ANANTA PSYCHOLOGY
"Nothing is more desirable than to be released from an affliction, but nothing is more frightening than to be divested of a crutch."
James Baldwin
DR. SHIREEN MAHTANI
(she/her)
Clinical Psychologist & Certified Schema Therapist
DPsych (Clin), BSc (Hons), MAPS, MISST, MEMDRAA
Hello and a very warm welcome to Ananta Psychology.
I'm Shireen, an AHPRA-endorsed clinical psychologist, a certified schema therapist, accredited by the International Society of Schema Therapy, and founder of Ananta Psychology. I come with a combined 13 years of clinical, case management and research experience with children, youth, adults and families, both in Singapore and Australia. I am also a published peer-reviewed research author on the topics of self-injurious behaviours, shame and parenting interventions for adolesent anxiety and depression, and am passionate about translating knowledge into practice.
Treatment areas
Clients who I typically work with are adolescents (15+) and adults who often come to see me for the following:
- Long-standing symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Complex trauma
- Relationship difficulties
- Debilitating shame and feelings of inadequacy
- Low self-esteem
- A strong sense of alienation and isolation
- Grief and loss
- Meaninglessness
- Compassion fatigue
- Burnout and stress
Treatment approaches
My treatment approach is one that is creative, flexible and highly personalised for each client, taking into account their unique complexities and circumstances. I frequently use the following interventions and frameworks, sometimes combining a number of these where indicated:
- Schema therapy
- Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy
- Mindfulness
- Dialectical behaviour therapy
- Existential psychotherapy
- Play therapy
I greatly value the diversity that each person encompasses and honour this in my work. I am committed towards providing a collaborative, compassionate, safe, respectful and trustworthy therapeutic space for clients to express themselves and experience healing and growth. Each client's voice is important to me and feedback is always welcome and valued. I believe that it is important for all my clients to ultimately gain empowerment and mastery in their own lives, and this is at the forefront of my work with them.
Commitment to professional and personal growth
Learning (and unlearning, as you will experience with me) never stops for me, true to the spirit of Ananta. I regularly attend my own supervision and training, keeping up-to-date with the most evidence-based assessments and treatments. Being a psychologist does not exempt me from being human. I, too, can trip over myself at times. For this reason, I engage in my own regular self-reflection and therapy, and ensure that I take those breaks to breathe, play and do absolutely nothing sometimes!
Qualifications and memberships
- Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Monash University
- Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science (Psychology), Monash University
- Certified Schema Therapist, International Society of Schema Therapy
- Full Member, International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST)
- Full Member, EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA)
- Full Member, Australian Psychological Society (APS)
My availability (click here for times)
In person at Wheelers Hill, Victoria, Australia: Friday mornings and afternoons
Telehealth (video or phone): Monday, Tuesdays, Fridays
(Telehealth sessions may also be possible at other times - please enquire within)
Where you can find me
Location:
Suite 9 (G.09), Ground Floor,
202 Jells Rd, Wheelers Hill, VIC, 3150, Australia