Deborah Brooks (Clinical Psychologist)
- Name
- Ms Deborah Brooks
- Occupation
- Clinical Psychologist
- Gender
- Female
- Languages Spoken
- English
- Welsh
- Medical Specialties
- Psychology
- Links
- https://mcgas.com.au/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-brooks-maps-fcclp/
- Phone
- 03 8202 5400
- Fax
- 03 9989 5109
I am a Clinical Psychologist, who has worked across community, university and private practice settings. I have a passion for working at the nexus between Health and Clinical Psychology.
I have experience in working with both chronic and acute health conditions—in particular but not limited to gastrointestinal and autoimmune conditions—in a way that promotes both physical and emotional wellbeing. I also specialise in working with disordered eating /eating disorders and body Image concerns.
I am experienced in assisting people with IBD (Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis), Coeliac Disease, IBS and a number of structural and functional gut conditions. My interest in this area began in a university setting where I first came to appreciate the way in which not only past trauma, but also chronic/acute stress and the simple outworking of the daily grind, could contribute to both physical and mental `dis-ease’.
I am eclectic in response to patient need, such that while I favour Cognitive Behavioural therapies including mindfulness-based CBT, ACT, DBT, Narrative Therapy and Positive Psychology models, this is informed by a Family Systems and Attachment based approach. I employ Clinical Hypnotherapy and Gut Directed Hypnotherapy, especially in relation to chronic pain and gut disorders. In addition, I favour somatic therapies not only as an adjunct to treatment in current and past trauma, but also in relation to treating the somatic expressions of daily stress that frequently precipitate functional gut disorders.
I believe that adaptation to chronic illness is about more than symptom management, it’s also about being able to live a full and meaningful life, while managing these conditions. However, in my practice I work across the spectrum of health and wellness. As such I enjoy Life Coaching, including vocational direction, weight management and body image concerns and all aspects of general physical, mental, emotional and relational wellbeing. I believe that therapy is a journey that we make together– you bring all of yourself and your experiences, I bring my clinical skills– and we explore the road and the signposts together to get you where you want to go.
The most frequent comments I receive from my patients - are that they develop more than an understanding of their physical and emotional issues and the way in which mind and body are integrated in bidirectional relationships of illness or well-being, but that they also walk away with a tool box of practical strategies that they can utilise effectively long after therapy has finished.
- Affiliated Clinics
- Melbourne Centre for Gastroenterology
- Affiliated Organisations
- MAPS
- FCCLP
- Medical Conditions
- Chronic and acute health conditions—in particular gastrointestinal and autoimmune conditions
- IBD (Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
- Coeliac Disease
- IBS and a number of structural and functional gut conditions.
- Medical Interventions
- I favour Cognitive Behavioural therapies including: mindfulness-based CBT, ACT, DBT, Narrative Therapy and Positive Psychology models
- This is informed by a Family Systems and Attachment based approach.
- I employ Clinical Hypnotherapy and Gut Directed Hypnotherapy, especially in relation to chronic pain and gut disorders.
- I favour somatic therapies not only as an adjunct to treatment in current and past trauma, but also in relation to treating the somatic expressions of daily stress that frequently precipitate functional gut disorders.
- Topics
- Mind Body Health
- Evidence based practice
- IBS and GI and Chronic Health conditions
- Gut Directed Hypnotherapy
- Emotional eating
- Life Coaching
Practice Locations
Melbourne
- Melbourne Centre for Gastroenterology
- Clinic hours 9-5 Monday to Friday (My practice days are Wednesday and Thursday)
- Address
- Suite G.03 (entry via Montrose Street)
171 Union Road
Surrey Hills VIC 3127
Australia
- Phone
- 03 8202 5400
