welcome, I’m dr linda hartley-clark.
I am a Melbourne-based Counsellor and Psychotherapist who specialises in working with Individuals and Couples to enhance Love, Life and Relationship Satisfaction.
I believe that when it comes to enjoying Quality of Life, it’s important to have a sense of purpose and meaning in life. However, to truly thrive in life we need to feel like we belong. Being in Relationships and feeling emotionally connected to people and places is a panacea for loneliness and isolation, painful conditions that so many of us currently experience.
When it comes to Love, allowing myself to love and to be loved is a value I hold, deeply. No matter how we identify, sharing love and life with a romantic or marital partner feeds our basic human need for commitment, intimacy, and passion. It’s also comforting to know that we can depend and be depended upon when life gets tough.
maintaining relationships is hard work
No doubt, there will be times when your relationship is tested, times when you believe that your marriage is in trouble. Seeking help early from a relationship therapist near you to save your marriage can teach you a lot about common relationship problems and put things into perspective.
More importantly, relationship counselling can help you and your partner see how you get stuck in negative ways of relating to one another, and how you can change these patterns of interaction. The values I hold close to me concerning Love Life and Relationships translate to my work.
I want you to know…
I am committed to promoting healthy relationships for you.
I design and tailor programs to help reduce emotional distress and self-doubt resulting from relationship problems and important life transitions and events.
In private counselling sessions, I help my clients get in touch with their feelings, manage their emotional experiences, seek emotional connections with meaningful others, and express what they need in intimate relationships to feel safe, secure, and uniquely valued.
it is a privilege to be involved in the business of promoting healthy relationships for people.
Thank you for considering me in your process of self care,
Dr Linda Hartley-Clark.
My Approach to therapy
I utilise various treatment approaches in my counselling practice, and tailor therapy to the needs of my clients. You may or may not be familiar with some of these treatments, which include: Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy, Integrative Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Behavioural Activation, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Positive Psychology.
my credentials
I have a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Honours) Degree from Deakin University, a Master of Counselling Degree from Swinburne University with a postgraduate specialisation in couple counselling, and a PhD (Social and Mental Health) from Deakin University. I have completed internationally accredited training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy with the Australian Centre for Emotion-Focused Therapy (ACEFT). I am also trained in suicide first aid, and in action and group work processes with Psychodrama Australia. I am currently engaged in internationally accredited training in trauma informed emotion-focused therapy for individuals with the Australian Institute for Emotion-Focused Therapy (AIEFT).
"When it comes to caring for the wellbeing of my clients, the learning never stops!"