meet anushka phaL
Founder | Principal Psychologist| Educational & Developmental Psychologist
Melbourne & Australia-wide via Telehealth
Culturally responsive, neuroaffirming therapy and assessment for people navigating identity, family, and neurodivergence.
Hi, I'm Anushka (she/her) — an Educational and Developmental Psychologist and the founder of Umeed Psychology.
I built Umeed because I know what it's like to sit in systems that weren't designed with you in mind. As a South Asian woman working at the intersection of culture, neurodivergence, and mental health, I understand that your family dynamics, your community's expectations, your migration story, and your identity aren't "context" to work around — they're central to the work itself. You shouldn't have to spend your sessions educating your psychologist about your culture, code-switching, or translating your experience into terms a Western framework will accept.
Whether you're part of the diaspora untangling questions of belonging, an adult wondering whether ADHD or autism explains a lifetime of feeling "too much" or "not enough", or someone carrying intergenerational trauma that doesn't have a neat name — you're welcome here exactly as you are. That includes if you're self-identifying, late-diagnosed, questioning, or still figuring things out. You don't need a referral letter's worth of certainty to begin.
HOW I WORK
I draw on EMDR, Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and CBT, adapted to you rather than the other way around. My approach is neuroaffirming and trauma-informed: we work with your brain and your story, not against them. I won't ask you to mask, perform wellness, or fit a standardised mould.
I also know that getting to therapy is often the hardest part — especially if executive functioning, shame, or past experiences with mental health services are in the mix. So we've designed Umeed to reduce that load: online booking, appointment reminders, flexible telehealth options, and a team that won't make you feel like a burden for asking questions.
QUALIFICATIONS:
BPSYCH, PGDPP, MEDP (AAPI)
book a FREE 15 minute consult:
“Tend to your wounds before you inherit them to someone else. Healing is the most generous thing you will ever do.”
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Individual therapy (online Australia-wide & in person in Melbourne) for adolescents and adults
Psychological assessment — ADHD assessment, autism assessment, Specific Learning Disability and academic assessment, and giftedness assessment (online & in person)
Neurodiversity coaching and post-diagnosis support
Consulting, training, and public speaking on neurodiversity, cultural responsiveness, and mental health
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I can see clients under Medicare (Mental Health Care Plans) you will receive up to $101 per session back from medicare, private health insurance, WorkSafe/WorkCover, VOCAT, and self-managed NDIS plans.
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ADHD and autism (assessment and therapy, with a special interest in internalised presentations and late diagnosis)
Intergenerational and complex trauma, including racial trauma and experiences of racism
Intergenerational family conflict and cultural family dynamics
Cultural identity, belonging, and Third Culture Kid experiences
Anxiety, depression, and mood difficulties
Stress, burnout, and perfectionism
LGBTQIA+ affirming support
Specific Learning Disabilities and giftedness
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anushka@umeedpsychology.com.au
Beyond the therapy room
Anushka is a passionate Educational and Developmental Psychologist driving advocacy and change for minority communities across Australia. She is the founder of Umeed Psychology and The Third Place, a multicultural mental health and community-wellbeing initiative designed to foster culturally grounded spaces for connection, belonging, and collective healing. Her work centres on de-stigmatising mental health and expanding access within multicultural communities through community-led programs, culturally responsive education, and initiatives that honour identity, empower individuals, and bring wellbeing into everyday spaces.
As a TEDx speaker, Anushka amplifies conversations on intergenerational trauma, culture, and mental health, using her platform to spark collective awareness and healing. She is a passionate advocate for youth mental health, having previously worked as a school psychologist and having published research in this area. As an Ambassador for the Australia & New Zealand Mental Health Association, she strives to make a global impact in mental health reform.
Anushka is also a Founding Ambassador for ATLAS (Advancing Theory, Learning, & Awareness for South Asians), a global initiative bridging research and representation to improve mind and brain health outcomes for South Asian communities. She is the Co-Host of the Girls That ADHD podcast, a founding member of Guardians of the Pacific, and a co-author of Undefeated, a Professional Migrant Women project.
Her work has been recognised widely: she was a Finalist for the 2023 & 2024 Saward Dawson Young Achievers Award for Social Impact & Community Service; the winner of the 2023 Westfield Local Heroes Award; a 2023 inductee into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women; and the 2025 South Asian Women in Business — Health Business of the Year winner.