Samantha Fearns

Having a long standing interest in mental health, Samantha completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) at the University of New South Wales. Samantha's Honours thesis examined a symptom of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, employing hypnosis as an investigative tool. She then commenced the Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme at the University of Sydney, where she is currently completing a PhD investigating psychosocial concerns and psychological change across treatment in dentofacial surgery patients.

Samantha has a strong commitment to the teaching of psychology, leading junior, intermediate, and senior level tutorials in the USYD School of Psychology since 2004. She has also run seminars in the Faculty of Dentistry and lectured in Applied Psychology at USYD, and facilitated workshops for General Practitioners and nurses on motivating patients towards behaviour change.

Samantha has experience in treating a wide range of mental health concerns, and in working with individuals (adolescents, adults, older adults), couples, families, and groups. At her two practice locations (the Inner West Therapy Centre, Stanmore, and the Brain & Mind Research Institute, Camperdown) she specialises in anxiety and mood disorders, and drug and alcohol difficulties. Couple and family issues are also particular interests of Samantha's, having worked as a Marriage and Relationships Educator / Facilitator for CatholicCare since 2002, and completing specialised Family Therapy training during her doctoral degree.

While her primary theoretical model is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Samantha integrates additional therapeutic approaches where appropriate – such as mindfulness- and acceptance-based strategies, and solution-focused, narrative, and systemic techniques – to create individualised treatment plans that consider the challenges and unique personal strengths and resources of each client within a respectful and empathic therapeutic environment.