- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship concerns
- Parenting issues
About Amanda
Amanda Dounis is an ACA counsellor in Australia with seven years of professional experience. She works with people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, parenting problems, low self-esteem and depression. Amanda also focuses on communication problems, control issues, divorce and separation, guilt and shame, isolation and social anxiety and phobia.
Amanda keeps sessions direct and practical. She listens to the immediate problem, then helps clients break it into small, manageable steps. Conversations focus on everyday situations - what makes social situations hard, what increases worry, and what might help reduce avoidance.
She adapts the pace to each person. Some clients start with short check-ins to build confidence. Others work through specific moments that trigger anxiety, practising new ways of responding. Amanda uses clear discussion, problem-solving and regular review so progress is visible.
When relationship or parenting issues come up, Amanda helps people clarify communication patterns and set practical boundaries. For feelings of shame, guilt or low self-worth she offers structured conversations that look at how those feelings affect behaviour and choices.
Amanda asks clients to choose small experiments between sessions. These tasks are concrete and easy to try in everyday life. She encourages honest feedback about what helps and what does not, and adjusts plans as needed.
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions work
Amanda uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on clear, practical steps. One common approach is behavioural exposure, which involves gradually facing feared social situations in manageable stages to reduce avoidance and build confidence. This method is often used for social anxiety and phobia and for situations where avoidance has become a habit.Another frequent approach is skills-focused cognitive work, which looks at patterns of thinking that increase worry or guilt and teaches alternative ways of responding. This helps with stress, low self-esteem and relationship communication by changing unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviours.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options, try methods in session, and adjust the plan based on the client's goals and preferences. Decisions are collaborative and based on what helps in day-to-day life.
If you plan to use online sessions, please confirm the current session options before booking as formats are not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It can also let people practise real-world steps between sessions without changing their routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
Amanda works with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, parenting problems, self-esteem and depression. She also focuses on communication issues, control struggles, guilt and social anxiety and phobia.
What is her approach in sessions?
Sessions are practical and conversation-based. She helps people break problems into small steps and tries simple exercises between meetings.
How much experience does she have?
She has seven years of professional work experience in Australia.
What credentials and location should I know about?
She is credentialed with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and works from Australia.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside Australia work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How do sessions and costs work?
Session cost varies with location and is billed via a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.