Traditional Psychology - Active Health Psychology

Support when

life feels too heavy.

You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out. Our psychologists provide compassionate, evidence-based psychology for the full range of life’s challenges — from anxiety and depression through to relationships, stress, grief, and everyday wellbeing.

Psychological support

for real life.

Traditional Psychology is individual, one-on-one psychology delivered in a private, confidential setting — either in person at our Townsville clinics or via secure telehealth. It’s a structured, evidence-based process that gives you the space, tools, and professional support to work through what’s weighing on you.

Unlike coaching or peer support, our traditional psychology is delivered by AHPRA-registered psychologists. The approaches we use are evidence-based and tailored to your specific presentation, not a generic program applied to everyone.

You don’t need to be in crisis. Many people come to us simply because something feels off, they’re stuck, or they want support navigating a difficult period. All of that is valid.

You don’t have to explain yourself perfectly before reaching out. Our first priority is making sure you feel heard — everything else follows from there.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

One of the most well-evidenced psychological approaches — helping you identify and shift the thought patterns and behaviours that are keeping you stuck.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Building psychological flexibility — learning to accept what you can't control, clarify what matters to you, and commit to living in alignment with your values.

Strengths-Based Approach

We start from what's already working in your life and build from there — not just focusing on problems, but identifying and activating your existing strengths and resources.

Trauma-Informed Care

All our work is delivered with an understanding of how past experiences shape present difficulties — creating a safe, non-judgmental environment as the foundation for everything else.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing)

A structured, evidence-based therapy that helps process trauma and distressing memories — using bilateral stimulation to reduce emotional intensity and support lasting change. Effective for PTSD, anxiety, phobias, grief, and more.

If you're dealing with it, we can help.

These are some of the most common presentations we work with — but this isn’t an exhaustive list. If what you’re experiencing isn’t here, reach out anyway.

Anxiety & Worry

Generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and the kind of persistent worry that makes it hard to switch off.

Depression & Low Mood

Persistent sadness, loss of motivation, feeling flat or disconnected — whether it’s situational or has been building for a long time.

Relationship Difficulties

Communication breakdowns, conflict patterns, trust issues, separation and divorce, and navigating the emotional complexity of close relationships.

Stress & Burnout

Work stress, chronic overwhelm, burnout, and the exhaustion that comes when you’ve been running on empty for too long.

Grief & Loss

Bereavement, loss of identity, relationship loss, and other forms of grief that don’t always get acknowledged but are just as real.

Trauma & PTSD

Processing difficult or traumatic experiences — including childhood trauma, accidents, assault, and other events that continue to affect your daily life.

Life Transitions

Career changes, becoming a parent, retirement, moving, major health diagnoses — periods of significant change.

Self-Esteem & Identity

Low self-worth, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and difficulty knowing or asserting who you are and what you need.

Support across

every stage of life.

Our team includes psychologists with experience across different life stages and presentations. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself, your child, your teenager, or your family — we have the right clinician for you.

If you’re not sure who to see, that’s fine. When you make contact, we’ll help match you with the psychologist best suited to your specific situation and needs.

1

Children (0–12 years)

Play-based and developmentally appropriate approaches for children navigating big emotions, behaviour challenges, anxiety, and learning difficulties.

2

Adolescents (13–17 years)

Specialist support for teenagers dealing with anxiety, depression, identity, social challenges, school pressure, and the complexity of growing up.

3

Adults (18+)

Individual traditional psychology for the full range of adult mental health presentations — across all life stages, from early adulthood through to older age.

4

Families

Supporting families navigating conflict, communication breakdown, parenting challenges, and the impact of one family member's difficulties on the whole unit.

Simple to start.

No pressure.

We’ve made the process of getting started as straightforward and low-pressure as possible. Here’s exactly what happens from your first contact.

1

Make Contact

Call us, email, or submit the online Request an Appointment form. No GP referral needed — though we recommend getting a Mental Health Care Plan if you'd like Medicare rebates.

2

We Match You

Based on your situation, we'll recommend the psychologist best suited to your needs and you will be placed on a waitlist. Our team touch base during this period.

3

First Session

A 50 minute session focused on understanding your situation — no pressure to have everything figured out. This is about getting to know you.

4

Ongoing Support

A tailored plan developed collaboratively with your psychologist — at a pace and frequency that works for you, with regular reviews to track progress.

Session Length

50 minutes

Standard session length

Locations

Douglas & Railway Estate

Plus telehealth Australia-wide

Referral

Not required

Self-referral always welcome

Medicare

Rebates may apply

With a Mental Health Care Plan

Psychologists who

genuinely care.

Our team includes psychologists with experience across different presentations and age groups. When you reach out, we’ll match you with the right person for your specific situation — not just whoever has availability.

RD

Reece Danaher

Principal Psychologist, BPsych (Hons)

Over a decade of clinical experience across a broad range of presentations — bringing evidence-based practice and genuine expertise to complex and long-standing difficulties.

RM

Rebecca Malcolm

Registered Psychologist, MProfPsych, BPsych (Hons)

Experience in anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Rebecca brings warmth and clinical depth to every session — particularly well-suited to adults navigating significant life changes.

NC

Naomi Coleman

Registered Psychologist, BPsych GradDip

A focus on children, adolescents, and families. Naomi brings a developmentally sensitive approach to working with young people and the families supporting them.

Traditional Psychology

FAQs

Questions we hear often from people considering reaching out for the first time.

Do I need a GP referral to see a psychologist?

No — you can contact us directly and book an appointment without a referral. However, if you’d like to access Medicare rebates, you’ll need a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP, which provides up to 10 subsidised sessions per calendar year. We recommend speaking with your GP about this before your first appointment if cost is a consideration. If you’re unsure, contact us and we’ll walk you through it.

What's the difference between a psychologist and a counsellor?

Psychologists are registered with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and hold undergraduate qualifications in psychology and 2 years of supervised practice. They are qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of mental health conditions using evidence-based approaches. Counsellors typically have a lower training threshold and are not regulated by AHPRA. At Active Health Psychology, all our practitioners are registered or provisional psychologists — which means the highest standard of training, ethical oversight, and clinical accountability.

Is everything I say completely confidential?

Yes — confidentiality is fundamental to the therapeutic relationship and we take it seriously. What you share in sessions is private and will not be disclosed without your consent, with very limited legal exceptions (such as if there is risk of serious harm to you or others, or mandatory reporting obligations). Your psychologist will explain these limitations clearly in your first session so you know exactly where you stand before you begin sharing.

How many sessions will I need?

This varies depending on your situation, your goals, and how complex or long-standing the difficulties are. Some people find significant benefit in 6–8 sessions. Others work with their psychologist over a longer period, particularly for more complex presentations. We don’t have a fixed program — your treatment plan is developed collaboratively and reviewed regularly. We’ll always be honest with you about progress and whether ongoing sessions are warranted.

What happens in the first session?

The first session is primarily about your psychologist getting to know you and understanding your situation. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you arrive — you won’t be expected to have a perfectly articulated problem statement. Your psychologist will ask questions to understand your background, what’s been happening, what’s brought you in now, and what you’d like to be different. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation. You’re in control of what you share and at what pace.

Can I see a psychologist via telehealth if I'm not in Townsville?

Yes — we offer secure telehealth sessions to clients anywhere in Australia. We also see athletes outside of Australia. Telehealth psychology has strong evidence for effectiveness across a wide range of presentations, and many clients find it more convenient and accessible than in-person sessions. Medicare rebates apply to telehealth sessions in the same way as in-person sessions, provided you have a Mental Health Care Plan. Contact us to arrange a telehealth appointment.

What if I don't connect with my psychologist?

The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in effective counselling — and fit matters. If you don’t feel the connection is right after a session or two, please tell us. We’ll work with you to find a better match within our team, or if needed, help you find someone outside our practice. We want the work to be genuinely helpful, and that starts with the right fit.

Explore Other Services

Active Psychology

Psychology that gets up and moves — combining evidence-based intervention with movement for those who find it hard to open up in a traditional setting.

Group Programs

Structured group psychology programs — combining peer support with professional facilitation for shared challenges.

Diagnostic Assessments

Comprehensive psychological assessments for children and adolescents — including ADHD, learning difficulties, and developmental concerns.

You don't have to

figure it out alone.

Taking the first step is often the hardest part. We make it as easy as possible — no referral needed and a team that will meet you exactly where you are.

Completely confidential · No referral required · Medicare rebates may apply