About Jacqueline Saad, Sydney Psychologist

Jacqueline Saad, principal psychologist of the practice, completed her studies at Bond University and the University of Sydney, is a registered psychologist with the NSW Psychologists registration board and Psychology Board Australia, an Associate Member with the Australian Psychological Society, member of the Australian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and a board approved supervisor for psychologists. Jacqueline has been a fully registered psychologist since 2003, and has consulted to both the private and corporate sector.

Jacqueline Saad has completed tertiary education including Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), Post Graduate diploma in Professional Psychology, Post Graduate certificate in psychological practice, Masters in Brain and Mind Sciences (Clinical Neuroscience) and Masters of Business (marketing strategy).   

Jacqueline consults as a psychologist in the media, making appearances on Channel 9's Kerri-Anne, National nine news and Today shows,Channel 7 Today Tonight, radio spots on 2SER, contributions to Cosmopolitan Magazine, Marie-Claire, Madison Magazine, Women's Health, Good Health, That’s Life and others. Across the corporate sector she has been professionally involved with management and delivery of strategic human resource consulting projects including:  job analysis and competency profiling, psychological assessment, assessment and development centres, and graduate recruitment with top tier recruitment firms such as Hudson Global resources and Drake International.   

Jacqueline provides psychological consultation services in the Sydney CBD, to individuals and couples, around depression, anxiety, relationships, personality disorders, stress management and general emotional well-being. 

Jacqueline strongly asserts a biopsychosocial approach to psychotherapy addressing the interaction of biological, psychological and social influences in relation to an individual’s behaviour and thinking. Drawing from existential theories, Jacqueline takes an eclectic approach to psychotherapy using evidence based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Mindfulness Therapy (ACT), focusing on the client’s experience or phenomenology of their concerns with offered warmth, empathy and unconditional positive regard in the psychotherapeutic interactions. 

With over 10 years consulting experience, Jacqueline continually delivers an exceptional level of support and care by equipping her clients with the necessary tools to make positive changes in their lives and create successful outcomes.

About Deena Amorelli

B. Psych; Provisional Registration with AHPRA.

Deena Amorelli is an experienced provisionally registered psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia,  in her final (sixth year) of training and an Associate Member with the Australian Psychological Society. Deena has completed a Bachelor of Psychology and is due to complete a Post Graduate Certificate in Psychological Practice in May 2012.  

Deena has worked for 9 years in the Human Resources industry, having extensive experience in recruitment and selection, talent management and succession planning, performance management, leadership coaching, workplace counselling, facilitating training for individuals and groups, and career guidance and coaching,  Deena has experience in the welfare sector having worked with young people at risk of homelessness, and she also has worked in a group therapy setting for individuals with depression, anxiety and personality disorders. 

In private practice, Deena provides psychological services to individuals experiencing problems in relation to relationship issues, stress management, depression, anxiety, workplace stress, and emotional wellbeing with chronic illnesses. Deena has a keen interest in coaching psychology and draws on a number of modalities including positive psychology, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy, Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to work with her clients to give them better insight into themselves and those around them, and as a result provide them with the ability to influence positive change and outcomes in their lives. 

About Vanessa Gonzalez

B. Psych; Provisional Registration with AHPRA. 

Vanessa Gonzalez is an experienced provisionally registered psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. Whilst studying her undergraduate degree in Psychology, Vanessa was trained in Applied Behaviour Analysis and worked as a Junior Therapist for the Centre of Autism and other related disorders. She then worked with adolescents with high and complex needs and challenging behaviours who experienced significant childhood trauma. She used Brief Solution Focused therapy, therapeutic crisis intervention techniques, behaviour management plans, and client-focused goal setting to support positive change in the social and family, employment and education, mental and physical health functions of the adolescent’s life. Vanessa worked for a period of time in Employment Services as a case manager, counselling individuals with significant mental health problems such as Anxiety, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder and other related disorders. Vanessa motivated job seekers to find employment suitable to their physical and mental health needs, assisted them in resume building and writing cover letters, and supported them in their employed positions, by closely assessing and applying intervention when required.  

Vanessa is also employed as a Child and Family Practitioner and works with families who have experienced significant childhood trauma. She works within a trauma and attachment framework to assist in counselling families and encouraging positive relationships between parent and child, between marital partners and extended family members. Vanessa completes psychosocial assessments to identify the strengths in the family, as well as offer intervention plans and recommendations to support the family in reaching their goals. In private practice, Vanessa provides psychological services to individuals experiencing difficulties with anxiety, depression, and anger as these problems usually interfere with family dynamics, workplace functionality and other aspects of people’s lives. She also provides couple and family counselling and facilitates conflict resolution. Vanessa also works therapeutically with adolescents and children using play therapy and child and adolescent specific evidence-based therapeutic approaches.  Vanessa is excited to personalise treatment according to the client’s needs and she draws from experience and knowledge of therapeutic interventions such as cognitive behaviour therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, other specific family therapy approaches, trauma and attachment therapies, as well as play therapy.