Big Feelings

Get to know Big Feelings

From Big Feelings's website.

• Our approach

  Sessions at Big Feelings are rooted in relational therapy, focusing on creating a safe and supportive space to explore your child's stories and discover their inner strengths. The therapist is deeply interested in how people can heal from emotional difficulties through understanding themselves better, which helps deepen connections with others and life itself. For families, there's a particular focus on strengthening the parent-child connection and finding new ways to face challenges together. This may include dyadic therapy (working with parent and child together) or individual support, depending on what's needed. The approach draws on play therapy and developmental psychiatry, tailored to support each child's unique needs and circumstances.

• Working with families

  The therapist places particular emphasis on working with parents to strengthen their connection to their children and find new ways of facing challenges together. Family involvement is built into the therapeutic approach, with options for dyadic therapy (working with both parent and child) as well as individual support for the child. This reflects a relational philosophy where deepening understanding of ourselves helps deepen our connection to others, including family members.

• Meet the team

  Big Feelings is led by Vessal Safaei, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with over ten years of experience in the mental health sector. She holds a Bachelor's degree (Honours) and a Master's degree in Social Work, and is registered with Medicare as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. Her additional training includes studies in perinatal mental health, play therapy, and Developmental Psychiatry through the Mindful Institute at Melbourne University, and she is an accredited child-parent psychotherapist. Her experience spans supporting people with chronic mental health challenges, working with youth from diverse backgrounds, and providing trauma counselling.