- Stress and anxiety
- Career and direction
- Grief and loss
About Alana
Alana Thompson is an AASW-accredited social worker with 18 years of clinical experience in Australia. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, ADHD and career concerns. She also helps with complex issues such as trauma, workplace pressures and relationship strain.
Alana draws on cognitive and emotional methods to help people manage symptoms and make practical changes. In sessions she talks through current problems, helps set clear goals and builds plans for managing distress. She emphasises skills that support everyday functioning and steadier moods.
Her background includes child protection, family services and university counselling. That work involved crisis support, safety planning and helping people develop coping strategies for difficult life events. Her experience in these areas shaped research she later completed at doctoral level on social work and legal practice.
She has also worked in the tertiary sector in research and teaching, then returned to full-time clinical practice. Her training includes a Bachelor of Psychology, a Master of Social Work and a PhD in Social Work and Law, plus Mental Health First Aid. She is listed with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
In appointments the focus is practical and collaborative. Sessions discuss current stressors, build manageable strategies and track progress over time. People contact her when they need clear steps for moving forward after a life change or ongoing difficulty.
If someone is unsure where to start she offers a simple first meeting to map concerns and plan the next steps.
How evidence-based approaches translate to online sessions
Alana uses cognitive-based techniques that focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them against real situations. This helps with anxiety, low mood and workplace thinking patterns by teaching practical skills to change how someone reacts to stressful events.She also works with emotion-focused strategies that help name and process difficult feelings. These approaches aim to reduce overwhelm and make it easier to plan actions after a significant loss or life change.
Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Alana will discuss what feels most useful, try methods in session and adjust plans based on a person's goals and preferences. That shared decision-making helps identify what fits best over several meetings.
Confirm the exact online session formats before booking, as they are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Talk with her during the matching process to agree on session length and a rhythm that suits everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, ADHD and career questions, plus related family and wellbeing issues.
How does she approach feeling stuck?
Her style uses cognitive strategies and emotional reflection to set goals, create management plans and build everyday skills.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 18 years of clinical experience across child protection, university counselling and private practice.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an AASW-accredited social worker practising in Australia.
Can I see her in a language other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.