Petra Becker
BBSc(Hons), DPsych(Couns), MAPS, FCCOUNP

Dr Petra Becker
Counselling Psychologist BBSc(Hons) DPsych(Couns) MAPS FCCOUNP
Petra is a Counselling Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in private practice and extensive training in a wide range of therapeutic approaches.
Petra takes a humanistic perspective that emphasises empathy and a belief in the good in human behaviour. Her approach can be described as intuitive, collaborative and authentic whilst targeting the specific needs and circumstances of each individual client.
Petra’s treatment approach is based on recognising the strengths and resources of clients at all levels of psychological functioning. She works collaboratively with her clients to ascertain what they want out of life and provides strategies and assistance to achieve their goals.
Petra uses a humanistic treatment model that views emotions as centrally important in human functioning and therapeutic change. Her focus is broad and includes all aspects of a client’s life including work and home life.
This approach allows her to focus on ways to assist the client to feel better about themselves and to strive for a meaningful and fulfilling life. Petra will recommend positive and healthy self-management strategies as well as provide a space for reflection, insights and change.
The appeal of working in this way is that it maximises effectiveness across a range of clinical conditions in both brief or long-term therapy.
Petra offers clinical interventions for individuals and couples.
Her therapeutic approaches include:
 Psychoeducation
 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
 Cognitive Processing Therapy
 Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
 Compassion Focused Therapy
 Functional Analytic Psychotherapy
 Polyvagal Informed Therapy
 Emotion Focused Therapy
 Grief Therapy
 Interpersonal Therapy
 Solution Focused Therapy
 Skills training in assertiveness, emotion regulation, psychological flexibility, relaxation and mindfulness.

Areas of Experience
 Full range of emotional issues, such as depression, anxiety, stress and trauma
 Grief & bereavement
 Complicated grief reactions and disenfranchised grief
 Adjustment disorder
 Pet loss
 Attunement to companion animals
 Historical trauma and abuse
 Post traumatic stress disorder
 Emotional intelligence
 Workplace related issues
 Work/home life balance and burn out
 Anger management
 Life stage transition & retirement
 Chronic pain
 Spirituality and religion
 LGBTI + issues
 Relationship therapy
 Conflict resolution

Qualifications
 Professional Doctorate of Psychology (Counselling Psychology), Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, 2003
 Certificate of Bereavement Counselling Practice, Victoria, 2000
 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours), La Trobe University, Victoria, 1995

Professional Memberships
 Registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), PSY0001123228
 AHPRA Area of Practice Endorsement: Psychologist – Counselling Psychology
 Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS)
 Fellow of the APS College of Counselling Psychologists (FCCOUNP)
 Member of the Association of Counselling Psychologists (ACP)
 Member of the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)
 Member of the ANZ ACBS (Australia & New Zealand ACBS)
 Registered Provider with Medicare

Further Background
Petra’s interests have been directed towards both the practical and theoretical aspects of psychology and psychotherapy.
Petra chose to complete a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology based on her belief in humanistic psychology. Her doctoral thesis explored factors impacting on well being in the workplace. It was revealed that job satisfaction and the ability to express ourselves at work had the most positive impact on our psychological well being. Petra believes that work is a meaningful and important part of our lives and that it can boost a person’s ability to enhance and develop important skills, such as teamwork and cooperation.
Petra has a background working in remote, regional and metropolitan areas across Australia. Her experience includes working with employees from all organisational levels and industries including executive management, emergency services, police, trades and mining (FIFO).
Petra completed a Certificate of Bereavement Counselling Practice to develop her skills in grief therapy. Petra recognises the potential for disenfranchised grief which is grief not readily acknowledged by society such as the loss of a pet, loss of a child to adoption, death of a loved one to suicide or the breakdown of an extramarital affair. She uses grief counselling and grief therapy techniques to facilitate a client’s grieving process and to address complicated grief reactions. Grief therapy can include ritual and spirituality and is relevant to individuals, couples and families.
Petra also has a keen interest in the human-animal bond and animal assisted therapies. Her studies have included training in equine assisted learning & psychotherapy as well as horse assisted education for managers & leaders. Petra believes that animal assisted learning and psychotherapy has much to offer in terms of providing models for leadership styles as well as providing insights into emotion regulation and management. Petra offers clinical interventions that encourage stronger human-animal relationships.