Get to know the psychologists at Inlight Psychology, Bondi Junction.
Gavin is a warm, gentle, and compassionate psychologist who has a calming and grounding effect on anyone he speaks with. Gavin has a Masters in Clinical Psychology and sees adult, parents, and adolescent clients (14 yrs +). He works from a number of therapeutic modalities, including CBT, ACT, and Mindfulness. He has an interest in a variety of presentations and is always interested in learning about the unique needs of each client who walks into the therapy room.
Q: What drew you to psychology?
A: I was initially drawn to psychology as the study of behaviour and cognition - wanting to get a deeper understanding of both myself and the world around me. Over time I realised it would make far more sense to pursue clinical psychology compared to research as this would allow me to apply what I learned through my studies and help make positive and meaningful change in people's lives.
Q: What you enjoy most about being a therapist?
A: The part I enjoy the most about being a therapist is having the opportunity to connect with people on a very genuine and authentic level, and having that opportunity to then help them as best as I can.
Q: What is an important experience that has shaped your thinking and approach as a therapist?
A: Spending a lot of time practising as a telehealth therapist, and then practising face-to-face has really shown me the importance of the therapeutic alliance and the impact that this has on any form of treatment. My thinking and approach as a therapist is now very much rooted in this idea of connecting with a person and developing a working relationship as part of the therapeutic process.
Q: What do clients talk to you about that is much more common than they realise?
A: Feeling like no-one else is in the same boat. More often than not, clients feel like their experiences, thoughts, and behaviours feel "different to everyone else" when a lot of people have been through similar things. Although at times it feels like these people are hard to find, sometimes there just needs to be a little more searching underneath the surface to find the empathy that is out there.
Q: What is it like being a male psychologist?
A: Being a male therapist has been an interesting experience - there's an element of hesitancy from clients to engage with a male therapist (for many valid reasons), and I have found that it has been an unexpectedly positive experience for a lot of clients who can push through those initial reservations.
Q: What challenges do you think other men face when coming to therapy?
A: I think there are a lot of challenges for men coming to therapy, particularly with social expectations (which have of course been evolving over time). There is an internalised stigma of what it would mean to show vulnerability (or what is seen as "weakness") versus what it means to be "strong.
INLIGHT PSYCHOLOGY | BONDI JUNCTION
Inlight Psychology is situated in the heart of Bondi Junction, with large rooms and beautiful views. We have a lovely team of warm and compassionate psychologists, all with tertiary qualifications in Clinical Psychology.
If you would like to learn more about the team at Inlight Psychology, click here.
If you would like to book an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact Inlight Psychology on (02) 8320 0566 or contact@inlightpsychology.com.au.