Background Information
Alicia Merlino is a registered psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and has 18 years of experience providing compassionate support and tailored psychological care. She has worked with children, adolescents, and adults across various settings, including government agencies, schools, and private practices.
Alicia specialises in supporting teens, young adults, and adults facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, attachment issues, personality disorders, school and work stress, relationship difficulties, and self-esteem concerns. She has a strong passion for helping clients navigate relationship challenges—whether it’s building and sustaining healthy connections, exploring reasons for feeling stuck in the dating world or unfulfilled in their love life, or improving communication struggles.
Throughout her career, Alicia has worked extensively with clients who have experienced trauma, including childhood trauma, and she has a particular interest in helping individuals understand and heal from these experiences. Additionally, she works with clients seeking personal growth, well-being, or support through life transitions.
With degrees in Psychology, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and Forensic Mental Health, Alicia’s extensive education and experience have shaped her evidence-based approach to therapy, enabling her to support clients with a wide range of issues.
Therapeutic Approach
Taking the first step towards therapy can feel overwhelming, so Alicia aims to make the process as comfortable as possible. She creates a calm, caring, and supportive space where clients feel truly heard and understood. Alicia believes that the relationship between client and therapist is the foundation of effective therapy, which is why she approaches everyone with kindness, respect, and without judgment.
Alicia takes a holistic approach to well-being, addressing not only mental health but overall wellness. She works collaboratively with clients to uncover the root causes of their challenges and employs evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and strengths-based techniques. Through these methods, Alicia helps clients build on their strengths, fostering personal growth, healing, and lasting change.
With years of experience in the field, Alicia understands how challenging it can be to face mental health struggles. She offers empathy and unwavering support every step of the way, ensuring that you never feel alone during this process. While therapy often involves exploring difficult emotions, Alicia also believes in finding moments of lightness and even laughter along the journey. Every small step taken together contributes to meaningful, lasting change. Alicia is committed to walking alongside you to tackle challenges and create progress that endures.
Calm
Caring
Holistic
Patient
Respectful
Non-judgemental
Trauma Informed
Therapeutic Approaches
-
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a widely practiced form of therapy that focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It is a short-term, goal-oriented therapeutic approach that aims to help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to their emotional distress.
CBT is evidence-based and has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. By challenging unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with more constructive ones, CBT helps clients reduce distress and build healthier coping mechanisms. Additionally, it provides practical tools and strategies that clients can apply in their daily lives, empowering them to manage symptoms independently and improve their overall well-being.
-
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of therapy that falls under the broader category of cognitive-behavioural therapies. ACT is designed to help individuals develop psychological flexibility by accepting their thoughts and feelings rather than trying to control or eliminate them. The goal of ACT is to help individuals live a rich, meaningful life while effectively handling the challenges that arise.
The emphasis on acceptance and mindfulness distinguishes ACT from other therapeutic approaches. By encouraging clients to focus on what truly matters to them and take committed action toward their values, ACT helps them reduce the impact of distressing thoughts and emotions. This approach benefits clients by improving their ability to navigate life’s challenges with resilience, fostering greater emotional balance, and enhancing their overall sense of purpose and fulfillment. ACT has been used to effectively treat a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, substance abuse, and stress-related conditions.
-
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) that was initially developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, it has since been adapted for various other mental health conditions. DBT combines elements of cognitive therapy with strategies from behaviour therapy to help individuals regulate their emotions, develop interpersonal skills, and improve their overall quality of life.
DBT benefits clients by equipping them with practical tools to manage intense emotions, reduce impulsive behaviours, and navigate interpersonal challenges. Through core components such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, clients learn to build resilience, improve self-awareness, and enhance their relationships. This structured approach fosters a greater sense of control, helping clients lead more balanced, fulfilling lives while effectively managing the symptoms of their mental health conditions.
-
Schema Therapy is a therapeutic approach that integrates elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) with attachment theory and psychodynamic concepts. It is designed to treat individuals with longstanding patterns of maladaptive behaviour, known as early maladaptive schemas. These schemas, which often develop during childhood, contribute to the formation of negative core beliefs about oneself and the world.
Schema Therapy benefits clients by helping them identify and understand these deeply ingrained patterns, uncover their origins, and address how they impact current thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. By using strategies such as cognitive restructuring, experiential techniques, and behavioural change, clients can challenge and modify their schemas, reducing their influence over daily life. This approach fosters self-awareness, emotional healing, and the development of healthier ways of thinking, feeling, and relating to others, leading to more fulfilling relationships and a greater sense of well-being.
-
A strengths-based approach in psychology is a therapeutic framework that focuses on identifying and building upon an individual’s existing strengths and resources, rather than solely concentrating on problems or deficits. This approach encourages clients to recognise their personal resilience, capabilities, and potential, empowering them to use these strengths to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
This approach benefits clients by fostering a sense of empowerment and self-confidence, helping them reframe their perspective from one of limitations to possibilities. By focusing on what clients already do well, it promotes resilience and self-efficacy, encouraging them to draw upon their inner resources during difficult times. This positive, collaborative framework supports mental health by reducing feelings of helplessness and promoting personal growth. It is effective in addressing a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress, while enhancing overall well-being and encouraging sustainable change.
Trained Facilitator in the Following Programs
Professional Memberships
Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS)
Australian Psychological Society (APS) Board Approved Supervisor
Approved Counsellor with Victim Services
Golden Key International Honour Society Member