Let's Connect
Connect Psychology is a private mental health practice based in North Bondi, Sydney; working with young people and adults wherever they are in their healing journey.
We value kindness, compassion, holistic and integrated support - starting from the question of 'what has happened to you and how has this impacted your body, mind, soul?' as opposed to 'what is wrong with you?' This means we prioritise establishing a safe relationship between you and your psychologist whilst tailoring therapy to meet your unique needs. People often seek out therapy at Connect because they want to go beyond their potential diagnosis(es) or problems, in order to work on deeper-level healing.
Connect offers in-person sessions with Leigh in a comfortable, home-like space in North Bondi or telehealth support via secure online platforms. Enquiries about fit and therapies and availability are always welcome.
Leigh Wallace
Founder & Principal Psychologist
Leigh Wallas is many things: a human with lived experience of trauma, a mother, a partner, a daughter, a yogi, a friend. She is also an empathetic, warm and effective psychologist who draws from her life experience, as well as over 20 years of experience in the field of psychology, to help you navigate through difficulties you may be facing - now and from the past. Leigh opened Connect to offer mental health and wellbeing services that are focused on a personable (and less clinical) approach to healing through a mind/ body (biopsychosocial) lens. Leigh has worked in some capacity in private practice for a decade, but also has experience working in psychology the public sector, private sector and in consulting for over 20 years. Leigh has a Masters in Psychology (counselling) and is trained in a number of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Attachment-Informed EMDR, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders (DBT-E), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). Leigh values ongoing personal and professional education in all forms and is an avid reader and podcastee (listener for now). Leigh is registered psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Agency and a full member of EMDR Association of Australia. She is also a qualified yoga instructor and regular practitioner. This means that she can harness her knowledge of the body-mind connection to deepen and enhance therapy. Typically, Leigh works with clients who have experienced trauma and who continue to live with the impact of those traumas. Leigh also works with people living with mood disorders, anxiety, eating disorders and life transitions (including pre/post natal). Get in touch to find out more and to have an initial chat about if Leigh might be the right support for you at this time.
Our Approach
Connect is all-encompassing: encouraging healthy relationships between you and chosen others; a synergy between body and mind; and an opportunity to (re)script your own narrative.
Therapy is personalised to the individual, but can include approaches such as:
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Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR).
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Acceptance and commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
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Narrative therapy and Narrative Exposure therapy (NET)
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Trauma-informed Yoga
Combining the wisdom of your body's existing knowledge - with modern psychological expertise creates - an innovative approach to mental wellbeing that is Connect Psychology in practice.
“Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”
- Dr. Brene Brown
Connected Support
Each person's reason for seeking out support, at this particular point in their lives, is unique. Perhaps the catalyst is a stressful event that it difficult to deal with, that may also bring up familiar feelings of distress from the past.
It may be that you are stuck in a cycle of low mood and cannot figure out why things do not shift despite your efforts. Some people seek treatment after they have had children, and when they feel that they can no longer ignore the impacts of their own childhood on their current parenting.
Others question why they cannot find meaningful connection with others, or seek support to mend familial and intimate relationships. If there is something that you are ready to explore in your life now - maybe moving from disconnected to connected, from dysregulated to regulated, from despairing to hopeful - please do get in touch.
Individual Adult Therapy
At Connect Psychology, treatment is tailored to your needs: drawing from years of clinical practice, extensive training and lived experience
Group and Skills Training
Psychological Skills Training Groups occur online and at our North Bondi Location throughout the year.
EMDR & Attachment / Relational EMDR
Trauma-informed therapy, including Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR).
Therapeutic Yoga
Practices like trauma-informed yoga help us to develop strategies for calming our minds and regulating our physiological responses.
Private Health rebates and government Mental Health Care Plans supported. ​Telehealth and in-person sessions available.
Initial sessions are $290. Individual, ongoing appointments start from $250 per session
(with a rebate of $92.90 with a mental healthcare plan for up to 10 sessions per calendar year if eligiable). ​
FAQs
How are sessions offered? Connect offers online therapy Australia-wide and / or face-to-face sessions in North Bondi, Sydney.
Do You Need a Referral To See a Psychologist? You do not have to be referred by a doctor to see a psychologist. However, if you are referred with a valid mental healthcare plan, you may be eligible for rebated sessions. Please see the Services Australia website for more details. With a valid mental healthcare plan you may be able to claim a rebate of $96.65 (as of July 2024). Currently, Medicare offer up to 10 rebated sessions per calendar year if eligible. Privately-paying clients may also check with their individual health fund for eligibility for rebates.
Session Costs Individual, ongoing 50-minute appointments start from $250 per session. Initial assessment sessions are $290 pro-rata for 60 minutes. For fees regarding EMDR intensives, individual and group-based trauma-informed yoga and group-based therapies, please do get in touch.
What to expect at your first session? When you get in touch with Connect, you speak directly with Leigh, who can answer any questions you might have, and give you more of an idea of what working together might be like. Finding a therapist who is the right fit for you and your needs is really important. Leigh will also give you an idea of wait times and appointment availability and potential frequency of appointments needed (but this will be discussed further with you after your first appointment). When you make your first booking, Leigh will send you out an appointment confirmation as well as more information about confidentiality, the therapy sessions, payment, Medicare rebates, cancellation policies and more. If you are having the session online, she will send you an online meeting invite. Leigh will also send you online intake forms to complete prior to your first appointment. Please arrive 5-10min early for your face-to-face appointment. This will ensure that you are able to start your appointment on time, and also allow you some time to pause and reflect prior to your appointment. For online sessions please test your link and browser prior to joining the session so as to ensure enough time to resolve any difficulties with the connection. Please ensure that your device has adequate battery power. Check out Connect's contact details for information on where face-to-face sessions take place. There is free on-street parking and the rooms are close to public transport. Payment of fees will need to be made by credit/debit card at the time of your appointment via Halaxy software. In some cases, Leigh will be able to process your medicare rebate and send you the receipt for this. To have an initial chat, or to book an appointment, please call or email Leigh in the first instance and she will get back to you. Alternatively, please email or use the contact form and we'll respond ASAP.
Let's connect
Although it might be tough the way it is, it may also be familiar; change can be really difficult and unknown. Having said this, the rewards of chatting with someone about your experiences, and getting specific help with your problem, can be tremendous.
I encourage you to enquire so that we can have a chat about working together, toward better for you. For more information, or to book an appointment, please text and I will get back to you.
Alternatively, please email or use the contact form and we'll respond ASAP.
Contact:
2/31 Wairoa Avenue
North Bondi, Sydney, NSW 2026
Email Address: leigh@connectpsychologypractice.com
Phone:
(02) 9100 0408
Accreditation
RI EMDR
