If you live in Vaucluse, Paddington, Randwick, Maroubra, Coogee or anywhere across Sydney's eastern suburbs, finding a PTSD counsellor who is both nearby and available to see you promptly can feel harder than it should. Searching online returns a mix of directories, general mental health listings, and practices that are fully booked. This page gives you clear, direct information about what PTSD support looks like with a registered psychologist, how sessions at this practice work, and how to take the next step today.
Constanza Tirado Subiabre is a registered PTSD counsellor based in Bondi Junction, within easy reach of the eastern suburbs by public transport or car. She offers both face-to-face appointments and telehealth sessions across Australia, which means that wherever you are in the eastern suburbs right now, access to consistent, professional support is straightforward.
Below you will find an honest explanation of what trauma-focused psychological support involves, who it suits, and what to expect from a first appointment.
What you'll find in this post
- What a PTSD counsellor actually does in a psychology context, and why registration matters
- The evidence-based approaches used at this practice and how they work
- Who this support suits, including trauma responses that don't require a formal diagnosis
- What happens in your first session, fees, Medicare rebates, and how to book
Contents
- What does a PTSD counsellor do in a psychology context?
- Evidence-based approaches. EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT
- Who is this support suited for?
- What to expect from your first session
- Fees, Medicare rebates, and booking access
- Why Bondi Junction works for eastern suburbs residents
1. What does a PTSD counsellor do in a psychology context?
A registered psychologist working with PTSD provides structured, paced support for people who have experienced distressing or threatening events. Sessions focus on helping you understand how those experiences are affecting you now. Your thoughts, physical responses, sleep, relationships, and sense of safety. And on working through them at a rate that feels manageable rather than overwhelming.
The word "counsellor" is used broadly in searches like "PTSD counsellor eastern suburbs," but in Australia the relevant registration to look for is that of a registered psychologist, regulated by the Psychology Board of Australia under AHPRA. A registered psychologist has completed a minimum of six years of tertiary training and is bound by professional and ethical standards that protect you as a client.
Trauma work in a psychology setting is not about revisiting distressing memories for the sake of it. The aim is to gradually reduce the way past experiences continue to disrupt your present life. Your concentration, your relationships, your ability to feel safe. This work is done at your pace, with your consent at every step.
2. Evidence-based approaches. EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT
Constanza Tirado Subiabre draws on approaches that have a strong evidence base for trauma and PTSD. The specific methods used are tailored to what makes sense for you individually, not applied as a fixed protocol regardless of who you are.
Approaches available at this practice
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). a structured therapy that supports the processing of distressing memories through bilateral stimulation. It is widely used in trauma-focused psychological work and works by helping your brain reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their disruptive charge over time.
- Trauma-Focused CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). a practical approach that looks at the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours as they relate to traumatic experience. It works to shift patterns that are keeping distress in place by gradually confronting avoided situations and challenging thoughts that maintain the trauma response.
These approaches are listed in the practice's service information for Trauma and PTSD. You can also read more about what PTSD psychology sessions involve in a Bondi Junction context in a related post on this site.
3. Who is this support suited for?
Psychological support for PTSD and trauma at this practice is available to adults and young people aged 16 and over. You do not need a formal PTSD diagnosis to seek support. Many people arrive with a sense that past experiences are affecting them now, without yet having spoken to anyone professionally about it.
Common presentations include intrusive memories or flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, avoidance of people or places connected to a past event, and a persistent sense that something is wrong even when circumstances are outwardly fine. These experiences are recognised features of trauma responses and are well within the scope of what this practice works with.
This practice also offers culturally sensitive support for Spanish-speaking and Italian-speaking clients, including migrants and international students in the eastern suburbs whose experience of trauma may be connected to displacement, significant life transition, or adjustment to a new country. If that is part of your story, you might also find it useful to read about migration therapy and emotional adjustment.
4. What to expect from your first session
The first session is primarily a conversation. Constanza will ask about what has brought you in, what you have been experiencing, and relevant background. Your history, current circumstances, and what you are hoping to get from the process. You will not be asked to recount traumatic events in detail in an initial session.
By the end of a first appointment, you should have a clearer sense of whether the approach and the working relationship feel right for you, and some initial thoughts on what a treatment plan might involve. You are not committing to an indefinite programme by booking a first session; it is an opportunity to get information and decide whether to continue.
Sessions are available face-to-face at the Bondi Junction rooms or via telehealth. Telehealth sessions are conducted via a secure video platform and are available to clients across Australia, which is particularly relevant if you live in parts of the eastern suburbs where travelling to Bondi Junction on a given week is not practical.
5. Fees, Medicare rebates, and booking access
Sessions at this practice are priced at AUD 220. If you have a valid Mental Health Care Plan prepared by your GP, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate on a capped number of sessions per calendar year. The rebate amount and the number of sessions it covers are set by Medicare, not by the practice. To access a rebate, you will need to present a current, valid care plan at the time of your appointment.
If you do not yet have a Mental Health Care Plan and are unsure whether you need one, your GP is the starting point. You do not need a referral to book an initial appointment at this practice, but having a care plan in place before your first session means any applicable rebate can be applied from the outset.
Booking is straightforward. You can reach the practice directly through the website to arrange an appointment at a time that suits you. Telehealth availability means that residents across the eastern suburbs. From Bondi Beach and Bronte through to Randwick, Maroubra, and Kingsford. Can access a PTSD counsellor without needing to factor in a commute every week.
6. Why Bondi Junction works for eastern suburbs residents
Bondi Junction sits at the geographic centre of Sydney's eastern suburbs. It is accessible by train from Central, with direct connections that serve Edgecliff, Kings Cross, and the CBD corridor. Bus routes connect directly from Paddington, Woollahra, Randwick, and Coogee. For most eastern suburbs residents, the Bondi Junction rooms are genuinely local. Not a trip across the city.
For those who prefer not to travel at all, or who are managing a particularly difficult period, telehealth removes the commute entirely while maintaining the consistency of working with the same registered psychologist in an ongoing relationship. Both formats are available at the same session fee.
Consistency matters in trauma work. Changing practitioners or formats frequently disrupts the therapeutic process. Having one PTSD counsellor available both in person and via telehealth. And reachable by residents across a broad geographic area. Reduces the practical friction that often causes people to delay starting or to drop out.
If you are looking for a PTSD counsellor in the eastern suburbs and want to speak with a registered psychologist promptly, without being placed on a lengthy waiting list, contact this practice directly to book your first session.
Frequently asked questions
A registered psychologist working with PTSD provides structured support to help you understand how past distressing events are affecting you now, including your thoughts, feelings, and physical responses. The focus is on moving you from feeling stuck to feeling more capable and settled in your everyday life.
Constanza Tirado Subiabre is a registered psychologist based in Bondi Junction who works primarily in trauma and PTSD support for people across Sydney's eastern suburbs. She offers both face-to-face appointments and telehealth sessions across Australia, with no waiting lists, so you can access support promptly without having to travel far or wait months for an appointment.
Your first session involves getting to know each other and understanding your history, what brought you in, and what you hope to change. The psychologist will explain how trauma responses work, what approach suits your situation, and answer any questions you have about how sessions are structured and what fees apply. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of what support looks like and when you can start.
No, you don't need a formal diagnosis to access support from a registered psychologist experienced in trauma work. Many people benefit from this support when they're noticing changes in their mood, sleep, concentration, or how they relate to others after a difficult event, even if they haven't been formally assessed. A psychologist can help you understand what's happening and whether a structured trauma-focused approach is the right fit for you.
Medicare rebates are available through a referral from your GP, which means you can claim back part of the session cost. The exact rebate depends on your circumstances and the type of session, so it's worth asking about your out-of-pocket cost when you book, as it varies between individuals.