Dr Rosanna Pajak

Dr Rosanna Pajak

Clinical Psychologist

BSC Psych (Hons), D Clin Psych, MACPA

About me

I am a warm, compassionate clinician who always works in partnership with my clients to find the best way forward.

I enjoy working with adults at every stage of life, but have a particular commitment to perinatal mental health. The journey into parenthood can bring great joy, but also involves unique and unprecedented challenges. I am passionate about supporting individuals and couples to navigate the harder aspects of trying to conceive, pregnancy, birth and new parenthood. I aim to help new parents find the joy, enrich their bond with their baby (and each other) and develop confidence in their new role.

I am an endorsed Clinical Psychologist registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. Before moving to Australia in 2012, I completed a first-class honours degree in Psychology at the University of Bath in England and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at University College London (UCL). I have worked across numerous clinical and community settings in both the UK and Australia, including specialist trauma services and women’s health perinatal services. Alongside my private practice, I have coordinated UNSW’s Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program and published numerous research papers on trauma, memory and imagery rescripting treatment.

As an AHPRA board-approved supervisor, I offer clinical supervision to qualified Clinical Psychologists and those currently undertaking their registrar program.

About my approach

Psychological therapy provides a comfortable space in which you can explore your thoughts and feelings, find new ways of understanding your difficulties and learn new skills to navigate day-to-day life.

In my work, I have learnt that our relationships are central to our wellbeing. My approach provides a safe opportunity to explore, understand and improve your relationships with others, as well as your relationship with your own emotions and needs.

I believe your therapy should be tailored to you, your circumstances and your goals. I therefore provide both short and long-term therapy and use an integrative approach, carefully combining ideas from a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches. I have additional training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT), Emotion-focused Therapy (EFT), and trauma-focused therapy.

I have also completed intensive training with the Perinatal Training Centre and am a member of the Centre for Perinatal Psychology. When working with clients in the perinatal period, I provide therapy with a specific attachment-theory lens: incorporating family therapy, emotion-focused and psychodynamic approaches. This work has a particular focus on self-compassion, emotion-regulation and attachment relationships.

As an experienced trauma-informed clinician, I am particularly passionate about supporting parents through the experience of a traumatic birth. I am on the Clinical Advisory Board of the Australian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA). I work with couples on adjusting to parenthood, addressing sibling adjustment issues and broader intergenerational dynamics. I am also a certified Circle of Security Educator, a relationship-based early intervention program designed to enhance attachment security between parents and children, and a member of the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health.