Hiraeth (pronounced “heer-eye-th”)
(n). likened to an innate sense of nostalgia or homesickness. A heavy resonant call of longing, echoes and ripples of grief for something lost; the knowing of which dances at the edge of our awareness. It is not entirely felt with a sense of discomfort; that which draws us deeper within and beneath the surface, like a gathering symphony of chords drawing us invisibly, inexorably, towards a presence and contact with the tenuous and unknown nature of our existence.
Our Philosophy
At Hiraeth, we believe that every body has the innate potential for healing and growth. As experienced mental health therapists, dedicated to providing quality, holistic mental health care, we seek to provide you with the support that you personally need. We are passionate about individual therapy and helping people on their journey towards experiencing whole, rich and meaningful lives.
Therapy modalities
Our mental health clinicians are trained in the delivery of various therapeutic modalities including, but not limited to, focussed psychological strategies such as:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
Interpersonal Therapy
Relaxation
Behaviour modification
Psycho-education and motivational interviewing
We also have completed extensive post graduate training in working with the therapeutic principles and approaches of mindfulness, Gestalt Psychotherapy and Hakomi Mindfulness-Based Somatic Psychotherapy. Further information regarding these approaches can be found below.
Trauma-Informed
We are experienced working in a trauma-informed way, with a wide range of mental health conditions, and also welcome working with people who are merely wanting to understand more about who they are.
We believe that humans thrive and grow when experiencing safety in relationships, and the professional therapeutic relationship is no different. Research shows that the most powerful indicator of therapy outcomes is the quality of the professional therapeutic relationship. We prioritise your safety, and are passionate about working with you in a way that is respectful, mindful, and guided by your pace and personal resources. We believe that discovering your inner resources and equipping you with more support is a vital part of the therapeutic process and are committed to upholding these values with you. We are experienced and comfortable with working with trauma and other mental health issues and enjoy seeing the transformation that can happen for people when given the opportunity to experience more grounding and presence in their lives.
Mental Health Occupational Therapy
Underpinning all of this, our clinicians are trained mental health occupational therapists and are passionate about the unique approach that occupational therapy has to offer in mental health care. Occupational Therapy is a holistic approach to the assessment and treatment of the difficulties people experience engaging in meaningful daily activities, roles and relationships. The lens of the mental health occupational therapist is one that uniquely considers not only the mental, neuro-physical and emotional aspects of a person, but also the environments in which they find themselves relating to, and the existential spirit that underlies their world, giving them a more holistic approach to treating mental health issues than some traditional psychological approaches. Like a Registered Psychologist or Mental Health Social Worker, Mental Health Occupational Therapists have undergone a minimum of 6 years of extensive training and supervised practise in order to become Endorsed Mental Health Practitioners with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. This enables them to be recognised in Australia by Medicare as being able to effectively provide rebatable mental health services.
