Telehealth Clinical Psychologist
Individuals & Couples Australia-Wide
Therapy that takes your thinking seriously
Hi, I'm Dr Russell Downham. I work with adults and couples by video across Australia. I'm a clinical psychologist with more than ten years' experience, training in the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and a PhD in Philosophy.
I'll be on leave during November and am accepting new clients for sessions from Monday 30 November 2026. (I don't see clients from the Blue Mountains region of NSW, where I live.)
You've probably thought about this a lot already. Maybe you understand your anxiety better than anyone, and it still runs the show. Maybe you and your partner can each explain exactly what goes wrong between you, and it keeps going wrong anyway. Or maybe you're struggling to come to terms with what it means to be human at this strange time in history. Insight matters, but on its own it rarely changes much. Therapy here is a place to take your thinking seriously, to make room for the feelings underneath it, and then to work out what to actually do differently, in the situations that matter most to you.
Who I work with
I work with adults (18+) and couples who want therapy that engages their mind as well as their feelings, including people:
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caught in anxiety, overthinking or obsessional doubt
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wrestling with questions of meaning, purpose or direction
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stuck in the same relationship patterns despite understanding them well
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recovering from an affair or a breach of trust
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who'd prefer a real conversation to worksheets and scripts
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in all kinds of relationships, including LGBTQ+ and ethically non-monogamous
If you tend to think deeply about everything, read about therapy for deep thinkers.
How I can help
Individual Therapy
Video therapy for anxiety, overthinking and existential questions, drawing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other cognitive-behavioural approaches. Medicare rebates available with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Couples Therapy
Video therapy for couples, informed by the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. A structured assessment first, then focused three-way conversations.
How it works
1. Enquire
2. Book
3. Meet by video
Send me a short enquiry.
Book a time online.
Meet by Zoom from anywhere private.
My approach
I took the long road to psychology, through a PhD in Philosophy, and I still bring that curiosity and open-mindedness to the room. That means not just weighing the evidence for and against particular thoughts, but exploring the values that drive your perspective and worldview. Sessions are conversational and collaborative. Rather than handing you generic tools, we work through real situations from your life and practise new responses together, with compassion and, often, a measure of humour.
Fees and availability
Sessions for individuals and couples are 55 minutes and cost $270. Medicare rebates are available for individual therapy with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan; couples therapy isn't covered by Medicare. With a plan, Medicare rebates $149.05 per session, leaving a gap of $120.95.
Sessions are available on Monday mornings, Wednesday afternoons and evenings, and Saturday mornings every second week. I’m accepting new clients for sessions from Monday 30 November.
Ready to talk it through?
If this sounds like the kind of therapy you've been looking for, please send me a short, no-obligation enquiry using the button below. I usually reply personally within two working days. If your enquiry fits the services I offer, you'll also receive an immediate automated reply with a link to my online booking portal. If you think we could be a good fit, you can then view my calendar straight away and book any available time that suits you. If, after reading your enquiry, I decide I'm not the right person to help you at this time, I will refund your deposit and give you a brief explanation before your scheduled session.
I work with adults and couples by video across Australia (except within the Blue Mountains region of NSW, where I live). Because this is a solo online practice, I'm not able to see people who are currently having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or to offer individual therapy for borderline personality disorder (couples therapy may be possible where a partner with this diagnosis is also in individual treatment). I also don't write Disability Support Pension applications or provide assessments for the courts. If you're in crisis or not feeling safe, please call Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467), both 24/7, or 000 in an emergency.