Kathryn Vella , AASW

Kathryn Vella is an AASW-qualified Australian mental health professional with six years of clinical and professional experience across mental health, forensic mental health, psychology, and life coaching. She brings a specialist focus to supporting people affected by coercive control, using sociolegal and psychosocial frameworks to ensure care is clinically informed and contextually relevant. This approach helps address both the psychological impact of coercive dynamics and the wider systems that influence recovery.

Her practice supports recovery from trauma, PTSD and complex PTSD, and emotional and psychological abuse, including work with people navigating identity and self-esteem challenges after narcissistic abuse. Kathryn integrates schema-focused methods to help clients process childhood wounds, build self-compassion, clarify purpose, and break long-standing maladaptive patterns. She also works with neurodiversity and related conditions, including ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and OCD, and considers how these intersect with trauma, identity, and emotional regulation.

Psychoeducation about coercive control, mental health, and neurodevelopmental differences is woven into therapy, guided by unconditional positive regard and strengths-based, trauma-informed practice. Kathryn collaborates closely with clients, recognising them as experts in their own lives and supporting tailored, evidence-informed pathways toward healing.

Academically, she is finalising a Master of Clinical Psychology and plans to begin a PhD in Clinical Psychology and Psychopharmacology in 2026, with research focused on the clinical and neurobiological underpinnings of coercive control and its intersections with complex mental health presentations. Kathryn maintains a work schedule Monday to Thursday and reviews email during those days; her schedule is often at capacity, so clients are encouraged to manage bookings and cancellations through the scheduling system. Friday through Sunday her inbox is not monitored. Occasional connection issues can arise with online sessions, and if she is ever unable to attend a scheduled appointment for reasons other than technical problems, she will provide notice and help arrange rescheduling.

Attachment, ACT, and Online Support

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape emotional patterns and interpersonal expectations. It helps clients understand attachment styles, repair relational ruptures, and develop more secure ways of connecting with others, which can be especially useful for people recovering from abusive or controlling relationships.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) invites clients to clarify personal values and practice mindful acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while taking committed action toward meaningful goals. ACT is often helpful for anxiety, avoidance, and managing distressing emotions without getting stuck in unhelpful patterns.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Kathryn will work together with each client to identify which methods or combination of methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques over time as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter or asynchronous support can be provided via live chat or text-based messaging. For many people this model increases access, reduces travel time, and makes it easier to fit consistent care into a busy life. Licensed professionals can deliver the same therapeutic skills and support online, and Kathryn tailors the format to suit each client’s needs and circumstances.