Meet Vanessa Allen

Vanessa is the Founder and Director of Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology, a multidisciplinary private practice based in Menai, in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. She leads a team of experienced clinicians offering both in-person and online therapy.

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A highly experienced Mental Health Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and Clinical Supervisor in Sydney, Vanessa brings over 15 years of clinical experience across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Her approach to therapy is relational, collaborative, and grounded in current research. She works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, individualising therapy to each person’s goals.

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Vanessa is a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician with ANZAED, offering specialist support for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, ARFID, and binge eating disorder across the lifespan. She also works extensively in neurodivergent mental health, supporting clients with ADHD and autism through a neurodiversity-affirming lens. Her work in this area includes helping to reduce masking, strengthen identity, manage executive functioning, and navigate co-occurring challenges such as anxiety and depression.

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She has completed postgraduate training in trauma and developmental trauma, and her practice is deeply attuned to the impact of early attachment experiences, relational wounds, and complex trauma. Vanessa is a respected psychotherapist in the Sutherland Shire and draws on attachment-based models and reparative parenting principles to support children, adolescents, and caregivers in building secure, connected relationships.

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Vanessa also supports individuals and couples during the perinatal period, providing compassionate care through the transitions of pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. Her work in this space includes processing birth trauma, perinatal anxiety and depression, and supporting the parent–infant bond.

 

She believes that real change happens in relationship, and healing doesn’t require perfection, only courage. Vanessa works alongside her clients with empathy, transparency, and respect, walking with them as they move toward a life that reflects their values, strengths, and potential.

 

​Scroll down to read more about Vanessa’s professional background, areas of interest and clinical training.

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To learn more about the range of support available at Evolving Minds Menai, visit Our Services page for an overview of our psychology and therapy options in the Sutherland Shire, or explore our Conditions We Treat page for detailed information.

 

To book an appointment with Vanessa, please call 02 8519 4197 or click the button below to use our secure online booking form.