Your concerns are real
So is the change you’re seeking
An evidence-based, human-centred space to reconnect, reflect, and move forward
Where would you like to start?
My name is Donald van Eupen. I’m a registered psychologist based in Brisbane/Meanjin working with individuals who are looking for a therapy experience that is reflective, relationship-focused, and grounded in evidence.
Here, we take the time to understand what’s going on beneath the surface, and move toward lasting change, not quick fixes.
Here I am again
Sometimes we find ourselves in a familiar place - repeating patterns we thought we’d outgrown, reacting in ways we hoped we’d moved past, or facing the same questions that keep circling back. It can be disheartening to realise that, despite all our effort, there are underlying patterns or wounds we haven’t yet fully understood.
You might not be in crisis. Perhaps things just feel off, flat, or quietly heavy. Maybe you can sense that life could feel more alive, more connected, but you’re not sure how to get there.
Therapy can begin right there - in that moment of noticing. You don’t need a diagnosis, a plan, or even the right words. Just the willingness to look a little closer, and to see what might be ready to change this time.
What we can explore together
People come to therapy for many different reasons: some clear, others more difficult to put into words. Here are some of the themes I often support individuals with - but you don’t need to see yourself perfectly reflected in a list.
Whatever brings you here, we begin with where you are.
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You might be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, low, ashamed, or like you’re carrying something you can’t quite explain. These feelings can show up as restlessness, emotional numbness, irritability, or a sense that something just isn’t right, including experiences sometimes labelled anxiety, depression, or burnout.
This space isn’t about fixing you, it’s about creating room to notice, name, and explore what’s going on beneath the surface. Together, we’ll work to understand your emotional world more fully, and find ways to feel more grounded, connected, and in tune with yourself again.
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You might be feeling stuck in recurring conflicts, growing distant from someone important, or unsure how to ask for what you need. Relationship struggles, whether in families, partnerships, or friendships, can leave us feeling isolated, unseen, or misunderstood.
In this space, we focus on helping you feel more understood, and on learning how to communicate more clearly and honestly, so others have a better chance of understanding you, too.
Even when we work together as a one-on-one, your relational world is always part of the picture. Together, we’ll explore how your relationships shape how you feel, and how meaningful change can happen when we bring those patterns into awareness with care.
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Maybe you're not sure who you are anymore. Or you’ve been living in ways that feel out of step with what really matters to you. Identity work in therapy can be quiet and powerful, not about changing who you are, but about discovering and honouring it more deeply.
We might explore your values, boundaries, sense of worth, or the roles you’ve been carrying for others. It’s a chance to reconnect with yourself and begin making choices that reflect who you really are, perhaps not just who you’ve been expected to be.
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You might be grieving someone or something you’ve lost, or moving through a life change that’s left you feeling unsteady or uncertain. Grief isn’t always loud or visible; it can be quiet, shapeless, and hard to share.
In therapy, we make room for the complexity of loss and change, whether it’s linked to relationships, identity, health, career, a broader sense of direction or another fundamental pillar of your life. Together we’ll explore how to hold your grief with care and navigate transitions at a pace that honours your experience.
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You may be noticing patterns that keep showing up, in your relationships, reactions, or how you carry emotions in your body. These patterns often trace back to past experiences that felt overwhelming, unsafe, or left unresolved. This may be linked to developmental or complex trauma, attachment injuries, or single-incident events such as accidents, assaults, or medical emergencies.
Trauma isn’t just something that happened in the past, it can live on in the nervous system, shaping how we feel, connect, and respond in the present. You might feel on edge, shut down, easily triggered, or like your reactions don’t always make sense, even to you.
In our work together, we’ll take a trauma-informed approach that centres safety, consent, and pacing. This isn’t about reliving the past. it’s about gently noticing what’s happening now, and how your mind and body have learned to protect you.
Over time, we can begin to understand those patterns not as flaws, but as survival strategies, and create space for new ways of relating to yourself, your body, and the people around you.
Tell me what you fear and I will tell you what has happened to you
Paraphrasing Donald Winnicott, Fear of Breakdown
Beginning the process
Beginning therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. That’s okay. This is a process where there’s no pressure to be ready, clear, or even to know where to begin.
In our first session, we’ll simply start by talking: about what’s bringing you in, what you’re hoping for, and what’s been difficult. You’re welcome to go at your own pace. You can share as much or as little as feels comfortable.
My role is to listen thoughtfully, help us make sense of what’s showing up, and create a process where you feel safe to reflect, feel, and explore. We’ll begin where you are, and work together to shape a process that supports your needs and goals.
Therapy is rarely a linear journey. Some days might feel heavy, others more steady. Over time, many people find that through this kind of honest, relational work, new clarity and connection can begin to emerge.
Acknowledgement of Country
I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which I live, love and work: the Turrbal and Jagera (Yuggera) peoples of Meanjin (Brisbane).
I honour their deep and enduring connection to land, sea, and sky, and the living systems of knowledge, kinship, and community that continue across generations.
I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the strength, wisdom and resilience of First Nations peoples. I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who visit this site.
Getting in touch
If you’d like to book a session or ask a question, you’re very welcome to reach out. You don’t need to have everything figured out: a simple message is enough to begin. I’m available both in private practice and at the Brisbane Centre for Attachment & Relationships (Morningside).
Wednesdays
Online only
If you would like to book an initial appointment, please reach out to me directly at hello@donaldvaneupen.com so we can arrange a suitable time.
Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
In-person and online
Please contact the Brisbane Centre for Attachment & Relationship admin team to arrange an appointment: attachmentbrisbane.com.au - 07 3899 8590
This way, you can choose the option and setting that feels most comfortable or accessible for you. When you contact me directly, I’ll seek to respond to you within 2–3 business days.
Session Options & Fees
Starting January 2026, my session fees will be:
Standard session (50 minutes): $260 AUD
Extended session (80 minutes): $390 AUD.
Rebates
Medicare: Rebates may be available with a referral from your GP under a Mental Health Care Plan.
Private Health Insurance: Rebates may apply depending on your level of cover. I am registered with most health funds.