Fiona Akal (OT)

Endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist & Counsellor

Life can be complex and unpredictable. Many of us juggle both physical and emotional challenges — fatigue, pain, anxiety, low mood, or simply feeling stuck. I offer a calm, practical space where we can explore what’s happening and work toward feeling more grounded, confident, and connected in daily life.

As an Endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist and Counsellor, I explore the psychological and emotional aspects of wellbeing through evidence-based therapies, while drawing on the functional and body-based insights of occupational therapy. My approach integrates CBT, ACT, DBT, EFT, mindfulness, sensory-motor and somatic methods to support emotional regulation, recovery, and everyday functioning. This creates a holistic, integrative approach to therapy, tailored to each person’s context, needs, and lived experience.

My style is collaborative and paced — I don’t rush. I focus on building a foundation of trust and understanding before moving into deeper therapeutic work. I work primarily with adults (18+) and older adults experiencing mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis, schizophrenia, chronic stress or fatigue, executive-functioning difficulties, and complex multi-diagnostic presentations.

I have a strong interest in the intersection between physical and psychological health, because real life is rarely one or the other. Together, we explore both — using the OT lens (function, daily routines, sensory regulation, and recovery) and the counselling lens (meaning-making, emotional insight, and wellbeing). This whole-person approach helps make sense of life’s challenges in a way that feels compassionate, practical, and sustainable.

Areas of Focus
-Mood disorders including anxiety, depression, bipolar, and emotional regulation
-Trauma recovery (including EFT and somatic-based approaches)
-Schizophrenia, psychosis, and complex mental health presentations
-Neurodiversity (ASD, ADHD, intellectual disability, and non-verbal communication support)
-Comorbid physical and psychological conditions – such as fatigue, pain, chronic illness, acquired injury, sensory or functional limitations alongside mental health challenges
-Adjustment to major life changes, grief, and loss
-Sensory regulation and executive functioning
-Functional recovery and NDIS support for psychosocial disability

+18 year old only
^no request for reports/3rd party reporting