- Stress and anxiety
- Life purpose
- Relationship issues
About Doreen
Doreen Patenall is a PACFA-credentialled counsellor in Australia with 25 years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, and grief. Her practice also includes coaching around life purpose and related concerns such as body image, control issues and isolation.
She focuses on straightforward conversation. Sessions are a place to talk through what feels stuck and to name the practical problems. Doreen uses clear methods from therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice thoughts and try different behaviours.
Her approach draws on attachment-informed thinking and client-centred listening. That means paying attention to close relationships, how they shape reactions, and helping people feel heard while they consider changes. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy skills are offered when emotional regulation and crisis coping need direct tools.
Doreen commonly works with people dealing with panic, social anxiety, guilt and shame, and the fallout of separation or end-of-life care. She also supports those sorting through forgiveness, grief, and questions about what matters next after big life changes.
Sessions aim to be practical and paced to the person's needs. People can expect to set clear goals, practise small steps between meetings, and review what helps. To begin, people use the site matching tool to book an initial session and outline their priorities.
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then commit to actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, life-purpose questions and decisions about next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and actions and teaches specific skills to reduce panic, social anxiety and unhelpful thinking patterns. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to how early and close relationships shape responses, which can clarify patterns in current relationships or repeated behaviours.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is reviewed.
The biography does not list specific online formats, so confirm available session types before booking. Many people find online sessions helpful because they fit more easily into a weekday, let them have shorter check-ins when needed, or remove travel time. The focus remains on practical skills, reflection and setting small between-session tasks that suit day-to-day life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly help with?
Doreen works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, grief, and coaching around life purpose. She also supports people with body image, control issues, isolation, panic, and related concerns.
How does she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
She uses conversation grounded in client-centred listening and practical exercises. Techniques from ACT and CBT are used to notice unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviours between sessions.
What experience does she bring?
She has 25 years of professional experience working with people on anxiety, trauma, grief and relationship difficulties.
What credentials and location are listed for this counsellor?
She is PACFA credentialled and practices in Australia.
Which languages and international clients are supported?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What do session formats look like?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm the current session options before booking.
How are costs and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.