Pamela Matthews Brown: Who I am

I am a clinical psychologist in private practice, registered in NSW and the ACT. My Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology is from the University of Canberra and my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology is from the University of Colorado (USA). Prior to becoming a full-time psychologist, I worked at an executive level in the Commonwealth Public Service.
I have more than ten years’ experience working as a psychologist. I specialise in working with emotional distress particularly in the area of anxiety and panic attacks.
My areas of knowledge include:
• Depression/Anxiety
• Grief
• Marriage
• Divorce/Separation
• Emotional Stability
• Trauma

I am a member of the Australian Psychological Association, the Australian College of Clinical Psychologists, the EMDR International Association and an international affiliate of the American Psychological Association.

Information about the practice

Appointments are available Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at:

Hall Psychological Practice
4 Victoria Street
Hall ACT 2618

Phone 6230 9187

The fee for an appointment is $150 per session (GST free). Payment can be made by VISA, Mastercard, American Express, EFTPOS or cash.

I am a registered Comcare Provider and also registered with other major
health and insurance funds and HICAPS.

Current information about health fund rebates can be found at http://www.psychology.org.au/psych/fees/default.asp

Relationship counselling

I have worked with a number of couples over the years. My approach is to have couples identify the kind of marriage they would like to have and not focus too much on past problems. I often recommend the couples read "Getting the Love You Want" by Harville Hendrix to help understand relationship issues and solutions.

Depression

I generally use cognitive behaviour therapy which has been shown to be the most highly effective therapy with depression. A good book which may help you understand depression and cognition (how you think) is "Feeling Good" by Dr David Burns.

Another excellent resource is www.depressioNet.com.au

Grief counselling

My approach to grief counselling is to help the bereaved come to terms with their loss by talking about the meaning of that person in their life. Too often people have been told they have to 'let go' in order to be free of grief - yet research over the years has shown that this idea can inhibit the grieving process. I help clients learn to incorporate the loss that has occurred in their lives. A good book for understanding the psychological and physical aspects of grief (which also includes advice on helping grieving friends and children) is "Understanding Grief and Loss" by Mal Mackissock. This useful little book is available from ABC bookshops.

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed by Dr Francine Shapiro in the late 1980's as a treatment for post-traumatic stress. It can be used for childhood or recent memories which cause emotional distress. EMDR has also been shown to be effective in pain management, eating disorders and phobias More information about EMDR is available at www.emdrportal.com.

For information call 6230 9187 or 6102 4623 or email.