Courtney Steffens
Clinical Psychologist
Courtney is a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist with a Master of Clinical Psychology. She works with adults and adolescents and believes in the authenticity, creativity, and human potential inside of every person. Courtney understands accessing therapy can be a big step and spends time to help people feel comfortable talking about what is important to them.
Courtney has a particular interest in long-term psychotherapy, which is based on co-creation of a shared understanding of the difficulties you are facing. Psychotherapy is both a process and a relationship, which facilitates deep exploration and promotes the ability to freely feel, choose, work, relate, and think. She has an interest in existential philosophy and helping people connect with their personal values and sense of meaning in life.
Courtney uses an integrated approach to therapy and is informed by a range of therapeutic approaches, including psychodynamic therapy, mentalisation-based therapy, existential psychotherapy, expressive/creative therapies, and emotion-focussed therapy. Shorter term therapy tends to focus on skills-based interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).
Courtney works with a range of issues including:
Transgender and LGBTI+ mental health
Difficulties with knowing yourself, what you want in life, and self-esteem
Existential issues, including chronic life dissatisfaction and difficulties finding meaning, adjusting to significant life changes, and grief
Trauma, including childhood trauma and attachment issues
Emotion regulation issues, including difficulty connecting with emotions, substance use, and self-harm
Career uncertainty, stress, and burnout
Personality issues, which can result in repetitive patterns
Cultural alienation and feelings of loneliness
Anxiety and depression
Courtney also has an interest in assisting people with complex issues, such as psychosis, somatic conditions (such as Functional Neurological Disorder), and dissociation
Courtney has worked in not-for-profit organisations, including Queensland’s leading LGBTIQAP+ youth service, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and disability support organisations. Coming from a rural background herself, she enjoys supporting people with diverse identities and backgrounds. Courtney also has experience undertaking forensic mental health assessments for Court and personality assessments. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and is undertaking further study in Forensic Mental Health.