Paula Borges

Paula is a Provisional Psychologist, Psychotherapist and ACA Level 4 Registered Counsellor. She began her clinical psychology practice in Brazil in 2014 and brings more than a decade of experience across psychology, psychotherapy, counselling, and educational settings.

With international training and lived experience of migration, Paula has a strong background in culturally responsive practices, working sensitively with clients experiencing challenges related to identity, belonging, and intergenerational patterns.

Background

Before returning to clinical practice in Australia, Paula worked in leadership roles within educational settings. This strengthened her view of human development, attachment, family relationships, and the complexities of supporting people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Having lived and worked across South America and Australia, Paula brings both a personal and professional appreciation of how language, culture, migration, identity, and belonging shape our experiences and relationships.

Paula’s areas of interest include:

• Late-diagnosed ADHD and neurodivergence
• Masking, burnout and emotional overwhelm
• Trauma and relational and intergenerational trauma
• Anxiety, OCD, depression, shame and self-criticism
• Addiction and difficult-to-shift coping patterns
• Migration, identity and cultural adjustment
• The psychological impact of chronic, complex and progressive health conditions, including FND, POTS, MS and MPNs

Therapeutic approach

Paula brings a collaborative, genuine, and in-depth approach to psychotherapy. She believes that, in our attempts to reduce suffering at any cost, we can sometimes end up making our lives smaller.

Paula views therapeutic models as useful maps rather than fixed instructions. Her work is informed primarily by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and modern contextual cognitive behavioural therapies. Depending on each client’s needs, she may also draw on:

• Compassion Focused Therapy
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)-informed strategies
• Attachment-based perspectives
• Motivational Interviewing
• Mindfulness-based interventions
• EMDR

Paula is fluent in English and Portuguese, and is available to see clients for both in-person and telehealth sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Paula accepts GP referrals. Medicare rebates are not currently available for sessions with Paula; however, sessions may be claimable through some private health funds. Funding may also be available through WorkCover Queensland, Employee Assistance Programs and other third-party arrangements, subject to individual eligibility and approval.