Registered Psychologist
BSc(Psych), Psych(Hons), MPsych(Clinical), MAPS
Sweeney has a warm, relaxed and professional style and enjoys working with people to help them understand how they are stuck, where they would like to get to, and how to get there. He feels strongly about giving clients something helpful from the very first session, and values being thorough, honest and kind when creating a safe place for healing and growth.
Sweeney helps people examine the deeper meaning they give to things; question the usefulness and accuracy of beliefs about themselves and the world, and identify and confront things they may be afraid of so they can move forward in life as the people they want to be.
He completed his Masters of Clinical Psychology at the University of Melbourne, and has worked in suicide and crisis counselling, child and adult hospitals and in a university clinic. Sweeney has worked with people from all ages and walks of life, and recognises that life can be hard, and wonderful, that all of us carry pain, and that people’s manifestations of hurt and unhappiness are more than diagnostic labels. He feels lucky and humbled to have supported individuals and groups during some of the most difficult times of their lives.
He has experience working with issues related to coping with cancer and other health conditions, family violence and childhood abuse, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and excessive worry, depression and hopelessness, anxiety, assertiveness problems, existential issues/struggles with meaninglessness, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), low self-esteem, social anxiety disorder, and grief and loss.
Sweeney’s main therapeutic approach is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), adapted to individual clients and complimented with elements drawn from other evidence-based modalities like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, Supportive Counselling, and Existential Psychotherapy.
Clinical Specialties
- Anxiety and depression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Trauma
- Social anxiety
- Phobias
- Assertiveness training
- Existential issues /meaninglessness
- Coping with health issues
Therapy Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Trauma Focused CBT
- Exposure therapy
- Existential psychotherapy
- Crisis counselling
- Supportive counselling
Sweeney is available at our Ringwood office Mondays and Thursdays.
