Psychologist for Merrimac

Trauma-informed therapy for anxiety, stress and nervous system regulation

Your options from Merrimac

Satya Psychology works with clients from Merrimac, Carrara, Nerang and Ashmore by telehealth, on Walk & Talk sessions at Southport or Broadbeach, and in person at our consulting room in Nobby Beach. We do not have rooms in Merrimac; The Lavarack Rooms on Lavarack Road is roughly 9 km east, about 15 minutes by car outside peak times.

We help adults, teens and couples with trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, perinatal concerns and relationships. Medicare rebates apply to eligible psychology sessions with a GP plan.

Telehealth. Video sessions from home or work, with no drive. Mirinda Smith, our founding psychologist, and provisional psychologists Natalie Luxford and Maddison Weinert all see clients this way.

Walk & Talk at Southport or Broadbeach. Mirinda meets clients at both. From Merrimac, Southport is often the easier run up the road; Broadbeach suits if you are already heading to the coast. Walks stay on the boulevard or established pathways, with seating and facilities close by.

In person at The Lavarack Rooms, Nobby Beach. Fridays, 9am to 4pm, with Mirinda.

A young woman sitting on a white couch, smiling while holding a ceramic mug, wearing glasses, a white blouse, tan pants, and white shoes, with a cream-colored knit blanket on the couch.

Meet the team

Ways to see us from Merrimac

Telehealth from home, Walk & Talk at Southport or Broadbeach, or a Friday session in our Nobby Beach room.

Two women walking on a paved road during sunset or sunrise in a rural or natural area.

Some of the best breakthroughs happen while you’re moving. We can walk together through Merrimac’s leafy parks and nearby trails, using movement to ease stress and help conversation flow more freely than sitting across a desk.

Walk & Talk Therapy

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Therapy that fits around your life. Whether you’re at home in Merrimac, at work, or between school pickups, online sessions make it simple to prioritise your mental health.

Telehealth

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A modern living room with a light gray sofa, decorative pillows, a knitted throw, and wooden coffee tables. There are plants and two framed architectural prints on the wall. A large window with curtains lets in natural light.

If you’d rather meet face to face, our centrally located Gold Coast practice offers a calm, welcoming room where you can slow down, feel grounded and be fully supported.

In Person

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Golden retriever dog running on brick sidewalk with sunlight.

Walk alongside our Counsellor, Isabelle, and her certified therapy dog, Reuben. Having a gentle companion by your side can help sessions feel safer and make it easier to open up.

Dog Assisted Walk & Talk

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Trauma and nervous system regulation

Trauma is not only about a single dramatic event. It can come from a frightening birth, a car accident, a medical emergency, a relationship where you never felt safe, or years of growing up on high alert. People often notice it in ways that do not obviously link back to what happened:

feeling on edge, jumpy or easily startled
shutting down, going numb or feeling disconnected from your body
strong reactions that seem bigger than the situation
trouble sleeping, or dreams that leave you exhausted
avoiding places, people or conversations that remind you of something

How we approach it

Safety and pace come first. You do not have to tell your whole story in the first session, or ever, if that is not helpful. We start by understanding what is happening now and building ways to steady yourself when things feel too much.

We pay attention to the body. Trauma responses live in the nervous system as much as in thoughts. Sessions can include noticing physical signs of stress, breathing and grounding techniques, and learning what helps your body settle. Mirinda's background as a yoga teacher and personal trainer informs this, and she also runs Trauma-Informed Yoga groups in six-week blocks.

We use established therapies. Depending on what fits, that may include ACT, CBT and DBT skills for managing distress, alongside a psychodynamic lens for understanding how earlier experiences shape current patterns.

Walk & Talk can help. Some people find it easier to talk about difficult experiences side by side and moving, rather than face to face in a closed room. Others feel safer indoors. Both are fine.

If you are experiencing current family or domestic violence, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or call 000 if you are in danger.

Other areas we support

Anxiety and depression
ADHD and neurodiversity, no formal diagnosis needed
Perinatal and postpartum support
Couples therapy, with Gottman-informed methods

Fees and Medicare

Sessions with Mirinda are $240 by telehealth, $250 in person and $255 for Walk & Talk. With a Mental Health Treatment Plan, Medicare returns $98.97 to $124.30, so you pay $130.70 to $151.03. Since 1 November 2025, the plan must come from a GP at your MyMedicare-registered practice or your usual GP, and it covers up to 10 individual sessions a calendar year.

Provisional psychologist sessions are $140, need no referral and are not rebated. Couples sessions are $280 and are not covered by Medicare.

Full fee and service details

What happens after you book

Choose a practitioner, format and time in our online portal. You will get text and email reminders.
First session. We talk about what brings you in and what you want to change, and agree on a format. For Walk & Talk, this first session is by telehealth so we can plan a meeting point, wet-weather backup and how confidentiality works outdoors.
A plan that fits. Most people start weekly or fortnightly. For trauma work, the early sessions focus on stability before going anywhere near the hardest material.
Review as you go. If you are on a Medicare plan, we report to your GP after your initial sessions so they can review the referral.

Book your first appointment
Book online. You can change format later if your first choice does not feel right.

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No. You decide what you share and when. Plenty of useful work happens without going over events in detail.
It can be, and some people prefer being in their own space. If privacy at home is difficult, we can talk about Walk & Talk or in-person sessions instead.
Groups run in six-week blocks. A postnatal group is planned. Contact us to join the waitlist.

Questions from Merrimac clients

We are not a crisis service. Call 000 in an emergency, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 any time.
Only if you want a Medicare rebate. Sessions with Mirinda can be rebated with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. Sessions with a provisional psychologist are $140 and need no referral.
This depends on your goals and circumstances. Many clients begin with weekly or fortnightly sessions, then adjust as they gain momentum and stability.
Therapy is collaborative, we work together to create a pace that feels supportive and sustainable both emotionally and financially.