Alana Thompson, AASW

Alana Thompson offers practical support for people facing stress, anxiety, grief and life change. She is an AASW social worker with 18 years of clinical experience and a calm, straightforward style. Visitors often choose her when they want clear tools and steady guidance through difficult times.

Her sessions focus on helping people manage symptoms and set realistic goals. She uses cognitive-behavioural ideas alongside work that helps make sense of strong emotions. Conversations aim to build everyday skills, reduce distress, and strengthen coping in daily life.

Alana has long experience supporting people after trauma, including emotional abuse and situations connected to child protection. She previously worked in child protection and family services, and later managed counselling services at the University of Western Australia Student Guild.

Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Psychology, a Master of Social Work and a PhD in Social Work and Law. She is an Accredited Social Worker and a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). She has also completed Mental Health First Aid training.

People come to her for a mix of short-term problem solving and longer-term work to build resilience. She aims to meet clients where they are and to create a compassionate, non-judgemental space for honest conversation. If someone is ready to take a step towards change, she supports them in planning and pacing each stage of that journey.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Alana draws on cognitive-behavioural approaches and work that helps people understand and regulate emotions. Cognitive-behavioural ideas focus on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing small behaviour changes to reduce symptoms such as anxiety and low mood. Emotional work supports people to name difficult feelings and develop safer ways of responding when emotions become intense.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences and the problems they bring. Goals are reviewed regularly so the plan can change if something is not helping.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, for example by reducing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins or letting work and family commitments be managed around appointments. It can also help keep continuity of care after major life changes when attending in person is harder. Appropriately qualified therapists can adapt practical tools and emotional work for online sessions while helping clients track progress and try new skills between meetings.