Business Details
12 Years
experience
Trusted Psychological Services in Brisbane & Sydney
Ascent Psychology was established in 2014 by Francisco J. Rivas Rivero, a Senior Clinical Psychologist with over two decades of experience. Our practice offers compassionate, evidence-based psychological services for adolescents, adults, and couples, addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship difficulties. We provide therapy in English and Spanish, both in-person at our Brisbane and Sydney clinics and via secure telehealth sessions. Our approach combines psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based techniques to foster emotional resilience and lasting personal growth.We accept clients under Medicare Mental Health Care Plans, private health insurance, and private funding. Our team prioritises cultural sensitivity, offering tailored support for diverse backgrounds and complex emotional challenges. With flexible appointment times and a commitment to accessibility, we aim to make mental health care affordable and confidential. Our practitioners maintain professional registrations with AHPRA and memberships in the Australian Psychological Society, ensuring adherence to the highest clinical standards.
Services
Anxiety Therapy
Depression Counselling
Couples Therapy
Trauma Counselling
Anger Management
Details
- Year established: 2014
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of clinical psychology expertise in treating anxiety and depression
- Our therapists use evidence-based approaches like psychodynamic therapy and CBT
- Bilingual services available in English and Spanish for cultural inclusivity
- Flexible appointment options including telehealth and extended hours
- We maintain strict professional standards through AHPRA and APS memberships
Associations and certifications
- Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Australian Psychological Society (APS)
What people say
Compassionate therapists
Effective techniques
Bilingual support
Safe environment
Professional expertise
Services
Anxiety Therapy
Our anxiety therapy addresses persistent worry, panic disorders, and phobias through evidence-based approaches. We help clients understand triggers, develop coping strategies, and regain control over daily life. Sessions combine psychodynamic exploration of underlying causes with practical CBT techniques for immediate symptom management.
Depression Counselling
Specialised depression counselling targets persistent low mood, negative thought patterns, and emotional numbness. Using a blend of psychodynamic therapy and mindfulness techniques, we help clients process unresolved experiences and rebuild emotional resilience through structured, goal-oriented sessions.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy focuses on improving communication, resolving conflicts, and rebuilding trust. Our approach combines emotional attunement exercises with practical problem-solving strategies to address relationship patterns and foster deeper connection between partners.
Trauma Counselling
Trauma-informed therapy addresses emotional and psychological impacts of past experiences. We use psychodynamic frameworks to process unresolved trauma while incorporating grounding techniques to manage distressing symptoms and promote healing.
Anger Management
Anger management programs help clients identify triggers and develop healthier responses to frustration. Through cognitive restructuring and behavioural techniques, we address underlying emotional conflicts that contribute to excessive anger reactions.
People
Francisco J. Rivas Rivero
Senior Clinical Psychologist
With over 23 years of clinical experience, Francisco holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology and AHPRA endorsement in clinical psychology. He specialises in anxiety, depression, and complex emotional patterns, combining psychodynamic therapy with mindfulness-based approaches.
Glenda Benitez
Psychotherapist
Glenda brings 24 years of counselling experience and a Masters in Clinical Psychology. She uses psychodynamic therapy and CBT to address emotional challenges, offering sessions in English and Spanish with a focus on personal growth and resilience building.
Questions
What mental health services do you offer in Brisbane and Sydney?
We provide anxiety therapy, depression counselling, couples therapy, trauma recovery, and anger management using evidence-based approaches like psychodynamic therapy and CBT.
Do you accept Medicare rebates for psychological services?
Yes, individual therapy sessions are partially covered by Medicare with a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, reducing your out-of-pocket cost.
Can I access therapy in languages other than English?
Yes, we offer psychological services in both English and Spanish to accommodate diverse linguistic needs across our Brisbane and Sydney clinics.
What therapy approaches do your psychologists use?
Our practitioners combine psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based techniques tailored to each client's specific needs and goals.
Are telehealth psychology sessions available?
Yes, we offer secure telehealth sessions for clients in Brisbane, Sydney, and regional areas, providing flexible access to our psychological services.
How do I book an appointment with a psychologist?
You can book online through our website, call us directly, or email our team to schedule in-person or telehealth sessions with our qualified psychologists.
Reviews (5)
Roland Quast
Dec 24, 2021
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I feel very lucky having chosen Francisco to ask for help. In the last 5 months he helped me overcome a great deal of anxiety and loneliness. He has helped to stop me from rationalising my thoughts as a defense mechanism that prevents me from being connected to life. He is always understanding and always on your side, especially when your inner-voice thinks you don't deserve it. Thank you so much, Francisco.
Lana L.
Dec 12, 2021
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Compassionate, non-judgemental and deeply insightful. He helped me more than I can put into words. Highly recommended.
Iker Olalde
Aug 13, 2021
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Francisco is an excellent professional and would strongly recommend his services. He has helped me understand my emotions. This has helped me face my fears and be in control of them, which has also increased my overall well being. I will definitely repeat if I ever need it.
Jason Matsis
Aug 04, 2021
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Thank you Francisco for teaching me important values and boundaries about myself. I have been working with him for 9 months and has helped me more then I had expected from processing a personal diagnosis to understanding and teaching self respect and self love and accountability. A very genuine person who has a strong passion for helping people. Thank you again.
Adriana Rodriguez
Jun 07, 2021
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Francisco is an amazing psychologist, I've been seeing him on and off for about 6 years now and I have never been disappointed. He clearly cares about his patients and will go the extra mile to help you out. I will be forever thankful for his service and professionalism, could not recommend him enough!! Thank you, Francisco!!
