Gavin Riley (he/him)
"We often find that the harder we try to get rid of emotions and thoughts, the stronger they become. " - Richard C. Schwartz
Following severe life stressors, grief or trauma, we can suffer significant distress and become involved in intense conflict with big emotions like fear, sadness, anger, guilt and shame, and encounter mental-health problems that impact our wellbeing in various ways.
My genuine passion is supporting young people, adolescents, and adults who experience life stressors such as anxiety, grief, trauma, and depression that lead to internal struggles and turbulent feelings.
I help my clients, who include children, adolescents, and adults, to develop a non-judgemental awareness of the underlying processes that contribute to this, as well as the extreme beliefs and emotions that attach themselves to the parts of us that then drive our behaviours and coping mechanisms or defenses there afterward.
We know that no single approach is effective for every individual, so I adopt a therapeutic stance that incorporates Self Compassion for shame & guilt, Internal Family Systems Therapy for wholeness and healing, Compassionate Inquiry for trauma and addiction, Polyvagal Theory to facilitate active operation of our nervous system, and Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for overcontrolled coping and emotional loneliness.
My educational background includes a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degree from ACU. I have also completed RODBT and EMDR training which provide an important therapeutic platform for relationship and trauma informed work. Before joining Treat Yourself Well, I worked on Project Hope with ACU's Institute for Positive Psychology and Education. Project Hope was a Randomised Control Trial of an education re-engagement program for at-risk youth at both the primary and high school levels across NSW.
My honours research focused on the mechanisms of change within mindfulness and their impact on physical health outcomes for populations with chronic disease. Thesis: Does self-care mediate the self-compassion and wellbeing link for people with diabetes?
Prior to all this, I spent 13 years in the media as a Marketing, Promotions, and Advertising Sales Manager. And before that, I was actually in the Navy!
Gavin is a psychologist, known for building strong, meaningful connections with clients through a natural ability to develop rapport and an easy-going, approachable manner. With a focus on making theory practical, Gavin helps individuals translate insights into real-world strategies that promote overall well-being. By blending a supportive attitude with practical advice, he empowers clients to take actionable steps toward a healthier, more balanced life..
Areas of Interest
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Addiction
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Trauma
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Grief
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Relationships
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Emotional Loneliness
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Neurodiversity
Qualifications
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Bachelor of Psychological Science - ACU
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Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) - ACU
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ACU Dean’s Award 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
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Registered Psychologist with AHPRA
Treatment Approaches
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Internal Family Systems Therapy
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Self Compassion for Shame & Guilt
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Polyvagal Theory
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Compassion Focussed Therapy
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Mindfulness
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RODBT
Favourite Far Side Cartoon
© The Far Side
Professional Memberships
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Australian Psychological Society
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Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)