Dr Sara Taylor
Dr Sara Taylor is a Registered Psychologist and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist based in South Melbourne with a bespoke tailoring approach to working Psychoanalytically.
She works with Adults, Adolescents, Children, Couples and Families.
Approach with Adults, Adolescents, Couples and Families
What is a bespoke tailoring approach to working psychoanalytically?
A ‘bespoke tailoring’ approach to psychoanalysis is a contemporary approach to working psychoanalytically. A deep love and extensive knowledge of the history and traditions of psychoanalysis is tempered with an appreciation for the numerous evidence-based psychological therapies that have been developed in more contemporary times.
Dr Sara Taylor believes that a warm, respectful, and nurturing therapeutic relationship is ideal for facilitating psychological growth and recovery from mental health issues. In this way her practice respects but departs from psychoanalytic neutrality. Dr Taylor draws on her many years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the field to design each individual therapy for the specific needs of a patient, couple, or family group.
What can I expect from therapy with Dr Sara Taylor?
Dr Sara Taylor’s framework of understanding is Psychoanalytic.
Psychoanalysis focuses on gaining insight into your mental health and relationships through exploring your inner world, uncovering previously unconscious content, and through experiencing how your internal and interpersonal issues resurface in the patient-therapist transference relationship.
Dr Sara Taylor understanding of the human psyche has been influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud, Wilfred Bion, D.W. Winnicott, Melanie Klein and other more contemporary Psychoanalysts. She works at the border of the patient’s conscious and preconscious mind.
Sessions of therapy with Dr Sara Taylor have the therapeutic structure of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.
During Psychodynamic Psychotherapy you will be sitting on a chair rather than lying on a couch.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy upholds to tradition of 50-minute sessions.
The duration of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is medium to long-term.
As a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist Dr Sara Taylor focuses entirely on you and does not practice self-disclosure.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy attends to what arises in the transference relationship, to your object relations, and to the role defence mechanisms play in your mental health and your relationships.
Dr Sara Taylor is a Registered Psychologist.
As a Registered Psychologist Dr Sara Taylor has a practical approach to working Psychoanalytically and therefore draws on techniques from Systemic Family Therapy, Somatic Psychotherapy, Mindfulness, Interpersonal Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) when these modalities are considered helpful.
In Psychology emphasis is often placed on assessment and diagnosis. Dr Sara Taylor has undergone rigorous training and is an experienced practitioner in various methods of assessment and diagnosis. This knowledge and experience is essential when communicating with Medical Practitioners and other key stakeholders.
Expertise
Areas of particular interest and expertise, both through clinical practice and research, include:
- Trauma
- Complex Trauma
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Assault
- Domestic Violence
- Adult survivors of childhood trauma and/or abuse.
Over the years Dr Sara Taylor has worked with patients suffering from an array of psychological difficulties including:
- Anxiety
- Social Anxiety
- Depression
- Panic Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Relationship Issues
- Separation and Divorce
- Grief
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Dependent Personality Disorder
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- Histrionic Personality Disorder
- Sexual Dysfunctions
- Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
- Adjustment Disorder
- Work place issues
- Stress
Background
In the 24 years since obtaining her Masters of Psychology (Clinical program), Dr Sara Taylor has continued her professional development by training in a variety of therapeutic techniques. Although her professional development and training has focused on Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, she has also completed training in Interpersonal Therapy, Systemic Family Therapy, Couples Counselling, Somatic Therapy, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Not only does Dr Sara Taylor have many years of experience using these therapeutic modalities in her clinical practice, in the past she has gained more than 15 years experience teaching therapeutic techniques, assessment, and diagnosis to undergraduate and postgraduate psychology and psychotherapy students.
Dr Sara Taylor has sat on the POPIG Vic branch committee of the Australian Psychological Society for 6 years coordinating professional development seminars and workshops for Psychoanalysts, Psychiatrists, and Psychologists working from a Psychoanalytic perspective.
In addition Dr Sara Taylor holds a PhD from School of Culture and Communication at The University of Melbourne.
Professional Affiliations
The Australian Psychological Society
The APS is the largest professional body representing Psychologists within Australia. Dr Sara Taylor sat on the Victorian Branch of POPIG (Psychoanalytically Orientated Psychologists Interest Group) committee for the APS for 6 years. POPIG hosts regular seminars and workshops for Psychologists practicing from a psychoanalytic perspective.
Centre for Socio-Analysis
The Centre of Socio-Analysis is a consultancy and training organisation in the field of socio-analysis which holds the primary task of increasing “human capacities through socio-analysis.” Dr Sara Taylor has undergone many years of training and professional development at CSA, and has worked as a consultant at two CSA conferences alongside the director of CSA – Alastair Bain (1940-2013).
Group Relations Australia
GRA is Australia’s principal professional organisation providing membership and ongoing professional development to Organisational Consultants working from a socioanalytic or systems psychodynamic perspective. GRA also hosts group relations conferences, is actively involved in community orientated socioanalytic projects, and publishes the peer review journal Socioanalysis. Dr Sara Taylor sat on the GRA Committee of Management as an Ordinary Member for one year and as the Vice President of GRA for one and a half years.
National Institute Of Organisational Dynamics Australia
NIODA holds the primary task of providing education in systems psychodynamic approaches for the improvement of organisations, community and society. Dr Sara Taylor sat on the NIODA’s Human Research Ethics Committee for two and a half years. The NIODA HREC acts as the final point of reference for ethical concerns for all NIODA research activity (staff research, Masters and PhD students) and for other matters of ethics pertaining to the institute as a whole.
The University of Melbourne
Dr Sara Taylor has a PhD from the School of Culture and Communication at The University of Melbourne.