Psychoanalytic & Psychodynamic Therapies

History is a present-day creation, a kind of imagined past that connects us to something timeless.

Welcome to Bita Psychology: Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapies are based in love, which underpins all human interactions. Indeed, love serves as the core driving force in our everyday relationships - whether they are romantic, familial, or professional, and it also plays a crucial role in the therapeutic process. Importantly, the way we were loved by our parents and families during childhood significantly shapes our adult relationships.This influence extends beyond personal connections to impact our hobbies, careers, and even how we physically experience our bodies. Essentially, our self-perception affects how we relate to others, often without our conscious awareness.

Freud recognized love as a pivotal part of therapy, coining the term 'transference' to describe this phenomenon. While animals may focus solely on survival, humans seek fulfillment through connections and communication. However, conversations with friends sometimes fall short, leaving us feeling misunderstood. We often assume we have a clear understanding of ourselves and our desires, but this can lead to further confusion.

This is where psychoanalysis sets itself apart. In the therapeutic setting, I am here to listen without judgment. I create a space where you can express your thoughts and experiences freely. This initial stage is just the beginning of our collaborative work, aimed at uncovering what might be troubling you. We'll commence with some preliminary interviews to facilitate this process and to get it flowing.

Appointments

Phone: (+61) 433 781 919

Please leave a message.

BOOKINGS

Hours

Monday - Friday:
11 AM to 10 PM

Evening appointments may be available.

Location

Online / Australia
Hawthorn Practice
Belgrave Practice

Referral

Optional. Medicare rebate is available if you have a referral from your GP. See FAQs

Fees

Fees apply. Rebate may be available. See FAQs

Book Appointment

Appointments are offered based on current openings, respecting the unique timing and readiness for each individual's work. You're welcome to contact Bita, and together, we can work out what may be troubling you.

Bita Riazati's Memberships and Affiliations

Registered Psychologist
Board-approved Supervisor
Member of Australian Psychological Society (APS) (MAPS)
Membership of Lacan/ UK (lacanuk.org)
Member of Colorado Analytic Forum (School of the Lacanian Field)

Disorders and problems I treat at my practice

The psychoanalytic approach transcends reductionist methods, mere labels, disorders, and symptoms. It invites understanding and fosters movement in the therapeutic experience through the act of speaking, the psychoanalyst's listening, and the process of working through in therapy.

People often reach out to me when other therapies haven’t provided the relief they seek, feeling that their difficulty and suffering require a different approach to treatment.

I offer treatment for a range of disorders for which people may have received diagnoses:

ADHD, obsessive compulsive (OCD)
Addictions and alcohol Issues
Bipolar, depression and mood disorders
Anxiety, trauma and guilt
Persistent psychological problems, disorders of identity
Body image and eating disorders
Sexuality and relationships

Information About Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis in Melbourne My Approach

In treatment, the psychoanalyst seeks to unveil the richness of the ongoing body of work, representing it in a way that invites engagement through desire (unconscious dialogue) rather than judgment. This approach transcends reductionist methods, mere labels, disorders, and symptoms, inviting understanding and facilitating movement in the therapeutic experience and working through in therapy.

The individuals I work with in treatment, often want control over pressing matters that have long occupied their thoughts and lives. These matters tend to become urgent, involving complexities, difficulties, and even traumatic experiences that recur in their lives. These issues, while problematic and distressing, often remain inaccessible to the person. I work with you to address these recurring issues and distressing experiences that persist beyond your control and awareness in the treatment sessions.

Psychoanalysis invites you to elaborate on the effects of the influential figures woven into your lives: who you admire or despise, love or idealize, envy or aspire to emulate. Through speaking freely (free association), unraveling repetitions, and working through experience, distinct threads begin to surface. As we follow these threads, they reveal the core elements that shape who you have become, the subtle pulls and pushes guiding you. Over time, with a psychoanalyst who has undergone years of rigorous analysis and employs the psychoanalytic method, we begin to loosen and untangle these threads. Through this process, a space opens for a new body of work.

Psychoanalysis is a shared commitment between two: the analyst and the analysand. To create a foundation for this work, regular sessions are essential. In Lacanian psychoanalysis, sessions in Melbourne often take place more than once a week. Many begin with one or two sessions, gradually moving to three or even four times weekly. I strive to find a dedicated time for us to talk, especially during the preliminary interviews, as these initial sessions help set the rhythm for our work together. Once we set aside this time, it becomes the dedicated space in which our work unfolds.