- ACT and CBT
- Attachment-based work
- Narrative and solution-focused
About Malinda
Malinda Um is an AASW social worker with eight years of experience supporting people through anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout and major life changes. She works with adults who feel stuck, directionless or overwhelmed after changes in work, relationships or health. She also supports those carrying heavy responsibility at work or home and people questioning what matters next in their life and career.
Her approach is practical and collaborative. She uses evidence-based methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Narrative Therapy to help people notice patterns and try new ways of responding. Sessions focus on clear strategies for managing strong emotions, easing day-to-day strain and identifying what matters most.
Malinda pays attention to attachment and family patterns that affect how people relate now. That can include issues such as abandonment, communication problems, blended family dynamics and family-of-origin difficulties. She also works with grief, caregiver stress, body image concerns and the fallout from separation or disaster.
Work in sessions blends talking with concrete steps people can practise between meetings. That might be experiments in behaviour, new ways of understanding personal stories, or short exercises to reduce overwhelm. The aim is to make change that fits into everyday life rather than only in the therapy room.
Sessions are offered in English and delivered from Australia. Costs vary by location and use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How her approaches work for online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small actions in that direction. It is useful when someone feels stuck or uncertain about next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and offers practical strategies to reduce anxiety or low mood. Narrative Therapy focuses on the stories people tell about themselves and opens space to reframe difficult experiences and identity after change.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit best, based on their goals and preferences. That might mean combining ACT and CBT techniques or using attachment-focused ideas to address relationship patterns.
The original profile does not specify session formats, so please confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy life, for example by removing travel time or allowing shorter check-ins during a lunch break. Some approaches suit quieter, longer conversations and others lend themselves to brief skill-focused sessions, and the therapist can discuss what will work given someone’s day-to-day routine.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She helps people with anxiety, depression, trauma and coping with big life changes. Other areas include relationship and family issues, grief, parenting stress and career questions.
How would she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
She uses practical, evidence-based methods such as ACT and CBT to identify patterns and try new responses. Sessions aim for short, doable steps to reduce overwhelm and test different directions.
What is her professional background?
She is an AASW social worker with eight years of clinical practice supporting people through trauma, burnout and life transitions.
Where is she based and what credential does she hold?
She works from Australia and holds AASW as her listed credential.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions charged?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule the first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.