Alana Thompson, AASW

Alana Thompson is an AASW-accredited social worker with 18 years of clinical experience. She works with people struggling with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, career concerns and ADHD. Her approach is warm and practical, aimed at helping people feel steadier day to day.

Alana focuses on collaboration. She helps clients set small, clear goals and practices that fit into ordinary life. Sessions tend to be interactive, with attention to both thoughts and emotions. The emphasis is on building resilience and restoring everyday functioning.

Her background includes frontline work in child protection and family services, where she supported young people through trauma, anxiety and depression. She also spent time in the university sector, managing the University of Western Australia Student Guild Counselling Service and providing welfare support, counselling and referral for students.

Alana holds a Bachelor of Psychology, a Master of Social Work and a PhD in Social Work and Law. She is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers and has completed Mental Health First Aid training. These roles shaped her focus on less adversarial, more therapeutic responses in complex settings.

Returning to full-time practice was motivated by a preference for direct clinical work. In sessions she aims to be compassionate and non-judgemental while helping people develop practical strategies. People come for help with loss, overwhelming stress, workplace strain, relationship problems and the ongoing effects of past trauma.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Alana uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that combine practical thinking strategies with attention to emotions. One approach focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing alternative ways of responding. This helps with anxiety, low mood and workplace stress by changing everyday reactions and behaviours.

Another strand emphasises emotional awareness and regulation. It helps people name painful feelings, understand how those feelings affect behaviour, and practise small steps to reduce their intensity. This can support recovery from grief and the ongoing effects of trauma.

Finding the right combination of techniques is a collaborative process. The therapist works with each person to test what helps, adjust strategies and set realistic goals based on individual needs and preferences. The plan can change as progress is made.

Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by reducing travel time and allowing sessions around work or caregiving commitments. It can also allow shorter check-ins when needed and offers flexibility for people juggling treatment with daily responsibilities.