- Stress and anxiety
- Career and study
- Grief and loss
About Alana
Alana Thompson is an AASW-accredited social worker with 18 years of clinical experience in Australia. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, career concerns and ADHD. Her practice also covers a wide range of related issues including relationship and family problems, caregiver stress, and the effects of trauma and emotional abuse.
Alana uses practical, evidence-informed techniques that aim to improve day-to-day functioning. Sessions focus on clear goals and manageable steps. Clients can expect a conversational, interactive style that looks at thoughts, feelings and behaviours to shift patterns that cause distress.
Her background includes frontline work in child protection and family services, and a management role at a university counselling service where she supported students with welfare and study pressures. That mix of direct practice and systems experience informs how she helps people navigate complex problems and access supports.
Alana has academic qualifications in psychology and social work, including a PhD in Social Work and Law. She is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and has completed Mental Health First Aid training. These facts shape her approach but do not replace the conversations she has with each person about what will help.
In sessions she commonly develops plans for managing distress, builds practical skills for work and study pressures, and addresses the fallout from grief and trauma. She works collaboratively to set short-term targets and longer-term goals people can act on between meetings.
How therapeutic methods translate to online work
Alana draws on evidence-informed techniques that focus on changing unhelpful thinking and on practical skill building. One common approach looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour to develop strategies for managing anxiety and depression. Another approach emphasises emotional awareness and regulation, helping people process grief or the after-effects of trauma while building day-to-day coping tools.Finding the right methods is part of the process. Alana works collaboratively to test approaches and adjust them to fit a person's goals, preferences and life circumstances. Clients and therapist agree what to try and review progress together as goals evolve.
The practical benefits of online work often include easier fitting of sessions into study, work or family timetables and fewer travel demands. Online meetings can also make shorter check-ins or weekly appointments simpler to keep. The biography does not list specific session formats here, so confirm current options before booking to know what is offered and how it might fit into your routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, grief, depression, career worries and ADHD, and related family and caregiver concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is interactive and practical, using evidence-informed techniques to set goals and change unhelpful patterns.
How long has she practised?
She has 18 years of clinical experience working in a variety of settings including university counselling and child protection services.
What credentials and professional membership does she hold?
She holds a Bachelor of Psychology, a Master of Social Work, a PhD in Social Work and Law, and is an AASW-accredited social worker.
Can I see her if English is not my first language?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with people located outside Australia?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions arranged and what formats are available?
Please confirm current session formats before booking as the biography does not specify which formats are offered.
How much do sessions cost and how do I begin?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. To start, select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.