Gabriela Cavaler
B.Psych Sc (Honours). Master Psych (Clinical)

Gabriela Cavaler (She/Her)

I became a psychologist because I am passionate about helping people and making a positive difference in people’s lives and in the world whenever I can. I love to listen to life stories, and I feel curious to know how people cope in the face of adversity.

I believe that people deserve to build a life worth living, and I cheer for them when they are doing well. I’m empathic when they are struggling, and I like to empower people finding their strengths and solving their problems by sharing knowledge through psychoeducation, and helping to build up skills that they can use through their lives whenever they need.

As someone who migrated to Australia almost 20 years ago, I understand the challenges of migration and the adjustment to a new country, the cultural differences and the language barriers experienced by people of other cultures. Particularly, how these challenges can potentially impact our mental health and wellbeing.

However, no matter what culture we are from life often does not go as planned, and most of us will at some point need support. Therefore, it is important to reach out for support when we need. And I know that it takes courage to share our most personal things with someone that we never met, and I feel very privileged in being in this position.

Training and Professional Experience

I completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours I) at the University of New South Wales, and a Masters of Clinical Psychology at Western Sydney University.

Prior to studying Psychology, I also completed a Diploma in Children’s Services, a Diploma in Community Services and a Graduate Diploma in Developmental Trauma.

I worked for many years in the community services industry as a support worker with people struggling with mental health, in Prevention and Early Intervention projects as a family support worker and as a group facilitator in Supported Playgroups and at Brighter Futures supporting families with young children and delivering a series of group programs including Triple P, Circle of Security, Bringing Up Kids and Tuning into Kids.

I also volunteered with the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) and at Sparks, a St Vincent de Paul program supporting children of refugee background at schools.

Before founding WeMind Psychology, I worked at Cumberland Hospital providing assessment and treatment of people with personality disorders and complex trauma, experiencing self-harm and acute suicidality, delivering trauma informed therapy. I also worked at the Child Behaviour Research Clinic at University of Sydney with parents in the treatment of children presenting with conduct disorders, oppositional defiance and other behavioural challenges, and at Headspace working with young people.

Individual therapy (18 years+):

· Depression

· Anxiety

· Phobias

· Interpersonal difficulties

· Self-esteem

· Confidence

· Assertiveness

· Boundary issues

· Social anxiety

· Panic attacks

· Stress management

· Emotional regulation

· Sleeping difficulties

· Family estrangement

· Parenting

Sessions can be delivered in English and I'm also a Portuguese speaking psychologist in Sydney.

I primarily work within a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) framework. These are goal oriented therapies.

What to expect in the first session

I work collaboratively with my clients as I respect that they are the experts of their lives, and I will bring the science and my clinical experience to help them make positive changes to their lives and achieving their therapeutic goals.

Prior to the initial session you will receive an email with a consent form. Thus, you can make an informed decision about attending the service.

At our initial sessions we will do an assessment where I will be asking questions to understand what is going on for you and what factors are contributing to maintain your problems.

We will talk about the reasons that you are seeking support and your goals for therapy which together with the assessment information will inform what we will be doing during the following sessions.

I appreciate your feedback and honesty, so we can customise the sessions and make it work for you. I also like to review the therapy goals from time to time to ensure that we are going in the right direction.