Meet Vanessa Allen

Vanessa is the Founder and Director of Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology, a trusted therapy practice based in Menai, in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. She leads a multidisciplinary team offering in-person sessions locally and online counselling across Australia.

 

Vanessa is an experienced Mental Health Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and Clinical Supervisor, with over 15 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families across the private, government and non-profit sectors.  

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​​ Vanessa offers personalised, evidence-based therapy that is relational, collaborative, and grounded in current research.

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Vanessa is a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician with ANZAED, providing specialised therapy for anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, and binge eating disorder across the lifespan. Her work also encompasses neurodivergent mental health, supporting individuals with autism and ADHD. Using a neurodiversity-affirming approach, she helps clients explore identity, manage masking and executive functioning, and navigate co-occurring challenges such as anxiety, depression, and disordered eating.

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Vanessa has postgraduate training in trauma and developmental trauma and offers support that is attuned to early attachment experiences, relational wounds, and the impact of complex trauma. She incorporates principles of reparative parenting and attachment-based therapy to support children, adolescents, and caregivers in building secure, connected relationships and fostering emotional safety.

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​In couples and family therapy, Vanessa helps clients navigate conflict, rebuild connection, and improve communication, drawing on attachment and systems-based frameworks to support healthier relationships.

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Clients often describe Vanessa as calm and grounded, with a natural ability to create a therapeutic space where people feel safe, heard, and supported. She is particularly skilled at engaging clients who may feel hesitant, resistant or uncertain about therapy.

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Alongside her clinical work, Vanessa is a qualified trainer and clinical supervisor. She remains actively engaged in professional development to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care.

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Scroll below to learn more about Vanessa's special interests, training, and qualifications.

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To learn more about the services available at Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology, visit our Services or Resources pages. To book an appointment with Vanessa, call 02 8519 4197 or click the button below.