Welcome!

Hi! My name is Dr Denholm Adventure-Heart, PhD, MClinPsy. I'm a Brisbane-based Australian Psychologist, Scientist (with expertise in lucid dreaming and meditation), and Professional Speaker. I am a life-long student of Zen, and I am dedicated to doing as much good in this world as I can for us all. If you need psychological support, I can help. I offer one-on-one adult psychology sessions via telehealth (Zoom or phone) to people all across Australia. To find out more about how I can help, please continue...

Dr Denholm Adventure-Heart at TEDxHSGr, St Gallen, Switzerland (May 2019).

Mental Health Support. As a Psychologist, I provide tailored, evidence-based, person-centred therapy for a wide range of mental health problems. I can assist people with trauma-related disorders (e.g. PTSD), people seeking to explore neurodivergence (e.g. ADHD and ASD), and people suffering from anxiety, depression, interpersonal difficulties like conflict and loneliness, and many other (often complex) life challenges. I can also help you maintain and your mental health during times of stress, such as when you're navigating a major life change, or working hard to achieve a valued outcome.

Direction and Meaning. I have a deep appreciation for science, music, philosophy and spirituality. I can help you to cultivate a more meaningful and fulfilling life. This often involves strategies to identify and harness your own core values and strengths, express your unique inner gifts to yourself and the world around you, and to learn how to more effectively and gracefully move towards understanding and compassion for yourself and others. I can also help you explore existential and philosophical questions related to purpose and meaning in life.

Psychedelic Integration. I am currently the Brisbane Chapter Lead for the Australian Psychedelic Society (APS). Psychedelic-assisted therapy is an area of special interest for me. I can help you make sense of and integrate significant experiences you have already had, and direct you to evidence-based information about harm minimisation practices. In the future, I'll be exploring avenues to provide psychedelic-assisted therapy in government-approved clinical trials. However, I do not, and cannot, provide psychedelic-assisted therapy at this time (please don't ask me for this, thank you!).

How I Can Help

APS Event Image (New Farm Park February 2024).jpg

Lucid Dreaming Q&A for the Australian Psychedelic Society (APS) Brisbane Chapter, QLD, Australia

Why work with me?

Having a genuinely open and trusting therapeutic alliance with your psychologist is very important. In fact, it is one of the most researched predictors of successful therapeutic outcomes. If you are interested in working with me as a psychologist, please watch the video below - you'll hear an overview of my qualifications and experience, but more importantly, you'll get a sense of who I am and why I love what I do. For the same reason, I encourage you to explore the rest of my website (e.g. watch my TEDx Talk, check out my scientific research page, etc.) before you reach out to me. Ultimately, if you feel that I am not the right psychologist for you, I would hope that you will do what feels right for you - including if that involves seeking an alternative psychologist. There are many ways to do this, such as by searching the official Australian Psychological Society (APS) Find a Psychologist page, by speaking to your GP, or by doing research on the internet. Lifeline is always available 24/7 if you are in need of immediate support (Phone: 131114), and you can always call 000 in an emergency for help in Australia.

Nick Sesh (left) interviewing Dr Denholm Adventure-Heart (right) for the Selfseeker Psychedelic Conference, Brisbane, Australia (March 2024).

Qualifications and Experience:

Registered Psychologist (General Registration with AHPRA: PSY0002596447)
Master of Clinical Psychology (University of Queensland)
PhD in Psychology (University of Adelaide)
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons) (University of Adelaide)
Diploma of Counselling (AIPC)
Volunteer for Lifeline Australia
Former Visiting Research Fellow (VRF) at the University of Adelaide
Chapter Lead for the Australian Psychedelic Society (APS) - Brisbane Chapter.

Working with Me:

What is it like to work with me?

I use an integrative approach, which means I use a wide range of psychological theories and techniques to fit your unique needs. I'm trained in both scientific research and clinical psychology, but as I said before, I prioritise our alliance and truly understanding what you're going through first and foremost. In other words, although I'm clinically trained, my style of therapy is very warm, flexible, and humanistic. Some people prefer therapy to be highly structured (e.g. for very specific issues or goals). Others prefer a more fluid and dynamic approach, or need ongoing support for chronic / complex difficulties. I can accommodate all of this - the service I provide is tailored to you. Therapies I'm trained in include Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-Centred Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focussed Therapy. I also draw upon my scientific training to do research and extra preparation between sessions when needed, to ensure I'm providing the best quality of support to you that I can.

The First Step:

The first step is fill out the form below, and then wait for me to get back to you about booking an initial 50-minute intake session. This first intake session covers the basics, such as getting to know each other and exploring your reason/s for seeking help. This will include a set of carefully selected psychological assessment measures tailored to you (and which I'll explain and share with you). This helps with building our initial understanding of why you're seeking assistance, and also helps us monitor progress over time. Once we have a solid, shared understanding of what you need help with and why, we'll explore a range of evidence-based options for therapy that address the root cause. We'll then create a plan, work together to implement it, track progress over time, and make adjustments as needed.

My Commitment to You:

You can expect to feel deeply heard and empathised with. You can expect to be treated with unconditional positive regard at all times. I may provide suggestions and insights, but I won't tell you what to do; I'll always honour your own preferences and decisions. If you work with me, I will be your personal ally, dedicated to helping you live a balanced, healthy, and meaningful life.

Sessions and Fees:

If you are interested in working with me, please complete the New Client Information Form below. I will usually reply within 24 hours (except when travelling) with details about how to book your first session. Completing this form doesn't imply any obligation on your behalf, and I'll never pressure you to book sessions. Sessions are available to people anywhere in Australia via either Zoom or telephone (your preference).

Mental Health Treatment Plans (MHTP): If you set up a MHTP with your GP, you will be able to claim a Medicare rebate of $96.65 per session for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. Your GP can email your MHTP to me directly here, or email it to you first to send to me later.

My session rates depend on your circumstances and what you can afford:

Full rate: The recommended rate of the Australian Psychological Society: $311 per 50 minute session ($214.35 out of pocket with a MHTP).

Reduced rate: $230 ($133.35 out of pocket). This is if you're facing financial difficulty / can't afford my full rate.

Concession rate: $155 ($58.35 out of pocket). For concession card holders (I allocate a percentage of sessions for this, so waiting times may apply).

NDIS funding: No out-of-pocket expense if you have NDIS funding for Psychology.

Please note that you must be:

18 years or older
Not actively experiencing psychosis
Mild-moderate level of mental health needs
Not seeking assistance with any legal matters
Not seeking assistance with work cover or insurance claims
An Australian resident

If you're interested in working with me, please fill out the following form and I will reply to you soon. You can do this either before or after setting up a MHTP with your GP. You can also see me privately (without a MHTP) but will not be able to claim Medicare rebates if you do this.

Dr Adventure-Heart

Psychologist / Scientist / Speaker

Welcome!

How I Can Help