Welcome to MindSoma

Recovery, Healing, Flourishing

Dr Amalia Badawi

Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, AHPRA Approved Supervisor

BBSc, BPsycS(Hons), MPsyc(Clin), PhD (Clin Psyc)

As the Principal Psychologist and Founder of MindSoma Clinical Psychology, Amalia currently sees clients aged 14-years and over via Telehealth video across Australia, including rural and remote regions, and people overseas. Amalia has worked in a psychotherapeutic capacity with adults for over 15-years and sees clients from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds. This includes welcoming medical and allied health workers, police and military members, and people from all walks of life to MindSoma. Amalia also provides supervision to psychologists and allied mental health clinicians, and is involved in research (PhD) supervision.

Amalia is registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA), is a member of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA), and is a Past President of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ASTSS).

“The fire in you was never meant to be tamed.
Those flames are meant to light the world.”
                                                                                             ― Barbara Gianquitto

Meet Amalia

Amalia approaches the clinical work in a warm, empathic, and caring manner. Her dynamic approach to therapy and supervision is underpinned by knowledge of neurobiology, use of evidence-based treatments, and the incorporation of psychotherapeutic and somatic experiencing processes. MindSoma therapy is about making changes in the present by integrating each person's wisdom and life experience into the sessions in order to provide interventions in a safe and effective way.

Amalia's PhD research focused on intrusive memories that arise within the context of trauma. She has also undertaken prior research focused on the cultivation of compassion in adults and the use of mindfulness in educational settings. These research areas, combined with Amalia's clinical experience and training, ensure that each person is considered and respected within their life context.

Clinical Experience

Key areas of clinical experience include:

  • Strong focus on recovery and healing following exposure to traumatic/distressing events.
  • Providing psychological support to medical and allied health workers including GPs, nurses, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and first responders.
  • Working with members of the Defence and police forces.
  • Attending to young people (12-25 years) at Headspace, where Amalia provided individual and family-based therapy for a range of presentations.
  • Working within the perinatal team at Grand Pacific Health to provide support during pregnancy through to the 5-year antenatal period with a focus on adjustment and grief.
  • Delivery of the Recovery and Wellness program at South Coast Private Hospital.

Qualifications

Amalia has completed a:

  • PhD (Clinical Psychology)
  • Master of Psychology (Clinical)
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours
  • Bachelor of Behavioural Science.

Amalia was awarded the University Medal for her undergraduate studies, received her Masters with Distinction, and was the recipient of a Chancellor’s Research Scholarship for her PhD. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, and presented her research at national and international conferences.

Academic Experience

Amalia’s academic experience includes the roles of:

  • Sessional academic within a Masters of Professional Psychology Program (Macquarie University, NSW)
  • Unit co-ordination within undergraduate psychology degrees (Charles Darwin University, NT)
  • Head Clinic Supervisor, Academic Writer, and Lecturer within the private college sector prior to commencing in the field of psychology.

What Do People Commonly Attend MindSoma Clinical Psychology For?

The main presentations Amalia provides assessment and intervention for include:

  • PTSD/traumatic stress
  • Depression
  • Grief and loss
  • Anxiety (e.g. generalised, panic attacks, social, OCD)
  • Attachment-based distress
  • Adjustment difficulties
  • Relationship/interpersonal distress (e.g. parents, romantic, siblings, friendships)
  • Substance use problems
  • Self-esteem and self-worth
  • Skills enhancement: Communication, assertiveness, emotion management
  • Distress associated with physiological health conditions

“It's not what you are that holds you back, it's what you think you are not.”                                                                                              ― Denis Waitley

Treatment Approaches

Amalia has completed training in therapeutic modalities including: 

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
  • Systems and Attachment based Therapy Approaches
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Ego State Therapy
  • Clinical Hypnosis
  • Somatic Experiencing and Inclusive Approaches

Having a strong background in psychotherapy enables Amalia to integrate evidence-based treatment with relational and somatic approaches in order to tailor therapy  to each person.

Supervision

Amalia is a Board-approved supervisor with AHPRA, having completed the necessary training pathway. She provides supervision to fully registered and provisional psychologists. This includes general and endorsed psychologists, and psychologists completing internship programs such as the Clinical Registrar and 5+1 programs. Social workers, counsellors, and other mental health clinicians also attend with Amalia for supervision

Supervision Framework & Approach

Supervision is regarded as a collaborative and respectful space that allows each person a safe place for sharing, reflection, and development. The supervision space can be used for presentation of client cases, attending to professional and/or ethical issues, focusing on targeted areas for growth, and as a place for clinicians to rest as they navigate the intersections of the professional work and transference processes. Sessions can be on a short or longer-term basis, depending on the needs of the clinician. Clinicians are welcome to contact Amalia directly in relation to supervision queries.

“The best teachers are those who show you where to look,
but don’t tell you what to see.”                                                       ― Alexandra K Trenfor

Crisis Support: Australia

Please note, we are not a crisis service 

If you or someone you care about is in a crisis, please seek help immediately by contacting your GP or going to the Emergency Department of your nearest hospital or connecting with the below services:
  • In an emergency, please call 000 immediately to contact Emergency Services in Australia, or the correct emergency number for the country you are in.
  • Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636

 

  • Blue Knot Foundation Helpline – 1300 657 380
  • FriendLine – 1800 424 287
  • Kids helpline on 1800 55 1800
  • Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
  • Mental Health Access Line on 1800 011 511 to be connected to your local team
  • MindSpot – 1800 61 44 34
  • QLife – 1800 184 527
  • SANE Australia – 1800 18 7263
  • Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467

Resources

Please check back in as we will be updating this section

Contact Details

Fees

Please contact Reception or Amalia directly to enquire about rates for Individual Therapy and Clinical Supervision, as rates may vary between countries.

“Let me hold the door for you.
I may have never walked in your shoes,
But I can see your soles are worn and your strength
is torn under the weight of a story I have never lived before.
So let me hold the door for you
After all you’ve walked through, it’s the least I can do”
                                                           
― Alexandra K Trenfor

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