Caitlin
Pinto
Treats age groups:
Life is unpredictable and when unpredictability becomes overwhelming, I have found that everyone can benefit from speaking with someone
It is not often that you meet someone for the first time and share with them your feelings and concerns. In this sense, attending psychology sessions are a unique and potentially uncomfortable experience. Although speaking with someone can be uncomfortable, I have found that everyone can benefit from speaking with someone, whether they have a diagnosis of a mental health disorder or they are experiencing mental health concerns, life struggles or difficult circumstances.
Life is unpredictable and can bring about change and unforeseeable stressors. It can be difficult speaking about your concerns, and it can be increasingly difficult to push through and live with concerns without the appropriate support. The good news is, by reading our team profiles at Counselling in Melbourne, you have completed what is likely the most difficult step – acknowledging that you may benefit from support.
These are some of the key services I provide
Please refer below for all the other mental health areas I service.
Other Areas Of Interest:
- Adjustment disorders
- Assertiveness training
- Careers, Study & Life Direction
- Conflict resolution
- LGBTI & Sexual identity issues
- Grief-Loss & bereavement
- Health & Lifestyle issues
- Relationship issues (INDIVIDUAL)
- Shyness & Social skills
- Stress Management & Relaxation
- Weightloss & Body image
I aim to make my clients feel comfortable, to first build rapport and connect with clients to create a non-judgmental and safe space. I have an empathetic nature and endeavour to understand my clients to the best of my ability. I adopt a person-centred, collaborative approach in my work to individualise care and help clients achieve their therapeutic goals.
Begin your healing process in three easy steps
Step 1
Book an appointment online or over the phone.
Step 2
Speak with a qualified psychologist or counsellor.
Step 3
Work with me to rediscover the real you!
Caitlin's areas of specialty
Anxiety is an important and natural feeling. A level of anxiety is needed to act as a protective factor and motivator, and to highlight things that are important to you. However, anxiety can also feel uncomfortable and debilitating, characterised by rapid thoughts, worry, feelings of uncertainty, frequent nausea, increased heart rate, and difficulty breathing among others. Rather than anxiety being protective and motivating, it can act as a barrier to trying new things, meeting new people and exploring experiences beyond your comfort zone.
Articulating anxious thoughts can be an anxiety-provoking feeling in itself, because of this, I endeavour to create a therapeutic space that is comfortable and safe. I allow time for rapport building and connecting with clients and listen in a non-judgmental manner. When working with clients with anxiety, I draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and mindfulness interventions to develop an individualised approach to understanding anxiety and bringing thoughts from the uncertainty back to the present.
Managing depression and low mood can be difficult, particularly when accompanied by low motivation, low energy, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, feelings of worthlessness and/or hopelessness. I acknowledge that experiences with depression differ for everyone. As such, I use a person-centred approach to collaboratively individualise support. I draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing interventions, depending on your goals and support needs. In our sessions, I will allow time to build rapport and gain a greater understanding of your circumstances. I will practice patience and listen in a non-judgemental manner, to create a safe and comfortable space for you to explore your emotions and thoughts to achieve a greater quality of life.
Attending school can be difficult for numerous reasons – feeling pressure to perform well, feeling like you are too far behind in the work and will not be able to catch up, friendship difficulties and feeling socially isolated, to name a few. Perhaps the recent COVID-19 pandemic created worries and feelings of anxiety making the return to school difficult. Explaining how you feel to your parents, friends and teachers can be just as difficult. In our sessions, I will allow for the time and space to understand your feelings and concerns and learn how to communicate them. I draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing interventions to increase motivation and self-confidence in returning to school.
Do you find yourself comparing yourself to others and feel like you should be doing better? Feel pressure to perform well and feel like you never do? Have negative thoughts about yourself and are self-critical? Do you find it easy to identify the negatives and hard to celebrate your achievements? These feelings and negative thoughts can lead to low self-esteem.
When working with clients experiencing low self-esteem and seeking self-development, I use a strength-based approach and Acceptance Commitment Therapy with a focus on values. Identifying strengths can be anxiety-provoking and frustrating, particularly when it feels as though you do not have any strengths. In our sessions, I will create a safe and judgement-free space to help you identify and focus on your strengths, by taking time to connect with you, empathise and being present.
