NICOLE BESLEY-MARTIN PSYCHOLOGY
Therapy that seeks understanding rather than forcing change that lacks depth.
Many people arrive having already tried therapy that may have been structured, goal-focused, or brief. It helped, to a point. But the same patterns kept returning: in relationships, in how they feel about themselves, in moments from the past that still carry so much weight.
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Psychoanalytic psychotherapy works differently. Rather than focusing on what to change, we pay attention to what is happening in your inner life, in your relationships, and in what emerges between us over time. The aim is an understanding that is deep enough to actually shift something.​
IS THIS FOR YOU?
You feel drawn to understanding your inner world,
Not just relieving discomfort. Do you want to know why not only what to do about it.
You are a therapist or clinician
Seeking your own personal therapy with someone who works psychoanalytically and will meet you at that level.
You noticed repeating patterns
In relationships, in work in, how you see yourself. You sense these patterns have roots, you haven't fully reached
You don't need to have the words to what you're experiencing
Only a willingness to reflect and engage in the process.
You have tried structured or short-term therapy
but are looking for something deeper that seeks to understand as a pathway to relief.
You feel things deeply
And want a space to explore and make sense of your feelings and reactions
HOW I WORK
Attention to what is experienced, not only what is spoken.
Sessions are open-ended conversations. I'm interested in what you bring each week including your dreams, your reactions, what feels charged or confusing. I pay close attention to feelings that arise between us in the room, treating them as meaningful information to get to know you rather than noise to be managed.
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Over time, we come to understand not just the content of your difficulties but how they were formed, what they protect, and why they persist. This kind of understanding tends to create change that lasts, because it works at the level of meaning rather than behaviour.
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I work with adults on an ongoing basis. Sessions are typically weekly, and the relationship we build over time is itself part of what makes the work possible.
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Medicare rebates are available with a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP
QUESTIONS
How is psychoanalytic therapy different from CBT approaches?
Most structured therapies focus on changing thoughts, behaviours, or responses to distress. Psychoanalytic therapy is more interested in understanding the deeper origins of those patterns — the relational and emotional history that shaped them. It tends to be longer-term, more exploratory, and more concerned with meaning than technique.
How long does therapy take?
This varies considerably and is something we can discuss. Psychoanalytic therapy is not a brief intervention — it tends to unfold over months to years, depending on what you're working with and what you're hoping for. Some people come for a defined period; others make it an ongoing part of their life.
Do I need a referral?
You can contact me directly without a referral. If you'd like to access the Medicare rebate, you'll need a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, which provides a rebate on a set number of sessions per calendar year. I'm happy to explain this process if you're not sure how it works.
I am a therapist looking for personal therapy. Do you work with clinicans?
Yes. I work with a number of therapists and other mental health clinicians. I'm comfortable working with people who have significant clinical knowledge and find that it often enriches both their personal and professional lives.
What does the first session look like?
The first session is an opportunity to talk about what has brought you here, what you're hoping for, and to get a sense of whether working together feels right. We can talk about anything you with to and I'll answer any questions you have about how I work and what therapy with me typically involves.