try to keep ourselves safe in this social ranking system. “We feel safe if we’re at the top of the pack so we won’t get kicked down. And yet at the same time, if we show our belly, if we’re at the bottom of the pack, if we criticize ourselves before others can criticize us…

If you’d like to read the rest of my blog, please go to: http://www.positivegrowth.com.au/dark-chocolate-and-the-madness-of-self-criticism-the-gift-of-self-compassion/