Doreen Patenall

Doreen Patenall is a counsellor in Australia with 25 years of professional experience. She supports people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strains, trauma and abuse, and grief. Doreen aims to create a calm, non-judgemental space where people can say what they need to say and work out next steps.

She listens first, then helps people identify practical ways to cope day to day. Sessions often focus on small changes that reduce overwhelming feelings and improve communication. Doreen also offers coaching-style guidance when people want structured steps to reach a specific goal.

Her work attends to emotional wounds, including post-traumatic stress, panic attacks, and issues around guilt and shame. She also addresses life transitions such as divorce, separation and end-of-life concerns connected to hospice and end-of-life counselling. Conversations can cover body image, isolation, and finding purpose.

Doreen draws on a range of approaches to suit each person. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy tools alongside attachment-informed and client-centred ways of working. This mix is used to match techniques to what someone needs in the room.

People who prefer a calm, steady therapist may find her style helpful. She encourages honest talk and practical steps rather than jargon. Taking the first step is often the hardest part, and Doreen supports people through that initial decision.

How Doreen's approaches translate to online work

Doreen commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in her practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while focusing on actions that reflect their values, which can be useful for grief, anxiety and life purpose work. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour and teaches practical skills to reduce panic, social anxiety and unhelpful thinking.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The counsellor will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals and preferences, adjusting techniques over time if something isnt working. This shared planning helps people feel more in control of their progress.

The biography does not list specific online formats, so please confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - for example shorter check-ins during a lunch break, or choosing phone over video when bandwidth is limited. These practical benefits often help people keep regular appointments and practise skills between sessions.