Kathryn Vella , AASW

Kathryn Vella is an Australian mental health professional with six years of clinical experience who holds the AASW credential (Australian Association of Social Workers). She specialises in complex trauma and coercive control, combining sociolegal and psychosocial perspectives to ensure therapy addresses both psychological impact and the broader systems that affect recovery. Her practice integrates trauma-focused techniques and schema-informed work to help clients rebuild identity, strengthen self-worth, and develop self-compassion after experiences such as narcissistic abuse and ongoing emotional harm.

Kathryn supports people with PTSD and complex PTSD, and she works with neurodiverse clients including those with ADHD and Autism Spectrum presentations, as well as with clients managing OCD. She applies targeted strategies to manage emotional regulation, reduce retraumatisation, and address the unique ways developmental and neurobehavioral conditions intersect with trauma and daily functioning.

Her therapeutic stance is grounded in unconditional positive regard, strengths-based practice, and trauma-informed principles, and she emphasises collaborative work that recognises each person as the expert on their own story. Kathryn also incorporates psychoeducation about coercive control and neurodevelopmental differences so clients can make informed choices about their recovery journey.

Academically, Kathryn is finalising her Master of Clinical Psychology and will begin a PhD in Clinical Psychology and Psychopharmacology in 2026, with research focused on the clinical and neurobiological underpinnings of coercive control and its intersections with attachment, developmental disorders, and complex comorbidity. She offers therapy to adults in Australia and accepts new clients when available.

Therapeutic approaches and how online therapy supports them

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on increasing psychological flexibility by helping people clarify their values and take meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. It is useful for anxiety, stress, avoidance patterns, and difficulties finding direction.

Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns in relationships that stem from early attachment experiences and helps people build healthier connections, repair relational trauma, and develop greater emotional safety and trust. This approach is often helpful for those recovering from abusive relationships and for addressing long-standing attachment wounds.

Choosing the best approach is part of the therapeutic process. Kathryn works collaboratively with clients to identify which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies over time so therapy remains relevant and effective for each person.

Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for scheduling and make it easier to fit consistent sessions into busy lives. These formats let licensed professionals and therapists provide ongoing support, psychoeducation, and skills practice in ways that suit different comfort levels and practical constraints.