


Dr Stefanie De Silva (she/her)
BA(Hons.), DPsych(Clin), MAAPi
Stefanie is a Clinical Psychologist offering thoughtful, trauma-informed and evidence-based psychological therapy for individuals aged 18 years and over. She completed a Bachelor's degree with Honours in Psychology at the University of Melbourne in 2006 and was awarded the Doctor of Psychology at Deakin University in 2015.
Before establishing her private practice, Stefanie worked for many years across leading universities, hospitals and organisations in Australia. With extensive experience as a Senior Lecturer, Research Fellow, Clinical Educator, and in leadership roles, she brings both depth and breadth of expertise to her clinical work.
Stefanie has a special interest in providing coaching and therapy to support the wellbeing of medical doctors and medical students. She recognises the immense and unrelenting pressures of a career in medicine, as well as the complex and entrenched barriers that can make prioritising reflection and self-care difficult.
Stefanie collaborates with clients to navigate challenges, including those related to:
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Adjustment to significant life events
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Anxiety
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Bullying and discrimination
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Burnout and compassion fatigue
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Depression and hopelessness
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Emotional regulation
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Grief and loss
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Identity (cultural, gender, professional, self-concept, sexual, social roles and relationships)
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Medical conditions (chronic, acute, and terminal)
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Perfectionism
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Perinatal mental health and parenthood
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Self-esteem and worth
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Social anxiety
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Trauma (acute, complex, secondary/vicarious)
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EMDR is offered, if appropriate
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. CLINICIAN Stefanie has worked clinically in mental health at several major hospitals since 2010. Her public health experience includes the areas of haematology, bone marrow transplant, late effects, head and neck cancer, breast services, nephrology, and perinatal mental health. She has also worked at an early psychosis service and borderline personality disorder clinic. Stefanie is trained in: - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Circle of Security (registered facilitator) - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) - Mindfulness-Based Interventions - Motivational Interviewing - Solution-Focused Brief Therapy RESEARCH FELLOW & CLINICAL EDUCATOR Stefanie has contributed to large-scale, federal-level initiatives towards evidence-based practice in Australia. She coordinated the world's largest evidence map of mental health interventions for young people, provided consultation on mental health models (including the headspace model), and has trained hundreds of medical and allied health professionals. Stefanie has authored several evidence-based clinical resources like clinical factsheets, research bulletins, and clinical practice guides. These resources were commissioned by the Commonwealth government to up-skill the clinical workforce, and have been disseminated widely across Australia. Stefanie's scholarly works have also been published in well-regarded, peer-reviewed scientific journals internationally. ACADEMIC As a university Course Coordinator and Senior Lecturer with expertise in adult learning principles, Stefanie has taught medical, allied health, and education professionals at the post-graduate level. She developed and lectured in courses on managing suicide and self-harm and youth psychiatry, and collaborated with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Irish College of Psychiatrists on their advanced training programs. The latter opportunity teaching and supporting Psychiatry Registrars and Consultants contributed to a professional interest working with medical pratitioners. Stefanie most recently led the wellbeing support of medical students at a Melbourne clinical school. In this role, she collaborated closely with medical leaders, developed medical student wellbeing, suicide, and crisis response policies, collaborated on cross-institutional research aimed at improving inclusivity in medical education, and provided mental health support and coaching to medical students in their final years of training.
In-person appointments are available in Kensington, approximately 4 km north-west of Melbourne’s CBD.
Telehealth appointments are also available and delivered via end-to-end encrypted platforms to ensure enhanced security and privacy. Please ensure you have access to a quiet, private space and a reliable internet connection for your session.
A referral is not required to book an appointment.
Availability
UPDATE: Stefanie is currently accepting new clients for 2026
Kensington clinic: Wednesdays
Telehealth: Mondays and Thursdays
Sunday and after-hours appointments by arrangement.
Fees
Standard 50-minute appointment: $250
90-minute appointment (e.g., for EMDR): $370
An after-hours fee of $25 applies to appointments on public holidays or weekends, and appointments starting before 9am or after 5pm on weekdays.
If the cost to work with a private clinical psychologist is prohibitive, health professionals and students can access up to 5 free sessions with a mental health professional at the Black Dog Institute.
Rebates
Medicare rebates are available with a valid referral from a GP or psychiatrist. Referrals from a GP require a Mental Health Treatment Plan, completed in consultation with your GP.
As Stefanie is a specialist psychologist with advanced training endorsed by AHPRA, you will receive a rebate of $145.25 per session, for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year.
THIS PRACTICE VALUES INCLUSIVITY

Stefanie celebrates and welcomes people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, cultures, neurotypes, bodies, and abilities.
Stefanie is not able to provide a crisis service. If you are in Australia and need immediate support for the psychological or physical safety of yourself or someone else, please contact Emergency Services on 000 (triple zero), or present to the nearest hospital emergency department.
24/7 support services
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
DRS4DRS: 1300 374 377
24/7 free and confidential advice and support for doctors and medical students in Australia.
1300 374 377
National Mental Telehealth Support for crisis and non-urgent mental health support.
State/Territory-based telephone health advisory and support services staffed by doctors from your Doctors' Health Service.
Select your location to view the contact details for your state or territory.
Free, confidential and independent peer support for healthcare workers
Be matched with a doctor who has been trained as a peer support volunteer.
One-on-one or group peer support.
1300 330 543; vdhp@vdhp.org.au
For doctors and medical students in Victoria.
Free, confidential advisory service for wellbeing concerns such as stress, mental health questions, substance use struggles, or physical health issues.
VDHP also runs Caduceus – an online support group for doctors with substance use issues.
Free, self-guided online mental health checkup.
You can use the insights from this report to initiate discussions with your GP or Stefanie.

