Louisa Kitchin
Registered Psychologist, Melbourne
Psychological Services
-
Louisa Kitchin is a Melbourne-based psychologist offering psychodynamic and attachment-informed therapy for adults across different life stages.
People may seek therapy when they notice familiar patterns repeating — in emotional responses, thoughts, relationships or their sense of self — and want relief, meaningful change, and a space to better understand themselves.
-
A shared space to think together about your experiences. Available in East Melbourne.
-
Flexible access to therapy for adults in Australia.
Approach
My approach draws on psychodynamic, relational, and attachment-informed psychotherapy. This work is suited to adults seeking relief and psychological growth through a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationships, and the patterns that shape their lives.
Therapy offers space to explore what lies beneath psychological symptoms, including how you’ve learned to manage your emotional and relational world. This work helps bring awareness to unresolved experiences and patterns that continue to shape your life.
What therapy explores
Change can feel conflicting, often stirring both a wish to shift what feels stuck and a pull to stay with the familiar. We work with these tensions as we make sense of patterns shaping your present experience.
Change
The therapeutic relationship is central, creating an environment that feels safe enough to explore your difficulties, hopes, and wishes. What unfolds between us can offer insight into patterns of relating, thinking, and feeling, and how these occur outside therapy.
The therapeutic relationship
This work can support deeper self-understanding and more flexible, authentic ways of relating to yourself and others. I support clients to develop awareness of their patterns, which can contribute to relief from suffering and greater freedom in how they respond to emotions, relationships, and the challenges and possibilities of life.
With time
About
Psychodynamic &
attachment-informed psychologist
I work from a psychodynamic, relational, and attachment-informed approach, with an interest in how relationships shape the development of our sense of self and continue to influence how we experience ourselves and others.
I value therapy as a thoughtful, collaborative process informed by each person’s unique history and context. I offer a warm, reflective space where people can explore the meaningful, often messy parts of life with authenticity and curiosity.
I work with adults experiencing difficulties with anxiety, depression, perfectionism and self-criticism, relationships and family issues, life transitions, grief and loss, and the impacts of trauma.
People I work with often describe longstanding difficulties, such as repeating relationship patterns, unhelpful coping patterns, challenges expressing or managing emotions, or uncertainty around their sense of self and self-worth.
Who I work with
My work is informed by experience across inpatient, outpatient, community, and private practice settings with a range of mental health presentations. I have training and experience in a variety of individual and group therapy approaches.
Registration & Memberships
Registered Psychologist – Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Clinical Psychology Registrar – AHPRA
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists
Member of the International Association of Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
Qualifications & Education
Master of Clinical Psychology – Queensland University of Technology
Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours Psychology) – Queensland University of Technology
Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) – RMIT University
My background
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Standard Fee
My fee for a 50-minute individual session is $230.Medicare Rebates
You may be eligible for Medicare rebates if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from your GP or psychiatrist. Medicare currently provides rebates of $98.95 per session for up to 10 sessions per calendar year under a MHTP. However, therapy may extend beyond 10 sessions.Private Health Insurance Rebates
Private health insurance rebates may be available depending on your level of cover. Please check directly with your insurer to confirm your eligibility and rebate amount.Third Party Funding
Please note that I do not provide services under the NDIS, DVA, WorkCover, or other third-party funding arrangements. -
No formal referral or diagnosis is required to attend therapy. You can contact me directly to enquire about an appointment. If you wish to claim Medicare rebates, you will need a referral from your GP or psychiatrist.
-
Yes, I am currently accepting new clients.
I offer appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, subject to availability.
-
I typically offer weekly sessions, depending on individual needs. Regular sessions can support continuity and depth in the work.
Psychodynamic therapy is often longer-term, which allows for a more in-depth exploration of patterns, sense of self, and relationships. However, shorter-term therapy (around 10–20 sessions) can be helpful for people wanting to focus on specific issues.
I do not offer monthly or ad-hoc sessions for new clients.
-
The first few sessions involve an initial, collaborative assessment. This includes exploring what brings you to therapy, your current concerns, and relevant aspects of your history, and deciding whether working together feels like a good fit. We will then discuss the most appropriate plan moving forward.
-
Finding the right fit in therapy is important and often becomes clearer over the first few sessions. If my approach resonates with you, we can explore this together once we meet. If for any reason you decide you would like to work with someone else, I can support you in that process.
-
I do not offer emergency or crisis support.
If you are in need of urgent assistance, please call 000, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or your local Crisis Assessment & Treatment Team. -
The full session fee applies for cancellations within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment. Telehealth may be an option if you are unwell or unable to attend your scheduled appointment in person.