Your whole self is welcome here.
It is my most sincere belief that we are all worthy of being heard and seen fully, exactly as we are. Being human is hard work and we were never made to do it all alone. Therapy is brave work. It requires us to invest in ourselves - emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically. It asks us to sit in difficult feelings and query our own minds. It can be joyful, challenging, enlightening, underwhelming, overwhelming and deeply valuable in our quest for living a full life - one where deep joy goes hand in hand with deep sorrow.
I am here to walk this grand path beside you - with willingness, empathy and immense reverence for your courage. I am here so you may feel both held and free.
about me
Hi there, my name is Sasha Landis and I am a psychotherapist and counsellor in the Inner West of Sydney, Australia.
Really though, I am a deeply loving and empathic presence, a holder of safe space, a recogniser of social privilege and power and an enthusiastic welcomer of the myriad of diverse identities and experiences that come through my door. I believe that the spoken and unspoken parts of ourselves deserve to be more than tolerated or accepted, they deserve to be welcomed with open arms.
As a therapy client myself (which is widely viewed as the most important part of psychotherapy training) and a lifelong learner and unlearner, I believe it is with a process of continuous curiosity that we begin to uncover the deeper parts of our internal and external worlds. Therapy is, in my mind, an act of coming home to the self. It is my most sincere belief that we are all worthy of a place in this world where we can speak from the truth of who we are and be received with understanding, recognition and endless compassion.
I believe we hold all the wisdom we need inside our own minds and bodies already, and therapy can be an invaluable tool in bringing this wisdom forth. I consider myself very fortunate to create space and hold vigil for my clients as they engage in this sacred inner work.
Sasha Landis Psychotherapy and Counselling is a person-centred, sex-positive, LGBTQIA+ safe, kink-aware, anti-oppressive and trauma informed space. I welcome all that you are with an open heart.
(PACFA registration #26680)
Qualifications and Training
Graduate Diploma of Counselling- Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP)
Bachelor of Arts (Gender Studies and English) - University of Sydney
Mandala Community Counselling Service Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Training
Foundation for Trauma-Informed Care and Practice
Solo and Relationship Psychotherapy for People in BDSM/Kink Relationships
Working with the LGBTQIA+ Community in Practice
Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Individual Client Work
Ongoing weekly clinical supervision and personal therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Psychotherapy and Counselling effective?
There is a large body of research that proves we grow and change neurologically in connection with others. Through the safety of a strong therapeutic relationship our brains can change. Our thoughts, feelings, responses and the way we see ourselves can all change. Many of us were never given the chance to reach the full potential of our emotional selves and we have built walls and defences against knowing ourselves fully. Having an opportunity to be witnessed in all of our contradiction has the power to shift the course of our lives.
If you are interested in exploring the psychotherapeutic relationship further, I would recommend Lori Gottlieb’s novel Maybe You Should Talk to Someone and Irvin Yalom’s The Gift of Therapy. For a more clinical view, Teri Quatman’s textbook Essential Psychodynamic Psychotherapy- An Acquired Art, is a great place to start.
Do I need a referral from my GP?
No. As Psychotherapists and Counsellors are not included in the Mental Health Care Plan in Australia, GPs are not required to offer referrals. Many clients find this freedom liberating, as individuals are able to seek mental health support without a medical diagnosis. Further to this, sessions are unlimited in a calendar year and accessing mental health services is not kept on your permanent record.
Can I claim through Medicare?
No. As previously stated, Psychotherapists and Counsellors are not included in the Mental Health Care Plan in Australia, meaning no rebates are available for those seeking counselling. This explains why it is an unspoken industry standard to set counselling and psychotherapy fees lower than the fees generally required to see a psychologist in Sydney.
What ages do you see?
I see all ages from 20+
How long does each session go for?
The therapy hour is 50 minutes in length.
What is the cost of each session?
My full fees are set at $160 per session including GST.
To allow this service to be as inclusive as possible, I have multiple spots available in my practice on a sliding scale. My capacity to offer these spots is subject to availability, and can be discussed during an initial phone consultation.
Fees can be paid by cash or EFTPOS at the end of the session, or invoiced and paid by bank transfer.
How often do I need to come to therapy?
To get the most out of psychotherapy, I will almost always recommend you attend weekly, and preferably, at the same time each week in order to establish continuity, routine, and a strong therapeutic alliance. In some cases, I will recommend twice weekly.
How many sessions will I need?
This is a great question and the answer is a complex one because, it depends. It depends on what the challenges are you are bringing into therapy and what it is you hope to emerge with, as well as how often you attend. In general, counselling may be useful with a small number of sessions, but psychotherapy requires longer term work. This can be discussed further in the first session, but therapeutic relationships can vary from a month in length to several years. Every course of therapy is unique.
Is the building accessible?
Yes it is.
Are sessions confidential?
Yes, sessions are kept confidential. All therapists are ethically required to work under supervision where clients are discussed, but all supervisors operate under the same confidentiality. There are a few exceptions to confidentiality which will be discussed with clients during the first session.
What is your cancellation policy?
24 hours notice is required for all cancellations. Once an ongoing session time is established, it belongs to you until advised otherwise. If a cancellation is made with less than 24 hours notice, the full session fee will be charged. I appreciate your understanding on this matter.
“Being human is not hard because you are doing it wrong. It’s hard because you are doing it right. You will never change the fact that being human is hard, so you must change the idea that it was ever supposed to be easy. ”