Meet Petra Becker

Petra is a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist who works with adults and couples. She is committed to creating a safe, respectful and collaborative space where people feel understood and supported. Petra takes a humanistic and non-pathologising approach, recognising each person’s unique strengths, experiences and resources.

Petra has a particular interest in supporting people who have experienced trauma, grief and loss, life transitions, relationship challenges and workplace difficulties such as burnout, conflict and stress. She is also experienced in working alongside neurodivergent individuals and values understanding people within the context of their unique experiences and backgrounds.

Petra works collaboratively with clients to deepen self-understanding, strengthen resilience and support meaningful change.

• Professional Doctorate of Psychology (Counselling Psychology), Swinburne University of Technology
• Certificate in Bereavement Counselling Practice, Centre for Grief Education
• Bachelor of Behavioural Science, La Trobe University

Petra takes a holistic and tailored approach to therapy, recognising that each person’s experiences and needs are unique. She works collaboratively with clients to build insight, support emotional wellbeing, and create meaningful, lasting change.

With a strong foundation in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Petra integrates techniques from:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Supporting clients to develop psychological flexibility, accept difficult emotions, and take actions aligned with their values.
• Humanistic Therapy: Creating a warm, empathetic, and non-judgemental therapeutic space that fosters self-awareness, personal growth, and authentic connection.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: Exploring underlying patterns, past experiences, and unconscious processes that may influence current thoughts, emotions, and relationships.
• Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT): Helping clients develop self-compassion, reduce self-criticism, and build emotional resilience.
• Integrative Psychotherapy: Drawing from multiple therapeutic approaches to tailor treatment to each client’s individual needs and goals.
• Polyvagal-Informed and Body-Oriented Approaches: Supporting nervous system regulation, emotional safety, and greater mind-body awareness through trauma-informed practices.

She is committed to ongoing professional growth and values reflective practice, continual learning, and providing compassionate, evidence-based care.

Petra has experience working with a wide range of presentations across adolescents and adults, including:

• Trauma and Complex Trauma: Supporting clients to safely process traumatic experiences, build emotional safety, and develop coping strategies that promote healing and resilience.
• Grief and Loss: Assisting individuals navigating experiences of loss, including bereavement, relationship loss, and pet loss, with compassion and understanding.
• Relationship Concerns and Couples Work: Helping individuals and couples improve communication, strengthen connection, and navigate interpersonal challenges.
• Anxiety, Stress, and Emotional Regulation: Supporting clients to better understand and manage anxiety, stress responses, and overwhelming emotions in everyday life.
• Burnout and Workplace Wellbeing: Working with clients experiencing burnout, chronic stress, and workplace pressures to restore balance and wellbeing.
• Workplace Conflict and Assertiveness: Assisting clients to develop healthy boundaries, communication skills, and confidence in managing workplace dynamics.
• Life Transitions and Adjustment Difficulties: Helping individuals navigate periods of change, uncertainty, and adjustment with greater clarity and resilience.
• Neurodiversity: Providing affirming and individualised support for neurodivergent clients, recognising diverse ways of thinking, processing, and experiencing the world.
• Nervous System Regulation and Mind-Body Connection: Incorporating trauma-informed and body-oriented approaches to support nervous system regulation, self-awareness, and emotional wellbeing.

Petra’s integrative and trauma-informed approach supports clients in developing deeper self-understanding, strengthening emotional resilience, and creating meaningful change aligned with their values and goals.