Individual Sessions
I’m a Clinical & Performance Psychologist who lives the horse-life too. From arena nerves to daily stress of life - your wellbeing matters as much as your performance.
As a active competitor in horse events, I understand firsthand the unique pressures riders face; because I live them too.
As an experienced Psychologist who has worked with people of all ages to achieve their goals, I help people with all areas of their horse and non-horse life, including:
Riding Goals: Post-injury fear, competition anxiety, peak performance strategies & mental resilience.
Mental Health: Stress, burnout, anxiety, trauma, self esteem, & depression.
Daily Life: Workplace stress, health issues, relationships, career, life changes, & parenting.
Because I am a registered Psychologist in Australia, your sessions may be eligible for Medicare, Private Health, Department of Veteran Affairs, or Work Cover funding.
Who can benefit?
Whether you’re a Grand Prix professional, a young rider finding your feet, or a recreational rider who simply wants to get more enjoyment in their riding, we all face those moments when nerves, frustration, or "perfectionist" thoughts take the reins. Performance isn't just about what happens in the arena; it’s about how we handle the pressure, the setbacks, and the high-stakes environment of the equestrian world. I work with riders across every discipline and at every level—as well as the coaches and parents supporting them—to help you build the mental flexibility needed to find consistency, confidence, and clarity, even when things don't go exactly to plan.
Pro & Competitive Riders
You're a driven athlete, and with that comes a unique set of pressures. Maybe your progress feels at a standstill, or you can't quite get the results you want when it means the most to you. We'll work on practical strategies to help you navigate those moments. The goal is to help you show up for your ride, not fighting with the nerves or the "what-ifs," but instead focusing on the task at hand. We'll build a toolkit of mental skills that helps you stay present and perform effectively, even when the stakes are high, so you can consistently move toward the kind of rider you want to be.
Amateur & Recreational Riders
You ride because it brings you joy, peace, and a special connection with your horse. But what happens when that enjoyment is replaced by fear, or when a challenge on the trail or in the arena starts to feel overwhelming? Perhaps you've lost confidence after a fall, or you find yourself constantly worrying about what could go wrong. We can explore mental skills that help you build trust in yourself and your horse, so you can get back to simply enjoying your time together. We'll focus on how to recognise and work with those unhelpful thoughts and feelings so you can stop fighting with them and instead stay connected to the reason you started riding in the first place—to have fun and feel confident.
Junior & Young Riders
It's a huge commitment to be a young equestrian athlete, and it's easy to get caught up in the pressure to perform, to meet expectations from coaches, parents, or even yourself. When performance anxiety creeps in, it can take the fun out of the sport. The mental skills we'll work on are designed to help you navigate these pressures and find your footing. You'll learn to handle those moments of self-doubt and nerves, not by trying to wish them away, but by building resilience and a focus on what's truly important to you. This support is all about helping you stay grounded in your love for the sport and for your horse, ensuring your journey as a rider is both successful and rewarding.
Fees
My fees for individual sessions remain well below the Nationally Recommended Standard for Psychologists.
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Clients who qualify for a Medicare rebate (via a GP referral) will only have an "out-of-pocket" cost of about $85-$126 for an individual session, depending on session length.
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If you are insured with a Private Health Fund and have Extras Cover, you may be eligible for rebates for psychology services, which can also significantly reduce the "out of pocket cost". To determine your eligibility, see Rebates section for details on item numbers that I use and call your fund to confirm your rebate details.
Initial Session ~ 75 minutes ~ $270 AUD
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Assessment & Goal Setting
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We identify core mental barriers
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Establish clear, achievable goals.
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Introduce 1-2 initial strategies to start practicing
Follow Up Session ~ 50 min ~ $230 AUD
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Review strategy implementation
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We focus on one or two key areas (like show nerves or consistency)
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Introduce tailored, practical techniques you can use immediately.
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Further follow up sessions may be needed to continue to integration, review your progress, refine the techniques, and establish a long-term plan to help make these skills second nature.
Review appointment ~ 30 min $120
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These sessions are perfect for competitors who need a pre-event boost.
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We will refresh your strategies and workshop any last-minute mental barriers so you can enter the ring with confidence
Potential Rebates
Private Health Rebates
Many private health providers will provide a rebate for sessions with a Psychologist. The private health items and codes I use are listed below.
Initial session (75 minutes) with a Psychologist (online) - 701
Follow up session (50 minutes) with a Psychologist (online) - 801
Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP)
If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you may be able claim a rebate through Medicare. You first need MHTP and a referral from your GP to a registered psychologist.
After your session, you must pay the full fee and I will provide a receipt. You can then claim a portion of the cost back from Medicare by submitting the referral letter, MHTP details, and your paid invoice via the myGov website or the Express Plus Medicare app. Please let me know before booking if you are thinking of using a MHTP to access sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications does Deena hold?
I am a Board Approved Psychologist and endorsed Clinical & Educational and Developmental Psychologist. I have completed 6 years of advance formal training (to Masters Level) plus a further two years of supervised practice to achieve my endorsement.
My professional registered as a health practitioner is with AHPRA (PSY0001956513) and I am also a member of Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi).
What's the difference between seeing a Psychologist compared to a mindset coach or my riding coach?
Your riding coach focuses on physical mechanics and horse training. They guide your position and timing in the saddle, and that can definitely help you build your confidence by improving your technical skill. Depending on their experience and training, they may be able to provide you some support with your mindset and mental skills - and many experienced coaches do an excellent job in this area. However, this advice is often based on their own personal experience rather than specialised skills and training in this area. And this is not a primary focus of their work, they are specialists on rider technical training, rather than mindset or mental skills and this can limit their ability to help riders who want quality elite-level mindset strategies, or to address more complex or long term mindset or performance problems that may be holding a rider back from their goals.
A mindset or mental coach may provide some skills on basic strategies, such as improving motivation and personal habits. However, coaching is an unregulated field, so background and qualifications vary widely - often people who call themselves "NLP practitioners" or "Mindset Coaches" can gain "qualifications" in a less than weekend. While they may help you with some basic strategies if they have sufficient experience and training, like how build better routines or some general mindset advice, but they are not qualified to treat anxiety or trauma or provide high quality performance mindset strategies like a trained psychologist can.
On the other hand, as a registered and experienced Performance and Clinical Psychologist, I have extensive higher-degree training in the science of how your brain and body handle stress, anxiety, and performance pressures and how to develop personalised support to address these concerns. I use well researched and evidenced based methods to help you address mindset barriers preventing you progressing toward your riding goals. We also work to "clear out" the mental blocks holding you back so you can actually apply what your riding coach teaches you. You can also be assured that as a registered psychologist, I engage in regular training updates to maintain my registration, and the quality of the services I provide. I also have a clear national ethical code of conduct, that I must comply with so you can expect high quality advice and services.
Do you offer rebates?
Yes! I am a registered Psychologist and therefore many clients are able to claim a rebate either through a Mental Health Care Plan provided by their GP or through their Private Health Insurance.
Why are the no testimonials?
As a registered psychologist in Australia, I am required to adhere to strict legal and ethical advertising guidelines, which specifically prohibit the use of client testimonials.
This policy is governed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Law.
The reason for this is to to uphold the integrity of the profession and protect the public, for example, to protect client confidentiality - even a seemingly anonymous testimonial could risk unintentionally confirming a therapeutic relationship, which is a breach of client confidentiality.
My commitment to meeting these legal and ethical standards means I do not feature testimonials on this website. However, I welcome all feedback from all my clients at any time.
How do I book?
Click below to book your session or a free 15 phone call to discuss what support is right for your situation
How do I join a session?
The online session link will be provided upon booking confirmation (also at the bottom of my emails).
Computer/Laptop: Simply click the link (no Google Account or download needed).
Smartphone/Tablet: You must download the Google Meet App and sign in with a free Google Account. If you don't have a Google account, you can sign up here.