Elana Volanakis
To make an appointment, email Elana at: [email protected]
Available on: Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Wednesday afternoons.
Elana is available for walk and talk counselling in Sydney.
Background: Elana is a PACFA registered Clinical Counsellor with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Diploma of Education, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Counselling. She has experience working with young people and their families, in addiction and homelessness services, and has worked in non-profit settings including Headspace.
Specialty: Elana specialises in supporting young people and adults, including parents of teens/tweens who are experiencing anxiety/depression; exploring identity and sexuality issues; understanding addictive behaviours (including people impacted by someone else’s addiction); navigating relationship difficulties; addressing discrimination related to identity; and workplace issues.
Approach: Elana considers all aspects of your life and circumstances including other supports, daily functioning, and physical health. Elana works using a range of therapy techniques and practices, regularly using more than one in a session and doesn’t believe in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Elana also likes to use creativity in sessions and likes to ‘think outside the box’. For example, using art, mind-mapping, creative writing and using each person’s strengths to create or convey meaning.
Perspective: Elana believes that the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. Elana likes to help empower you by supporting you in improving your communication, and boundary setting. This in turn, can also help to improve your relationship with others. Elana can also help to address self-esteem issues through understanding the underlying thoughts, opinions and feelings we have about ourselves.
How to Book
- Think about your goals for counselling, and which counsellor might be a good match
- Send an email to the counsellor you’d like to work with requesting an appointment
- In the rare event you don’t hear from your counsellor within 24 hours, please call us
- Not sure who might be the right fit for you? Call us and we’re happy to make a recommendation
Intake Process
- Initial appointments are $70 for individuals, or $80 for couples
- Due to our counsellor’s busy schedules, they cannot do intakes over the phone
- Your intake session will include discussing what supports you need, your goals for counselling, and to decide whether your counsellor is a good match for you
- If you decide that the fit isn’t right, you can ask to be referred to someone else – no offence will be taken!
Important Notice
There are some people that our counsellors can’t work with – not because we don’t want to, but because we want you to have the best possible care.
If you currently experience domestic violence, are having a mental health crisis, are experiencing severe substance dependency issues, or other acute crises, we can’t provide you with the level of support you deserve. However, we will use your initial appointment to connect you with places that specialise in these issues, so you can get the best possible care.
All Rough Patch counsellors manage their own scheduling and administration. Click on a profile below to read more and send an email enquiry. In the rare event you don’t hear from a counsellor within 24 hours, please call us on 02 7226 0809
All of our counsellors generously reduce their usual fees to provide affordable mental healthcare to our community. They do not receive government rebates or funding to provide their services.
