Meet Asian Australian Clinical Psychologist, Daniel He

We know that it's not always easy trying to work out which therapist we might like to work with: Because the decision isn't just about where they're located and when they're available, but there's a bit more of a human, relational element to the decision too.

So here at Shapes and Sounds, we want to help make that process just a little easier.

Every month, we'll be introducing a therapist from the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List to help you gain a bit more insight into who you feel might be a good fit for you or someone that you know.

This month we're excited to connect you with Daniel He who is a Clinical Psychologist offering services in Eastwood, NSW, and Telehealth Australia-wide. We hope you enjoy connecting with Daniel below!

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1. What led you to choosing mental health as a career?

I came from a family with complex mental health challenges that developed into a fascination with self-exploration, healing, and a passion to want to do more in the mental health field, which led me to pursue psychology.

2. What is your unique cultural heritage?

My ethnicity is half Chinese and half Egyptian. I identify as Chinese, specifically Cantonese. Biased opinion – we have the best food!

3. What are your areas of specialty and what kind of frameworks do you work from?

My therapy approach is to collaborate with individuals to identify key problem areas that are getting in the way an individual’s current life, build awareness into these difficulties and where they stem from, and make purposeful changes that promote emotional wellbeing. I take a holistic approach from my learning in Schema Therapy and other Cognitive Behavioural approaches and tailor it to the individual’s needs.

4. What kind of clients are you best able to support?

I can support individuals with a history of unhelpful thoughts, emotions and behavioural issues. Some of the unhelpful coping behaviours that I see Asians experience stem from having unmet emotional needs as a child. Some of the patterns I see include perfectionism and overcontrol, people pleasing, identity confusion, chronic critical self-talk, persistent guilt and shame, approval seeking behaviour, physical and emotional avoidance, and the fear of not being able to have needs met, or that significant others will ultimately leave in relationships.

5. If you could be your own therapist right now, what do you think you would say to yourself?

I love this question. In Schema Therapy we often heal the emotions of our inner child trauma experiences using imagery through saying what we would say to our child self from the healthy adult self. I would say to my inner child - “I understand that you have faced some hard times. Your feelings, wants, opinions and needs are important. You do not have to do it all, you are good enough as you are”.

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Connect with Daniel via our Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List HERE.

Alternatively, if you feel like Daniel may be a good fit for someone that you know, be sure to forward this page on to them too. Let us continue to not only support ourselves but all those around us too!

If you require urgent assistance, please do not contact Daniel or any of the practitioners on this list. Instead, please call emergency services on 000 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Shapes and Sounds does not recommend or endorse Daniel or any of the practitioners listed on the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List.

Please always consult your GP before making changes to your mental health care plan.