Doreen Patenall, PACFA
Experienced counsellor helping people reshape their story
Details
| Name | Doreen Patenall |
|---|---|
| Credentials | PACFA |
| Based in | Australia |
| Registered with | PACFA |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 25 |
About Doreen
Doreen Patenall is a PACFA counsellor with 25 years of professional experience in Australia. She concentrates on helping people facing stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, and grief. Doreen aims to make the first step easier by offering a calm, non-judgemental presence.
She creates a space where thoughts and feelings can be spoken about honestly. Sessions are plain and direct. Conversations focus on what is happening now and what matters most to the person in front of her.
Background and approach
Doreen draws on Narrative Therapy to help people reframe their stories. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to build practical skills for daily life. Attachment-based and client-centred ideas shape how she listens and responds.
People come for help with panic attacks, social anxiety, body image and shame as well as major life shifts like divorce or the loss of a loved one. Doreen also supports people dealing with control issues, isolation and questions about life purpose. Her work often blends short-term strategies with deeper conversations about meaning.
She aims to help people find clearer choices and small steps that feel doable. Doreen describes therapy as a collaborative process where the person sets the pace. Practical arrangements are discussed at the start of the relationship so sessions suit everyday life.
She works in plain language and aims to make therapy approachable for people who are nervous about reaching out.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse among the things Doreen works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Coaching
- Body image
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Jungian Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Doreen among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Doreen directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Doreen directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Narrative and Practical Support Online
People can expect Narrative Therapy online, which focuses on the stories they tell about themselves and helps separate the person from the problem. This approach is useful for shifting long-held beliefs and finding new ways to describe difficult experiences.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is also used to help people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while taking action in line with their values. ACT can help with anxiety, stress and decisions about what matters most.
Attachment-based ideas guide how the counsellor listens and responds, helping people understand relationship patterns and how those patterns affect current struggles.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The counsellor will talk through options and together with the person choose methods that fit their goals, pace and preferences. That collaborative process can change as needs evolve.
Online sessions are available by video, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. Video calls suit longer conversations and visual cues, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat supports shorter check-ins and text messaging can be useful for ongoing, brief support. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to keep continuity between sessions.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of concerns can be brought to sessions?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief and loss. Additional focuses include body image, panic, social anxiety and life purpose.
How would you describe the therapy style?
The approach is conversational and collaborative. Doreen listens closely and helps people reframe stories and build practical coping skills.
How much experience does the counsellor have?
Doreen has 25 years of professional experience working with a wide range of emotional and life issues across Australia.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is credentialed with PACFA and is based in Australia.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are costs and billing handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Doreen are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Doreen where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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