Hennessy Clinical Psychology

Hennessy Clinical Psychology Clinical Psychologist, Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, NDIS, DVA.

MPsych (Clin), BPsych (Hons I), MAPS FCCLP
David has worked in a range of mental health and physical health settings, including inpatient acute psychiatric and psychiatric residential rehabilitation, acute medical health psychology and physical rehabilitation, community mental health case management, and private practice. David also spent eight years with Lifeline across counselling, supervision, and training roles. David has worked in a range of mental health and physical health settings, including: inpatient acute psychiatric and psychiatric residential rehabilitation, acute medical health psychology and physical rehabilitation, community mental health case management, and private practice. David is experienced in working psychotherapeutically to assist clients experiencing:

Complex adult mental health presentations
Schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder​
Adjustment to physical/medical health issues​
Persistent pain
Trauma and complex trauma
Mood and anxiety disorders
Phobias
Obsessions and/or compulsions
Substance use and addiction
Grief and loss

24/12/2025

Positive affirmations are lovely, but sometimes not quite enough
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

Affirmations can be like tiny chocolate bars, lovely, but short-lived. For real psychological nourishment, they need to be grounded in reality, aligned with your values, and transformed into action. In this article, I explore how to move from feel-good words to meaningful change, using practical strategies from evidence-based therapies.”

Read further: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/values-based-positive-affirmations/


23/12/2025

Therapists, don’t hold your autonomic nervous system hostage.
By David Hennessy
Clinical Psychologist

Empathy is a gift we offer clients.
But it is not physiologically neutral for the therapist.

Listening to distress, trauma, and suffering can activate our own threat response systems over time. This can show up as fatigue, irritability, disrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating, or emotional numbing.

These are not personal failures.
They are signs of nervous system load.

The same evidence based strategies we teach often support us best:
mindfulness, behavioural activation, values guided action, boundaries, and recovery.

Practising what we teach matters because it supports our health, strengthens our skills, and allows us to offer co-regulation through a more grounded, regulated, emotionally available presence.

Sustainable practice is not about endurance.
It is about respect for a very human nervous system.

nervoussystemregulation emotionalregulation selfcarefortherapists mindfulnesspractice valuesbasedliving goldcoastpsychologist varsitylakes

22/12/2025

Gentle grounded truth is often more helpful than overly positive reassurance.
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

When someone is distressed, it is natural to want to make it better quickly. Reassurance can help in the short term. However, when reassurance feels unrealistic, the mind often keeps scanning for certainty and threat.

Instead of trying to fix or override difficult feelings, gentle grounded truth offers something more regulating.

It might sound like:
• “This is hard, and I have done hard things before.”
• “I don’t know how this ends, but I know my next step.”
• “It makes sense that I feel overwhelmed.”

These are not fixes. They are believable, compassionate responses that give the nervous system something steady to lean on.

For many people, this kind of realism supports emotional regulation and resilience more effectively than well-meaning positivity.
Read here: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/gentle-grounded-truth-might-be-more-helpful-than-overly-positive-reassurance/


selfcompassionpractice nervoussystemregulation
acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy mentalhealthsupport realisticreassurance
psychologyeducation goldcoastpsychologist

21/12/2025

What Is Trauma Informed Therapy?
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

Trauma informed therapy is not a technique.
It is a way of working.

It recognises how common trauma and chronic stress are, and how deeply they can shape the nervous system, emotions, beliefs, and relationships.

Trauma informed therapy asks
“What has happened, and how did your mind and body learn to cope?”

This approach prioritises:
• Psychological safety
• Choice and collaboration
• Trust and transparency
• Respect for strengths and adaptation

Healing is rarely linear. Progress often looks like better regulation, clearer boundaries, and kinder self understanding rather than quick fixes.

David Hennessy
Clinical Psychologist
Varsity Lakes

Learn more
https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/what-is-trauma-informed-therapy/

https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/contact/





20/12/2025

What Are Attachment Wounds?
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

Many people notice they are deeply affected by closeness, distance, reassurance, or perceived rejection in relationships. Often, these reactions feel stronger than they would like or expect.

These experiences are not a flaw. They are often best understood through the concept of attachment wounds.

Attachment wounds describe how early relational experiences shape emotional safety, nervous system responses, and patterns of connection across adulthood. They are not a diagnosis, and they are not permanent.

I have written a new article explaining:
• What attachment wounds are
• How they form
• How they show up in adult relationships
• How therapy can support change over time

You can read the full article via the link in my bio or
https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/what-are-attachment-wounds/

mentalhealthaustralia clinicalpsychology goldcoastpsychologist

19/12/2025

PTSD and Complex PTSD: What Are They and How Do They Differ?
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

PTSD and Complex PTSD are often spoken about together, but they are not the same.

PTSD commonly develops after a single traumatic event.
Complex PTSD usually develops after prolonged or repeated interpersonal trauma, often where escape was difficult.

Complex PTSD can affect emotional regulation, sense of self, and relationships. These patterns are not signs of weakness. They are understandable adaptations to long term threat.

Understanding the difference matters. It shapes how therapy is paced, what support is needed, and how people make sense of their own experience.

David Hennessy
Clinical Psychologist
Varsity Lakes Gold Coast














18/12/2025

Managing Strong Emotions and Emotional Regulation
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist
Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast

Strong emotions are part of being human. Anxiety, anger, sadness, frustration, and overwhelm are not signs of weakness. They are signals from the nervous system that something matters.

Emotional regulation does not mean suppressing feelings or staying calm all the time. It means learning how to notice emotions, allow them to be present, and respond in ways that are helpful rather than harmful.

When emotions run high, the nervous system is often in threat mode. This is why grounding the body, slowing the breath, and orienting to the present moment often works better than trying to think your way out of distress.

You do not need to feel calm to act wisely. Small, values consistent actions can restore a sense of steadiness even when emotions remain strong.

Support, practice, and understanding go a long way. Most people can learn to work with their emotions more gently over time.

Read further:https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/managing-strong-emotions-emotional-regulation/

17/12/2025

Firm but fair is a simple yet powerful guideline for healthier relationships.
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

Being too nice often leads to resentment and exhaustion.
Being not nice enough can damage trust and connection.

Firm but fair is the middle path.
Clear boundaries.
Respect for others.
Respect for yourself.

There is a lot of unfairness in life that we cannot change.
What we can influence is how we show up in our relationships.

Firm but fair is not about perfection.
It is a practice that supports dignity, emotional safety, and steadiness.

In practice, it carries depth.

thoughts

15/12/2025

Let Your Values Be Your Guide
By David the Psychologist

Life can feel noisy, uncertain, and emotionally changeable.
Values act like a lighthouse.
They do not remove the waves, but they help us keep our bearings.

Clarifying your values helps you choose actions that feel steady, meaningful, and aligned with who you want to be, even when emotions fluctuate.

Living your values is not about perfection.
It is about intention.
Small, repeated choices in the direction that matters.

Read further:https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/let-your-values-be-your-guide/















14/12/2025

Selective Mutism and how Psychology Can Help
by David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist, Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, Queensland.

Selective mutism is an anxiety based condition where a person cannot speak in certain situations, even though they speak comfortably in places and with people who feel safe.

It is not stubbornness.
It is not a lack of intelligence.
It is not a choice.

It is the nervous system doing its best to protect against overwhelming anxiety.

Therapy focuses on:
• reducing pressure
• increasing safety
• taking very small, achievable steps
• supporting confidence over time

Progress is usually gradual and cumulative.
With the right support, meaningful change is very possible.

David the Psychologist


Further reading:https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/selective-mutism-psychology-help/
















13/12/2025

What Is Psychology?
by David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

A simple way of thinking about psychology is this
It is the study of how the mind makes meaning, and how that meaning shapes how we feel, how our body responds, and how we live our lives.

Our interpretations influence emotion, behaviour, relationships, and even our nervous system. When the mind experiences safety and understanding, the body tends to settle. When the mind perceives threat or uncertainty, the body often tightens.

Understanding our own meaning making helps us live with greater intention, compassion, and care.

Click the image to watch the short video explanation.

David Hennessy
Clinical Psychologist
Varsity Lakes

Read further:https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/what-is-psychology/

















Address

155 Varsity Parade
Varsity Lakes, QLD
4227

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 7am - 5pm
Thursday 7am - 5pm
Friday 7am - 5pm

Telephone

+61414277596

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