Ms Dayna Taberner, BSW
Clinical Social Worker
“Dayna Taberner is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and the director of Mental Health Counselling Geelong, with over 18 years’ experience in clinical mental health and a Master of Mental Health Sciences. Her primary focus is trauma-informed therapy with a strong EMDR focus. Dayna supports people aged 12 and over who are living with the impacts of trauma, including feeling on edge, shut down, overwhelmed, stuck in patterns that don’t make sense, or finding that the past keeps showing up in the present. She also works with anxiety and depression, neurodivergence, eating disorders, LGBTQIA+ affirming care and gender diversity-related concerns, and relationship or family difficulties. Dayna also provides clinical supervision for allied health professionals. Sessions are paced and collaborative, with a strong focus on safety, consent, and choice. EMDR is offered in a way that is carefully titrated and tailored to you, with grounding, stabilisation, and practical strategies alongside deeper processing when (and if) you’re ready. Dayna draws on EMDR, ACT and CBT-based approaches (including CBT-E where appropriate), based on your goals and what feels most supportive. ”
About Me
Approach
Services
Services Offered:
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ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
A form of therapy that teaches acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while guiding action aligned with personal values.
Learn more about ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) - •
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, a therapy that uses guided eye movements to help the brain process and integrate traumatic memories.
Learn more about EMDR - •
Family Therapy
A form of therapy that works with family members together to improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen relationships within the family system.
Learn more about Family Therapy - •
CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.
Learn more about CBT - •
Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.
Learn more about Individual Therapy - •
Mindfulness
The practice of paying deliberate attention to the present moment without judgement, used to reduce stress and increase awareness of automatic reactions.
Learn more about Mindfulness - •
Online Counselling
Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.
Learn more about Online Counselling - •
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy - •
Psychiatric Social Work
Social work services for people with mental health conditions, assisting with access to care, housing, benefits, and community integration.
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Psychoeducation
Structured information provided about a mental health condition (what it is, why it occurs, and what strategies can help) as part of the therapeutic process.
Learn more about Psychoeducation
Works With:
- •All ages
Area of Expertise
Scope of Practice:
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Body Image
How a person perceives, thinks, and feels about their physical appearance. When persistently negative, it can drive distress, avoidance, and disordered eating.
Learn more about Body Image - •
Gender Identity & Self-Image
A person's internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with the sex assigned at birth, and the distress or exploration that can accompany this.
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Eating Disorders
A group of conditions, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, involving disturbed eating behaviours and a distorted relationship with food and body image.
Learn more about Eating Disorders - •
LGBTQI+ Support
The unique psychological experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals, including identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, minority stress, and relationship dynamics.
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PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that develops after a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.
Learn more about PTSD - •
Self-Esteem
A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.
Learn more about Self-Esteem - •
Trauma
The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.
Learn more about Trauma - •
Women's Issues
Psychological challenges more commonly experienced by women, including gender-based stress, reproductive health concerns, body image, caregiving burden, and societal expectations.
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Young Adult Issues
The unique psychological challenges of emerging adulthood (18–25), including identity formation, independence, relationship navigation, and finding direction.
Learn more about Young Adult Issues
Professional Title:
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Clinical Social Worker
A social worker trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions through therapy, often in healthcare or community settings.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Social Work
BachelorDeakin University
Year: 2007
Master of Mental Health Sciences
Monash University
Year: 2013
Memberships
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Full Member
