Meet Asian Australian Clinical Psychologist, Roanna Chan

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 Roanna who is a Clinical Psychologist offering services in Randwick, NSW and Telehealth Australia-wide. We hope you enjoy connecting with Roanna below!

~

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

I really only joined the dots retrospectively, as many do. I grew up in a Buddhist family and early on I think I just observed a really tight knit community based around mindfulness, service and self-reflection. In high school I was obsessed with science and went down a real rabbit hole of self-development books, this is also when popular psychology books really started to take off. I found myself always drawn to deeper conversations but also struggling to understand my internal experience as I didn't really develop any emotional literacy growing up in a Chinese household. When thinking about careers I loved the idea of being able to help others (and inadvertently myself!) in a scientific, evidence-based way and the idea of spending four years learning about psychology was a serious bonus!

2. What is your unique cultural heritage?

I am Australian born Chinese woman (she/her). My parents are from the southern part of China- Guangzhou and Hong Kong and my mum moved over as one of the first wave of Chinese immigrants when Australia opened its doors in the 80s. I was born in a very westernised area of Sydney- the Sutherland Shire, and was the only Chinese girl in my grade. Nowadays I am more aware of which parts of my Chinese culture I really appreciate (respect to elders, filial loyalty, traditions), but also of parts that I prefer to let go of (lack of emotional communication, traditional views on "success", conservative views on sex and marriage etc). I am proud to be an ABC and nowadays have learnt to take the best parts of these mixed cultures.

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

I am primarily a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Schema therapist, drawing on Acceptance Commitment Therapy and child attachment frameworks. Most therapists work primarily with adult populations but I've loved working across the lifespan and have spent most of my career half working in a child/family practice and then adult clinic the other half of the week- I think it's fascinating tracking back to developmental origins and find increasing family closeness and connection really fulfilling. More recently however my training has been on focussing on childhood trauma and exploring people's family origins through Schema therapy.

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

I love working with anxiety and have lived experience of quite marked anxiety when I was younger. I think what makes anxiety work so fulfilling is the impact can be lifechanging but the tools to get there are fairly straightforward and very practical and hands on. Be prepared to push your limits a bit (but its so worth it, trust me!). I find it really helpful to explore developmental origins and our mental health in the context of our childhood and cultural experience through Schema Therapy and I am trained in the diagnosis of Autism and have a special interest working with neuro-diverse clients.

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

There is no "wrong decision", every step we take is with the knowledge and tools we have available to us at the time. Big picture, as long as I walk towards my values I can be proud of living authentically.

~

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

Alternatively, if you feel like Roanna 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 Roanna 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 Roanna 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.