Meet Dr Barbara Sorensen
I am an experienced psychologist providing psychotherapy to adults in my private practice located at North Head Sanctuary in Manly on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
I work with you in an engaging and authentic manner to help you overcome your specific difficulties and symptoms so that you can experience improvements in the areas of your life that are important to you, such as self-worth, insight, relationships, productivity, a sense of meaning and purpose, and enjoyment in life. I specialise in providing treatment for anxiety and mood disorders, personality disturbances, and psychotic disorders.
My work as a therapist is informed by effective methods of psychotherapy that are scientifically validated and specifically developed to accelerate the process of change. My primary therapeutic approach is based on Affective Set-Point Therapy (SPT), which integrates attachment theory, modern neurobiology, and memory reconsolidation. I furthermore have had extensive training and supervision in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP).
I am a registered provider with Medicare.
Psychotherapy can be provided in English, Danish, and French.
A thoughtful space to understand yourself and move forward
Therapy with Dr Barbara Sorensen is collaborative, engaging, and focused on helping you overcome difficulties that may be affecting your self-worth, insight, relationships, productivity, and enjoyment in life.
Affective Set-Point Therapy (SPT)
SPT integrates attachment theory, modern neurobiology, and memory reconsolidation. SPT is developed by Dr Steve Arthey and is a recent adaptation of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP).
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
ISTDP is an accelerated, emotion-focused psychodynamic therapy approach developed by Dr Habib Davanloo, which places unprocessed emotions in relation to childhood attachment trauma at the core of its model of psychopathology.
The Role of Attachment and Relationships
Emotional connection to others through secure relationships is so important to us because attachment relationships while growing up are a source of protection and safety and are furthermore needed for our brains to develop optimally.
Therapy can help you overcome
Barbara’s work is informed by effective methods of psychotherapy designed to support insight, emotional processing, and lasting change.
Anxiety
Anxiety can be described as the body's alarm system. It signals and prepares the body to quickly respond to danger through fight/flight/freeze reactions.
Rumination and Worry
Ruminative thinking can be described as a tendency to dwell on the same thoughts or experiences from the past associated with failure and negative feelings.
Problematic Personality Patterns
Personality can be described as a set of enduring patterns of behaviours, thoughts, beliefs, inner experiences and interpersonal functioning that distinguish human beings.
Depression
Depression can be described as a state of ‘turning in on the self’, which affects your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours.
Relationship Difficulties
Problems in relationships that are not worked on or resolved can become very destructive and lead to unhappiness and distress.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can be caused by somatisation of emotions. Somatisation can be defined as the translation of emotions into the development or worsening of physical problems.
Evidence-based therapy with a warm, human approach
Barbara’s work is informed by effective methods of psychotherapy designed to support insight, emotional processing, and lasting change.
Understand
Explore the thoughts, feelings, and patterns behind your current challenges.
Process
Work through emotional blocks, trauma, anxiety, and relationship patterns.
Change
Develop healthier ways of relating to yourself, others, and your life.
Make an Appointment
To make an appointment, you can contact me on mobile 0413 659 661, make a secure online booking, or via the contact form below. All enquiries are treated with confidentiality.
If you are unable to find a suitable appointment via the online booking system, please do not hesitate to contact me directly as other appointment times may be available.
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Therapy can be a space to feel understood, reconnect with yourself, and begin creating meaningful change.
Ready to take the next step?
All enquiries are treated with confidentiality.
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