Bhiravi Thambi

Bhiravi is a dedicated senior clinical psychologist with nearly a decade of experience working therapeutically with complex child, adolescent, adult, and family presentations within the non-for-profit and public health sector. 

Bhiravi combines the humanistic values of compassion, empathy, empowerment, upfront candour and non-judgemental acceptance, with the empirical skills of curiosity, rationality, critical thinking, problem-solving and evidence-based practice. Bhiravi’s utmost priority is always to create a safe space and nourish a sacred alliance with her clients: one in which they feel comfortable to be truly vulnerable and self-reflect, then empowered to make tactical and meaningful changes in their own lives and relationships. 

Irrespective of clinical diagnosis or the specific treatment modality, Bhiravi’s goal is ultimately to support clients in building a life for themselves that is authentic, purposeful, fulfilling, and sustainable. 

Bhiravi takes a holistic approach, integrating a variety of techniques across multiple evidence-based therapeutic domains including cognitive- behavioural therapy (CBT), trauma-focused CBT, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Bowen Family Systems Theory, Attachment Based Family Therapy, Maudsley Family-Based Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Problem Solving Therapy, as well as strategies from Compassion Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Schema Therapy, practising gratitude, and mindfulness/body-based somatic therapies. 

Bhiravi has experience treating clients of all ages presenting with; depressive and anxiety disorders, sleeping difficulties, interpersonal relationship difficulties, communication difficulties, study or work-related stress, emotional dysregulation manifesting in self-harm, chronic suicidal ideation, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, personality disorders, eating disorders, psychotic disorders (including Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorders), behavioural or conduct disorders, substance abuse, school refusal, gender dysphoria, cultural dissonance/spiritual wounds, shame, grief and trauma. She is particularly experienced in the assessment and treatment of complex trauma. 

Bhiravi derives inspiration from her clients, and her philosophy remains that the resilience and courage of individuals, families and communities displayed in the face of injustice and trauma is a testament to their willpower. She strongly believes that this strength can be harnessed and channelled into healing and overcoming challenges during the recovery process. Bhiravi’s passion for human rights advocacy and social justice manifests through volunteering with disadvantaged or marginalised populations in the non-for-profit space and continues to ground her professional identity as a therapist. 

Bhiravi completed her Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at the University of New South Wales and her Master of Clinical Psychology at Western Sydney University. Bhiravi established her career at the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors by working with refugee and asylum seeker populations in South-Western Sydney for five years. Following this, Bhiravi worked across several adult community mental health teams in the Western Sydney Local Health District before expanding her experience in the public sector to child, adolescent, and young adult populations residing in the Blacktown and Mount Druitt regions. Over the past three years, Bhiravi has worked with child, adolescent, and adult populations across the lower North Shore. Bhiravi is also a Board-approved clinical supervisor and was awarded a Family Focused Recovery research grant for 2024-2026 by the NSW Ministry of Health. 

In 2022, Bhiravi was nominated for the Fostering Leadership Across Systems in Allied Health program, designed for senior Allied Health Professionals with emerging leadership skills and clinical responsibilities. Bhiravi was appointed to the Northern Sydney Local Health District Youth Advisory Board in 2023 and continues to work directly with the Chief Executive to develop strategic leadership skills, consult on policy development and devise innovative solutions to existing gaps within the public health infrastructure.