Services

Meet Paula Nicolaou

BA (Psych), PostGradDipPsych, MPsych (Clinical)

Clinical Psychologist and Board Approved Supervisor

I am passionate about helping and empowering people to cope and heal from the challenges they face in order to enrich their life experience through improved wellbeing, connection and functioning. I offer a nurturing emotional space based in kindness, genuineness, openness and respect to facilitate compassionate reflection, learning and meaningful growth.
I have over 20 years experience in the field of psychology and counselling. I have experience working in Older Adult Mental Health (in both the public and private sectors), with People with Dementia and their support networks, in Aged Care and Rehabilitation, in research and Corporate Wellbeing. I have also been a guest speaker for a number of years at Curtin University of Technology in the School of Psychology.
I am an Approved Network Counsellor for Cancer Council WA.

I am a founding member of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA) and a full member of the Australian Psychology Society (APS).

“Who Looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes”.

— CARL JUNG

Special interest and Experience

I am interested in all issues facing people as they age, whether these issues have been long standing or have arisen in later life. I am curious in how experiences impact on an individuals emotional world, their health and day to day functioning, and in their relationship to themselves and with others. I have experience working with a range of life challenges including:

  • finding ways to cope with current life transitions and stressors
  • emotional distress such as anxiety, depression and anger
  • loss and grief
  • chronic or life-threatening health conditions
  • caring for people with chronic illnesses and conditions
  • dementia specific counselling for individuals, families and carers
  • work related stress, burnout and preparing for retirement
  • loneliness and lack of connection, supports or enjoyment
  • low self esteem and confidence
  • relationship and family concerns
  • adjustment to aging or end of life issues
  • life reflection, exploration or self understanding
  • traumatic experiences from childhood or adulthood

Please note that I do not specialise nor provide reports for forensic, medicolegal issues, disability assessment, workers compensation or similar.

Therapy Approach

I offer short and longer-term evidence-based person-centred psychotherapy. I enjoy working collaboratively whereby the therapeutic relationship is central in making meaningful change. I tailor psychotherapy and counselling to embrace the individuals unique strengths, needs, preferences and goals.

My approach draws from a wide range of well researched psychological and behavioural approaches including:

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
  • Compassion Focused Therapy
  • Emotion Focused Therapy
  • Dialectic Behaviour Therapy
  • Existential Psychotherapy
  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy
  • Schema Therapy
  • Mindfulness
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psycho-dynamic Psychotherapy

Consultation and Supervision

Peer Consultation, Professional Supervision and Consultancy

I am an APHRA board approved Supervisor. I operate from a reflective supervision framework and I am available for peer consultation, ongoing supervision or as needed consultations to psychologists, trainees and other mental health professionals. You are welcome to call to discuss your needs, if we are a good fit, and the fee structure.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.”

– Benjamin Franklin.

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom”

— VIKTOR E. FRANKL

Older Adult Psychology

Thank you for visiting Older Adult Psychology. You are welcome to contact me if you have any queries or would like more information about the service that I offer. I am usually able to respond within one business day.

Contacts

Phone: 0426 906 820
Fax: (08) 6155 2778
Email: reception@olderadultpsychology.com.au
Postal: PO Box 183 Inglewood WA 6932

Location

Inspiration Space
Unit 1 & 2, 885 Beaufort Street
(enter unit 2 behind the Australia Post Office on Ninth Avenue)
Inglewood WA 6052

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Older Adult Psychology acknowledges the Whadjuk people from the Noongar Nation, the traditional and continued custodians of this land on which we work, live, explore and enjoy. We recognise their continuous connection to the land, waters and community and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

Older Adult Psychology