Doreen Patenall, PACFA
25 years in practice
Doreen Patenall is a counsellor credentialed with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) who brings 25 years of professional experience to her work.
License and registration
- PACFA
- 20854 · expires June 2026
- Years in practice
- 25
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the registration with the body that granted it.
About Doreen
Doreen Patenall is a counsellor credentialed with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) who brings 25 years of professional experience to her work. She focuses on practical help for stress, anxiety, relationships, trauma and abuse, and grief. Doreen aims to make the first steps straightforward and manageable for people who are nervous about starting therapy.
She creates a calm space where thoughts and feelings can be shared without judgement.
Background and approach
Sessions are conversational and down-to-earth. Doreen listens closely and helps people name what matters most to them in the present moment. Her approach draws on Existential therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people find meaning and make values-based choices.
She also uses Attachment-informed thinking and Cognitive Behavioural techniques when those methods fit a person’s goals. Practical skills and gentle reflection are mixed in each session. Doreen helps people manage panic, reduce symptoms of social anxiety, work through grief, or address body image and guilt.
She also supports those facing divorce, end-of-life concerns, or longstanding trauma. Sessions may include short exercises, noticing patterns, and setting small goals to try between meetings. The work aims to be collaborative and paced to each person’s comfort.
Doreen encourages people to take one step at a time toward a more settled life.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Doreen lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Coaching
- Body image
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches Doreen names
- Existential Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Systemic Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How her approach translates to online therapy
Doreen uses Existential therapy to help people clarify meaning and life priorities, especially when they feel stuck or uncertain. This approach focuses on personal choices and what gives life purpose. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used to teach practical ways to notice difficult thoughts and still move toward chosen values. ACT is useful for anxiety, panic and ongoing worry.Attachment-Based ideas guide work on relationships and communication, helping people see patterns that affect connections with others. These approaches are explained simply and used together when it helps the person reach their goals. Finding the right mix is part of therapy and Doreen will work with each person to choose methods that match their needs and preferences in a collaborative way.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions let people use visual cues and longer conversation. Phone sessions can be a good low-bandwidth option or a quick check-in. Live chat and messaging suit brief check-ins, homework review, or people who prefer typing. These options give flexibility to fit therapy around work, family and daily life.
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Questions people ask
What problems does she help with?
Doreen helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, and coaching around life changes. She also addresses body image, communication problems, control issues, and loneliness.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her sessions are conversational and down-to-earth with practical tools and reflective discussion. She focuses on what a person wants to change and works at a steady, manageable pace.
What is her background and experience?
She has 25 years of professional work experience in counselling settings in Australia. That time includes work with people facing trauma, grief, panic and relationship concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is credentialed with PACFA, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, and practises in Australia.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are costs and payments handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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