Dr Loretta Bell
Clinical Psychologist, Relationship Therapist
Dr Loretta Bell - Clinical Psychologist Melbourne
St Kilda, VIC 3182
In Person + Telehealth
Philosophy & Vision
I like to work in a collaborative process in which therapy fits the person or couple I am seeing. I work integratively from a wealth of theories and counselling modalities that I have mastered over my years as a therapist. I don't see the world through disease or pathological lens, so my first port of call is usually to try to understand how my client or clients have found themselves in distress in their current lives and their history.
Background
My background and training is in psychology and I have extensive training in relationship counselling and a particular interest and training in couple therapy. I see the world interpersonally and much of my individual therapy is influenced by this.
I am the Program Leader in Couple Therapy training and coordinate the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy, and other courses and programs at Relationships Australia, Victoria. This a Master's level program for trainee couples therapists.
Services
I am currently working remotely via secure telehealth internet platforms (Z.oom & Coviu). I am hoping to provide continuity of service to my clients who may need services more than ever with the current world crisis. Please keep well and contact me if you want to have a chat about how all this might work :-)
Quality Provision
I am registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority and hold endorsement as a Counselling and Clinical Psychologist and a registered supervisor. I am also a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and a member of the both the College of Clinical and Counselling Psychology of the APS and am a registered supervisor.
I regularly attend professional training and development.
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Doctor of Psychology (COUNS) - 2010 - Swinburne University
- Graduate Diploma Clinical Psychology - 2012 - Swinburne University
- Bachelor of Letters (with Honours) - 1996 - University of Melbourne
- Bachelor of Arts - 1989 - Monash University
- Graduate Certificate in Male Family Violence - 2007 - Swinbunre TAFE
Modalities
ACT - CBT - EMDR - Emotionally Focused Therapy - Gottman Method - Interpersonal - Marriage and Family - PACT - Person Centred - Psychodynamic - Schema Therapy - Systems Theory - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
I am integrative and training in many therapeutic modalities. At heart, I am a humanist with a systemic overview with some psychodynamic influence. I utilise an emotionally focused framework in therapy. I am also training in schema therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I am strongly influenced by interpersonal neurobiological thinking and attachment theory and patterns.
Professional Associations
- Australian Psychological Society
Practice Locations
St Kilda Rd
St Kilda VIC 3182
Appointments
10 to 4pm Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Payment Options
Cash
Credit Card (preferred)
Funds Transfer
Paypal
Payment must be made on the day of session.
Contact Loretta
Please contact me to make an appointment
A conversation with Loretta Bell
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Many things probably led me to be a therapist, but my most motivating force was wanting to find a job that fitted within my humanistic values.
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I am probably most influenced by a humanistic way of thinking, but in relationships, I love the concept of differentiation. In short, I believe that children are perfect adapters to their childhood environment to get the optimum benefit from what is on offer. I like to think that the challenge in adulthood is readoption to a different and hopefully good environment. Couples also have to adapt to each other. I find this much more helpful than thinking of people like they have a mental disorder, even though the diagnosis is useful and efficient and needed in some circumstances.
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I love working with the interpersonal. How people adapt, act and react in relation to each other.
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I am integrative and utilise aspects of the following therapies as needed (one size never fits all :-)
Emotion-focused therapy (EFT)
Schema Therapy
Experiential Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Somatic-based Trauma work
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness
Gestalt
Systemic Therapy
Hellinger Constellations
Family Therapy
Gottman's Method and research -
That's a big question....
Sometimes it's actually when things heat up, not when they cool down. Luckily I have bright clients who can also judge for themselves if therapy is effective. I like to have an ongoing dialogue about this whether what I am doing works for the person that I'm working with. -
I continually learn about my self and the world as I work with people. Being a therapist has expanded my viewpoint and stressed the importance of living within your values and acting towards your best self and acceptance of your ess than best self.
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The deep satisfaction I get when I can tangibly help someones through their troubles.....and the occasional shared laugh.
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Who doesn't, but life's too short!
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Who knows what I would have said a two weeks ago, but now it's definitely coronavirus.
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'The Summer Day' by Mary Oliver