About
Rhiannon Derrig
Areas: Sexual health & intimacy, LGBTQI+ support, gender diversity, couples and non-monogamous relationship counselling, anxiety & depression, neurodiversity support, women’s issues, trauma & sexual assault survivors.
Years in practice: 5+
Available: Weekdays, except Wed. In-person & online/telehealth.
I am an open-minded psychosexual therapist with specialisation in supporting individuals navigating relationship issues, sexual difficulties, intimacy and trust, trauma and PTSD. I am also passionate about providing support to individuals navigating gendered, sexual, racial, neurodiversity, and cultural identities, who may experience discrimination or internalised stigma.
I centre unconditional positive regard as I work closely with clients to deeply explore how their past experiences, current circumstances, family background, and social factors impact their wellbeing. I work together with my clients to explore how they navigate life within their social and environmental surroundings, as well as how to establish an environmental and support system that is conducive to a regulated nervous system and therapeutic growth.
As a psychosexual therapist, I deeply value sex positivity, social justice, and removing the stigma and social constraints surrounding sexual health and mental health work. I also aim to move away from binary constructs and the pathologisation of queerness and neurodiversity, instead prioritising dedicated support for people who feel they fall outside of the margins of the dominant societal group. I am sex work positive, kink-friendly, and enjoy working with couples and individuals navigating non-monogamous relationship structures.
Peer support towards queer identity and neurodiversity is an important therapeutic element that I provide - living actively in the queer community and with neurodiversity myself, I am able to genuinely connect with others who may identify with similar lived experience.
I work from a trauma-informed, ecological-environmental, and systemic framework to support survivors to thrive and enjoy healthy relationships. I am respectful and accepting of all forms of self-expression and diverse identities. In this way, my goal is to nurture self-compassion and to empower clients to make a sustainable positive impact on their wellbeing.
I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), a psychotherapy treatment that is designed to help alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy very efficiently.
I have completed a Master of Science in Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health) with a specialisation in Psychosexual Therapy, and am an active member of the Society of Australian Sexologists (SAS). I am also clinically registered and insured with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
Sessions with me can be claimed on BUPA, HCF, AHM, ARGH and Medibank Private health insurance. If you have an alternative private health fund we can investigate for approval to provide session rebates.
Qualifications
Degree: Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling, ACAP. MAScMed (Psychosexual Therapy), USyd.
Membership: Clinical Member of Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), Member of the Society of Australian Sexologists (SAS)
Certifications: Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR), EMDR Part 1 & 2, Sexual Assault in LGBTQ Communities
Client Focus
Age: Adolescents, Adults
Types of Clients: Individuals, Couples and Non-traditional relationships
Areas I work with
Specialties
Sexual wellbeing and intimacy
Kink aware therapy
Queer affirming
Neurodiversity affirming
Trauma + PTSD
Relationships, with particular interest in non-monogamous dynamics
Gendered discrimination
Sexual health concerns
Support for survivors