Dr Coby Liew

● Clinical Supervisor    ● Psychotherapist    ● Mental Health Social Worker    ● Counsellor

Coby is an experienced mental health practitioner with a passion for life, health, and healing. As an advocate for good mental health, he regularly presents at conferences, workshops, radio and TV programs, magazines, podcasts, and local newspapers across Australia and internationally in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. In addition, he has extensive clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults from various backgrounds and cultures, assisting them in identifying and maximising their inner strengths and resilience.

Coby's life experiences provide him with a unique perspective that sets him apart from other therapists. As an openly gay individual who was born and raised in Borneo (Malaysia) and has lived in multiple countries before calling Australia home, Coby has first-hand experience with the challenges and complexities that individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures face. This experience allows Coby to provide culturally sensitive and informed counselling that considers each client's unique needs and experiences.

Coby's approach to counselling and psychotherapy is grounded in the belief that individuals possess the inner strength and resilience necessary to overcome their mental health challenges. His educational training and more than a decade of clinical experience have equipped him with a deep understanding of mental health and psychological treatment. He has developed an exceptional ability to identify and maximise an individual’s inner strengths and offer his clients a safe and supportive space to work through their mental health challenges. 

Coby's passion for helping others extends beyond his work with clients in the therapy room. He was a passionate Board Member of the Midsumma Festival, Victoria's largest LGBTIQA arts organisation, where he provided strategic leadership and governance for the organisation. Additionally, he also served as the Director for Volunteer Support at GLOBE Victoria, a reputable networking organisation for LGBTIQA+ professionals and business owners. Coby is also the Founder of two community projects focusing on social advocacy, namely "My Rainbow Story Project" and "Unspoken Story". His dedication to the communities and his unwavering commitment to the well-being of others makes him a unique and invaluable asset to the mental health profession.

In addition to his professional expertise, Coby brings a wealth of personal qualities to his counselling practice. He is described as down-to-earth, gentle, honest, and practical in his approach to life. This warm and approachable demeanour allows clients to feel comfortable and supported during therapy sessions, facilitating a trusting and productive therapeutic relationship that makes him easy to communicate with. Coby communicates in a style that engages his clients, and he speaks fluently in several languages, including English, Mandarin, Malay, Cantonese, Hakka, Bahasa Indonesia, and Thai.

Coby specialises in the following areas:

• Grief and loss
• ASD and ADHD
• Gender and sexuality (LGBTIQA+)
• Trauma and abuse (including PTSD, complex PTSD, domestic and family violence)
• Relationship counselling and intimacy issues
• Inter-cultural adjustment, adaptation, and attachment issues (multicultural counselling)
• Anger management and emotional regulation
• Eating Disorders
• Depression, anxiety, stress management, and panic attacks
• Workplace conflicts, bullying, and harassment
• Issues faced by international students, asylum seekers, migrants, and people of colour.

Coby's therapeutic orientation is mainly influenced by Narrative Therapy, NLP, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Positive Psychology, and LEGO® Play Therapy. Within this therapeutic framework, He has gently blended in a number of other evidence-based psychological approaches, including Person-Centred Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychoeducation, Psychoanalysis, and Art Therapy.

Qualifications:

• Doctor of Psychology (Specialising in Grief and Loss)
• Master of Psychology
• Bachelor of Social Work
• Bachelor of Psychological Science
• Diploma in Social Science (Counselling Psychology)
• Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy
• Practitioner Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
• Professional Certificate in Life Coaching
• Accredited Mental Health First Aider (MHFA)

Professional accreditations:

• Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

Coby is a mental health practitioner recognised by:

• Medicare Australia
• Private Health Insurance Providers
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - international students
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

* Medicare and private health rebates are available to eligible clients only*