Poorna is a registered psychologist with a Master of Clinical Psychology Degree. She works with a wide range of psychological, cultural and emotional challenges. Her warm and humorous style of engaging with clients allows for an easy and collaborative approach to alleviating challenges faced by individuals.

Poorna has developed expertise in working with people experiencing anxiety, depression, mood and personality disorders, relationship difficulties, trauma, complex trauma (gender-based violence, migrant, asylum seeker and refugee contexts), life stressors and cultural adjustment related challenges. She is trained in several therapeutic approaches including CBT, Schema Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy. Through Poorna’s attentive and supportive approach to dealing with psychological difficulties, she aims to compassionately confront behaviours and thought patterns that prevent clients from fully and positively engaging with their lives.

Poorna completed her undergraduate studies in the United States, and graduate degree in Melbourne, Australia. Prior to pursuing her Masters, she worked in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings across South America, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia. Throughout this time, Poorna worked with people experiencing adversity in vastly different societies and communities. This allowed her the opportunity to recognise the importance of drawing on cultural and community-based value systems when considering the psychological or emotional challenges that we face. She seeks to support each individual client to develop a deeper understanding of themselves that resonates with their unique systemic values, enabling holistic healing so clients may fully connect with themselves, and others.

Poorna greatly values the therapeutic alliance between client and therapist. Therefore she works hard to foster an environment where this positive alliance can be nurtured and strengthened to benefit the client in other aspects of their lives. You can expect that Poorna will create and uphold a space that is safe, validating, respectful, and most importantly, free of judgement, so your story can be told.

Poorna can also speak Malay (Bahasa Malaysia) and Tamil

Poorna is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA) and the Australian Psychology Society (APS).