Clinical Psychologist in Rosanna and Warrandyte Time and space to understand yourself better
Jess Chadakorn is a clinical psychologist, endorsed in clinical psychology by the Psychology Board of Australia. She sees children, teenagers and adults at two clinics in Melbourne's north-east, in Rosanna and in Warrandyte village by the Yarra River, and by telehealth.
Empathetic, holistic and collaborative
Getting to know Jess
Jess holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and a Master of Psychology (Clinical). She trained and worked in Canberra's public hospitals, providing individual and group therapy.
Jess tailors therapy to each person, drawing on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), schema therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) skills and psychodynamic therapy. She has a particular interest in working with neurodivergent people and describes herself as a queer ally.
What seeing a clinical psychologist involves
- Assessment
- Diagnosis, where helpful
- Formulation
- Treatment plan, reviewed together
Clinical psychology training centres on the assessment, diagnosis, formulation and treatment of mental health conditions across the lifespan. After her Master's, Jess completed a two-year Board-approved registrar program at Canberra Health Services, with rotations through acute mental health, pain management and mental health rehabilitation.
Therapy begins with a careful assessment, using a clinical interview and, where useful, standardised questionnaires. It can include a diagnosis based on recognised diagnostic criteria, though you do not need one to start. Jess then develops a formulation (an account of how difficulties arose and what keeps them going) and agrees a treatment plan with you, drawing on evidence-based therapies and reviewing it regularly. Sessions still leave room for whatever has come up that week.
Approaches
Approaches Jess draws on
CBT, ACT and DBT skills focus mainly on what is happening now, such as the thoughts and habits that keep a difficulty going. Schema therapy and psychodynamic therapy look more at long-standing patterns and the influence of earlier experiences.
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) CBT examines how thoughts, feelings, body sensations and actions influence one another, and uses practical techniques to recognise unhelpful patterns and test new responses.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) ACT, said like the word act, draws on mindfulness and values to make room for difficult thoughts and feelings, so more energy can go towards what matters to you.
- Schema Therapy Schema Therapy works with long-standing patterns in how people feel and relate to others, tracing them to early experiences and the core emotional needs that went unmet.
- DBT skills DBT skills come from dialectical behaviour therapy, which pairs acceptance with change. They offer practical ways to understand strong emotions, tolerate distress and handle difficult conversations.
- Psychodynamic therapy A conversational therapy that looks at how earlier experiences and relationships shape the way you feel and relate to people now, and at patterns that keep repeating.
Areas of support
Areas Jess works with
People often come to therapy with more than one concern, such as anxiety alongside low mood, or chronic pain that disrupts sleep. Each page below describes the experience and how Jess works with it.
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Trauma and PTSD
How overwhelming experiences can stay with the mind and body, and how trauma therapy with Jess works, from assessment and steadying skills to approaching difficult memories.
Read about trauma and PTSD -
Anxiety
Everyone feels anxious at times. For some people, worry, panic or avoidance starts to crowd out sleep, work and the things they enjoy.
Read about anxiety -
Depression and mood
Depression can wear down energy, concentration and interest in everyday life, often for weeks or months at a time.
Read about depression and mood -
ADHD and neurodiversity
How ADHD and autism can shape attention, energy, the senses and relationships, and how therapy with Jess adapts to the way you think and learn.
Read about ADHD and neurodiversity -
Eating disorders and body image
How body image concerns and eating disorders develop, who they affect, and how therapy with Jess works alongside medical and dietetic care.
Read about eating disorders and body image -
Chronic pain and health conditions
Long-term pain and illness often affect sleep, mood, work and relationships. Therapy with Jess draws on approaches such as ACT and CBT and works alongside your medical care.
Read about chronic pain and health conditions
Therapy at different ages
Jess sees children from about six years old and adapts assessment and therapy to each stage of life.
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Children
Sessions with younger children often include play and drawing alongside talking. Parents and carers are usually involved, so that new skills can be practised at home.
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Teenagers
Teenagers have a real say in what is discussed, and most of what they share stays confidential. Jess explains the limits at the outset, such as when someone's safety is at risk.
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Adults
Adults often seek therapy after a major change, such as a loss or a health problem, or because of long-standing patterns. Sessions focus on understanding what is happening and finding different ways to respond.
Starting therapy
Without a referral, you book directly, pay the clinic's fee and can claim from private health extras if your cover includes psychology. With a Medicare referral under Better Access, you can claim a rebate for a set number of sessions each year. The What to expect page covers both options and the first appointment.
Where Jess sees people
In Rosanna, the clinic offers online booking and early morning and early evening appointments. In Warrandyte, sessions can be held outdoors in the clinic's backyard by the Yarra River. Jess also sees people by telehealth, and appointments can be made with or without a referral.
Rosanna
Mind Your Health Centre
47 Greville Road, Rosanna VIC 3084
Jess is here Wednesday 1pm to 7pm, Thursday 7am to 1pm
- Phone
- (03) 9965 8903
Warrandyte
Mullum Road Clinic
71 Yarra Street, Warrandyte VIC 3113
Jess is here Monday and Tuesday 9am to 6pm
- Phone
- (03) 7042 3300