At River Psychology, we work with you as a whole person — in the context of your life, your history, and what matters to you — not as a collection of symptoms or diagnoses. Our approach integrates evidence-based psychological therapies with contemplative practices grounded in mindfulness, acceptance, and self-compassion, to support meaningful and lasting change.
You already have within you what you need to approach life more flexibly, to see more options, and to move toward what matters. Therapy is about helping you access that.
How we work
We draw on a range of evidence-based approaches, tailored to you and your situation:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — understanding the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviour
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — building psychological flexibility, values-driven action, and willingness to experience difficult thoughts and feelings
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) — processing traumatic and distressing memories to reduce their hold on your present life
- Schema Therapy — identifying and working with deep patterns (schemas) that shape how you see yourself, others, and the world
- Mindfulness-based approaches — cultivating present-moment awareness, self-compassion, and a different relationship with difficult experiences
The approach is always collaborative. We work together to understand what’s getting in the way and to find a path through it — at your pace, on your terms.
What we commonly work with
People come to us for many reasons. Here are some of the areas we work with, and how therapy can help:
- Anxiety and worry — learning to respond differently to anxious thoughts and building tolerance for uncertainty
- Depression and low mood — reconnecting with values-driven activity and understanding what keeps you stuck
- Trauma and PTSD — processing distressing memories and building a sense of safety in the present
- Grief and loss — making space for grief while finding a way forward
- Relationship difficulties — understanding patterns in how you relate to others and exploring new ways of connecting
- Stress and burnout — identifying what’s depleting you and building sustainable ways of managing demands
- Life transitions and adjustment — navigating change with greater flexibility and self-compassion
- Self-esteem and identity — exploring the beliefs you hold about yourself and where they came from
- Chronic pain — working with the psychological dimensions of persistent pain, including mood, fear of movement, and quality of life
- Military and veteran mental health — we are an approved Open Arms provider, supporting current and ex-serving ADF members and their families
Clinical Supervision
Dr Atanas Janackovski provides clinical supervision for provisionally registered psychologists, registrars (clinical pathway), and generally registered psychologists seeking CPD supervision. Supervision is informed by ACT, EMDR, mindfulness-based approaches, and schema therapy.
Funding
Accepted: Medicare (GP Mental Health Treatment Plan), DVA (Gold and White cards), NDIS, Open Arms (Veterans & Families Counselling), Private fee-for-service.
Practitioner: Dr Atanas Janackovski · Clinical Psychologist · AHPRA Reg. PSY0002176486
Phone: 02 4211 5865 · Email: connect@riverclinical.com.au
Location: Level 1, 338–340 Crown Street, Wollongong NSW 2500 — co-located inside the Illawarra Family Medical Centre.
For the full River Psychology experience including online booking, visit riverpsychology.com.au.