Migration is one of the most psychologically demanding experiences a person can undertake — involving loss, uncertainty, identity disruption, and the challenge of building a new life in an unfamiliar culture. Professional psychological support can make a profound difference.
Our registered psychologists in Melbourne provide culturally responsive support for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers across four clinic locations and via Telehealth.
WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.
If your claim has been approved, we bill your funder directly. Zero out-of-pocket cost — no gap, no upfront payment, nothing.
Migration involves simultaneous losses — of homeland, language, community, social network, professional status, and familiar cultural context — alongside the demands of adapting to a new country. Acculturation stress — the psychological demand of adapting to a new culture — is one of the strongest predictors of mental health difficulties in migrant populations (Berry, 2006).
We support migrants navigating:
Migration-related distress commonly presents as:
Migrants and humanitarian entrants to Australia experience significantly higher rates of mental health difficulties than the general population, yet are among the least likely to access mental health services (Jorm et al., 2012).
Standard Western psychological approaches do not always translate to the cultural frameworks of migrants from non-Western backgrounds. Effective psychological support for migrants must be adapted to the cultural context, values, and migration-specific experiences of the individual (Berry, 2006).
Our approach:
Culturally adapted psychological interventions produce significantly better outcomes for migrant populations than unadapted Western approaches (Benish et al., 2011).
Our psychologists use culturally adapted, evidence-based approaches:
Evidence-based CBT adapted to incorporate cultural beliefs, values, and social contexts. Includes culturally meaningful examples, adaptation for collectivist family structures, and culturally appropriate communication styles (Benish et al., 2011).
For clients who have experienced persecution, displacement, or detention, trauma-informed psychological care addresses specific traumatic experiences alongside ongoing resettlement stressors. We are experienced in complex, cumulative trauma presentations in refugee populations.
Processing the multiple losses of migration — homeland, family, professional status, language, and cultural belonging — using evidence-based grief approaches adapted to the specific nature of migration loss (Worden, 2018).
Building bicultural competence — the capacity to navigate both the heritage culture and Australian culture effectively — while maintaining a coherent, integrated cultural identity. Research shows bicultural integration produces the best mental health outcomes for migrants (Berry, 2006).
We are committed to providing care that is relevant, respectful, and effective for your specific migration experience and cultural background.
Your first appointment is a space to share your migration story and what is most difficult for you — at your own pace.
For clients whose first language is not English, we can discuss options for working with an interpreter where needed.
We see migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. NDIS and Medicare funding options are available where eligible.
We offer appointments in-clinic at our Mooroolbark, Wheelers Hill, Reservoir, and Melbourne CBD locations, as well as Telehealth sessions from anywhere in Australia.
WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.
If your claim has been approved, we bill your funder directly. Zero out-of-pocket cost — no gap, no upfront payment, nothing.
Do I need to speak perfect English to see a psychologist?
No. We work with clients at varying levels of English proficiency and can discuss interpreter options if English is a significant barrier to communication.
Can asylum seekers access psychological support?
Yes. People seeking asylum in Australia can access Medicare-rebated psychological services in many circumstances. Please contact us to discuss your specific situation and funding options.
Is what I share with my psychologist confidential?
Yes. Sessions are fully confidential except in standard duty of care circumstances. We do not share information with immigration authorities or government agencies without your explicit consent.
Migration is hard. You deserve support that understands your experience — not just the symptoms.
AnxietyDepressionADHDPTSDAll Conditions
Benish, S. G., Quintana, S., & Wampold, B. E. (2011). Culturally adapted psychotherapy and the legitimacy of myth: A direct-comparison meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(3), 279–289. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023626
Berry, J. W. (2006). Acculturative stress. In P. T. P. Wong & L. C. J. Wong (Eds.), Handbook of multicultural perspectives on stress and coping (pp. 287–298). Springer.
Jorm, A. F., Nakane, Y., Christensen, H., Yoshioka, K., Griffiths, K. M., & Wata, Y. (2012). Public beliefs about treatment and outcome of mental disorders: A comparison of Australia and Japan. BMC Medicine, 3, 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-3-12
Worden, J. W. (2018). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner (5th ed.). Springer.
