Adam Szmerling
Location(s): Melbourne, Bayside area, and online
Awards And Recognition
- Golden Key Member
- Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)
- Clinical and Mental Health Member of the Psychotherapy and Counseling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
Owner and Founder: Bayside Psychotherapy
About Me:
I’m Adam Szmerling, a seasoned Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AASW) and Clinical Psychotherapist (PACFA), based in the beautiful Bayside area of Melbourne. With 15 years of face-to-face therapy experience and 8 years of providing online psychotherapy, my passion lies in helping individuals and couples through profound, insight-oriented talk therapy.
At Bayside Psychotherapy, my approach is deeply rooted in psychoanalysis, particularly in the Lacanian tradition, combined with Schema Therapy. This unique blend allows me to delve beyond surface symptoms and address the fundamental causes of my clients’ struggles. My sessions are designed to help you unearth and understand your unconscious desires and conflicts, fostering genuine self-awareness and personal growth.
What I Do:
As a dedicated psychotherapist, I work with adult clients who are ready to engage in meaningful and transformative psychotherapy. My practice caters to individuals seeking to overcome issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and relationship conflicts. Through regular sessions, I encourage my clients to speak freely, helping them to illuminate and address their deeply ingrained inner conflicts.
Therapeutic Methods:
- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (Lacanian Orientation): This method encourages free association to explore the connections between the conscious and unconscious mind. By listening attentively to your thoughts, fantasies, dreams, and slips of the tongue, I help you uncover and understand your deeper self.
- Schema Therapy: Schema Therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that combines elements of cognitive therapy, attachment theory and psychodynamic therapy. It is designed to help individuals identify and modify deeply rooted maladaptive schemas—broad, pervasive themes or patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are often formed during childhood and persist into adulthood.
These schemas can negatively impact relationships, self-esteem, and overall mental health. Schema Therapy may be indicated for individuals with chronic psychological issues, personality disorders, and those who have not responded well to other forms of therapy.
Commitment to Professional Development:
In the ever-evolving field of psychotherapy, I am committed to continuous learning and professional growth. I actively participate in advanced training and research, particularly in areas like mindfulness therapy for complex trauma and major depression, and Buddhist psychotherapy. Additionally, I provide clinical supervision to fellow psychotherapists, contributing to the development of the field.
Online Therapy:
For those who prefer or require remote sessions, I offer secure and private online psychotherapy. Using a user-friendly telehealth platform, my clients can attend sessions from any private location with a stable internet connection, ensuring flexibility and accessibility.