Gabriel Rusu - Psychologist in Melbourne CBD
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Gabriel Rusu

Consultant Psychologist, EMDR Therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist
BA(Hons) Psych, GradDip CounsPsych, AdvancedDip Clinical Hypnosis, Member AAPi

I’m Gabriel Rusu, an AHPRA-registered psychologist and an EMDR Therapist, based in Melbourne CBD, with over 15 years of experience supporting adults through anxiety, trauma, PTSD, OCD, depression, sleep problems, chronic pain, and emotional difficulties.

I offer practical, evidence-based therapy to help you understand your challenges, develop effective coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Sessions are available in-person in Melbourne CBD and Endeavour Hills.

Why Choose Me as Your Psychologist in Melbourne CBD?

• Over 15 years clinical experience in mental health
• AHPRA-registered psychologist (since 2010)
• Extensive training in EMDR, ACT, TF-CBT, Hypnotherapy, IPT, and Emotion-Focused therapies
• Special expertise in trauma, anxiety, OCD, chronic pain and psychosomatic symptom disorders
• Medicare rebates available (with a GP referral)
• Sessions in English or Romanian
• Accepting WorkSafe, TAC, VOCAT, NDIS (self/plan managed), and private clients
• Convenient Melbourne CBD location near trams and public transport

Issues I help With

I work with adults and older adults experiencing a wide range of emotional, psychological, and physical-stress-related conditions, including:

Anxiety & Stress

• Generalised anxiety
• Panic attacks & panic disorder
• Social anxiety
• Phobias
• Health anxiety

Trauma & PTSD

• Single-event trauma
• Complex trauma
• Childhood trauma
• Medical trauma
• Emotional or relational trauma

OCD & Related Disorders

• Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder
• Intrusive thoughts
• Compulsions, rituals, checking
• Skin-picking, hair pulling

Mood & Emotional Difficulties

• Depression
• Low mood & motivation
• Grief & loss
• Emotional overwhelm
• Relationship difficulties

Sleep, Fatigue & Chronic Conditions

• Insomnia & sleep problems
• Chronic fatigue
• Chronic pain & psychosomatic symptoms
• Fibromyalgia
• IBS and mind–body disorders

Other Areas

• Sexual dysfunctions
• Stress related to medical procedures
• Adjustment to life transitions
• Self-esteem and confidence

If you’re unsure whether I can help with your specific concern, feel free to reach out or book an initial consultation.

I qualified as a Psychologist in Australia by graduating with a Bachelor Degree (with Honours) in Psychology from the University of Melbourne in 2009, followed by a two-year practice focused Graduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy at the Carmillar Institute in Melbourne.

Passionate about addressing challenging problems and helping people overcome issues that are traditionally most difficult to treat, I also studied and graduated with a Diploma of Solutions in Hypnosis and an Advanced Diploma of Solution Oriented Hypnosis, both from the Centre for Effective Therapy and The Milton H Erickson Institute of Tasmania.

I also completed extensive training in EMDR with both Dr Christopher Lee from the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) and with Mr Sigmund Burzynski from the EMDR Institute.

Clinical Problems addressed:

• Trauma and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Attachment Trauma
• Sleep problems, including Insomnia
• OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and related disorders, such as Skin picking (Dermatillomania), Hair pulling (Trichotillomania), Nail biting (Onychophagia) and others
• Pure-O (Purely obsessional OCD)
• Chronic Psychosomatic issues, including Fibromyalgia and other types of Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• Sexual Dysfunctions
• Other Anxiety Disorders, including GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder), Panic Attacks, Agoraphobia, and Social Phobia
• Other Fears and Phobias
• Mood Disorders, such as Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

I have has experience with a wide range of Evidence Based Therapies, including:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Emotion Focused Therapy for Complex Trauma ((ETF-CT)
• Process-Experiential Emotion-Focused Therapy (PEEFT)
• Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TF-CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Ericksonian Clinical Hypnotherapy
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
• Psychodynamic Therapy

Client Types

I work with private clients, as well as clients referred by GPs and psychiatrists for psychology services under Medicare's Better Access to Mental Health initiative.

I also see clients referred under WorkSafe (all agents), TAC and DVA programs, and I am available for VOCAT assessments and reports.

Also welcoming clients with EAP and NDIS funding.

Age groups: Adults and Older Adults

Languages: English or Romanian

Professional Consultation Fees

Standard consultation fee is AUD$220 / session during business hours (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) and AUD$250 / session after hours (starting at 5pm or later)

Couple counselling is AUD$250 / session during business hours (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) and AUD$300 / session after hours (starting at 5pm or later)

One session is 50min.

Discounted fees, including Bulk Billing are available to clients in difficult financial circumstances, especially due to loss of employment in recent months. Contact us to enquire. Discounted fees are available only during business hours.

TAC, WORKSAFE and VOCAT clients - you need to have funding approval for psychology sessions from the respective organisation. A copy will be required before the 1st appointment can be made.

NDIS Participants

You are fully funded by NDIS (no gap applies).
Your session fees will be invoiced after the session to the applicable plan manager (or to NDIA if applicable).
If you are self managed you need pay at the session and then claim the full amount from your NDIS plan.

Billing and Payment

• All appointments starting at 5pm or later attract the after hours fee and must be pre-paid.
• We reserve the right to request pre-payment for clients who cancel or reschedule sessions at short notice or often.
• Refunds for cancelled sessions are available in appropriate circumstances. See the cancellation requirements below.
• If you request, we can process the Medicare rebate for you on the day of the session (provided that you have a valid GP referral and mental health treatment plan, or a psychiatrist referral). We do not process private health rebates.
• Reports, letters and any type of correspondence at client's request (or at 3rd party request with client consent) are charged separately. Contact us to enquire.

Cancellations and Reschedules

Sessions cancelled or rescheduled at very short notice impact on other people's ability to attend. We therefore charge cancellations fees for cancellations or reschedules done within 48 hours of the appointment, so that other people on the wait list can be cared for.

• We require 48-hours notice for all appointment cancellations or reschedules.
• Cancellations or reschedules with a notice between 24 and 48 hours of the appointment are charged at 50% of the fee. If the fee has been pre-paid, 50% refund can be processed.
• Cancellations or reschedules within 24 hours of the appointment, and also no-shows, are charged at 100% of the fee. If the fee has been pre-paid, no refund applies.
• Cancellation fees are waived for medical emergencies upon providing a medical certificate. Covid is no longer considered a medical emergency
• In case of no-show (no notice given) or in case of two consecutive cancellations we reserve the right to not make further appointments for that client.

Rebates

From 1 July 2025 the Medicare rebate is $98.95 per session. Medicare rebates are available with a valid GP referral and MHTP, or a referral from a psychiatrist, for up to 10 sessions in total per calendar year (this includes sessions with another psychologist you may have attended during the year).

If you have private health insurance you need to enquire with them directly about the requirements.

Locations

Melbourne CBD: 1012 / 530 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 ("The Exchange Tower").

Endeavour Hills: 11 Sienna Crescent, Endeavour Hills VIC 3802.