Meet Dr Kate O'Brien, Be Well's Senior Clinical Psychologist
Kate’s approach is about self-discovery. With curiosity and compassion, she helps her clients explore, move through, and integrate challenging experiences, to ultimately discover what they truly value and what is vital for their psychological well-being.
Kate's Philosophy
Mind, brain, body. Integrated.
Dr O’Brien has spent over a decade working as a trauma therapist in non-profit and public mental health settings. Through that work, she has learned that the integration of our mind-brain-body system is core to cultivating well-being. It is what makes her approach so synergistic with Be Well’s philosophy.
"Live in harmony, not conflict, with your emotions."
What Kate Brings
A journey of
self-exploration
01
Holistic Approach to Well-being
Kate integrates emotional, psychological, and somatic experience in her practice, recognising that the body carries memory and must be included in any authentic path to healing.
02
Embrace Emotional Depth for Healing
Rather than intellectualising emotions, Kate encourages clients to feel them fully. This depth of experience, met with curiosity, is where genuine transformation begins.
03
Transformative Journey of Self-Exploration
Kate journeys alongside each client as a compassionate guide, creating a ‘safe enough’ space for self-reflection where clients discover what they truly value.
About Kate
Dr Kate O'Brien, Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
Senior Clinical Psychologist, Be Well Hawthorn
"I believe in the power of connection for healing: a psychologist's role is to journey alongside clients as a guide and facilitator."
I am a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with over a decade of experience working as a trauma therapist in non-profit and public mental health settings. During this time, I have witnessed the phenomenal strength, beauty, and complexity of the human spirit.
My approach in psychotherapy is interpersonal and relational: to journey alongside others, with curiosity and compassion, with the goal of creating a ‘safe enough’ space for self-exploration and reflection.
I work in a way that attempts to integrate all aspects of emotional and psychological experience, with an understanding that the body remembers and thus needs to be integrated into therapeutic approaches.
Begin your journey with Dr Kate
Kate is accepting new clients. Book online through Be Well’s booking system, or reach out to our team directly and we will help you find a time that works.
Get in touch with Be Well
Our team is here to help you find the right session and get you started with Dr Kate.
New clients: Kate will reach out for a brief intake phone call before your first appointment, to ensure she can provide the right support for your needs.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
You can book a session through Be Well's online booking system using the "Book Your Session" button on this page. Alternatively, contact our team directly at (03) 8851 9686 or hello@bewell.com.au and we will help you get started.
After you make an inquiry, Kate will contact you for a brief intake phone call before your initial appointment. This allows her to understand what you are looking for and confirm she can provide the right support for your needs.
Kate's approach is interpersonal and relational, grounded in mind-brain-body integration. She works with curiosity and compassion to create a 'safe enough' space for self-exploration and reflection, drawing on somatic awareness alongside thought and emotion to support healing from trauma and life's challenges.
Kate is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with over a decade of experience working as a trauma therapist in non-profit and public mental health settings. She brings a deep commitment to relational, somatic-informed psychotherapy.
Be Well Hawthorn is located at 6 Roche St, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122. Contact us at (03) 8851 9686 or hello@bewell.com.au.
There is no single threshold — many people seek support well before things feel unmanageable, and that is a sign of self-awareness, not weakness. Some common prompts include persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or overwhelm that don't lift on their own; difficulty functioning in daily life, relationships, or work; a sense of being stuck in unhelpful patterns; or going through a significant life event such as loss, trauma, or a major transition. If you find yourself wondering whether you might benefit from speaking to someone, that curiosity alone is often enough to reach out.
Your first session is largely a conversation. Kate will take time to understand what has brought you in, your background, and what you are hoping to get from therapy. There is no expectation that you share everything at once — the initial appointment is about getting to know each other and beginning to build the trust that underpins effective therapeutic work. Kate will also briefly outline how she works and what the process might look like for you going forward. New clients will have a short intake phone call with Kate before this first appointment, so you will already have had a chance to connect before you arrive.
Therapy can be helpful for a wide range of experiences, not only those in acute crisis. Signs that you might benefit from speaking with a psychologist include: feeling emotionally exhausted or numb for extended periods; withdrawing from people or activities you once enjoyed; using substances or other behaviours to cope with difficult feelings; recurring intrusive thoughts, memories, or nightmares; struggling to manage emotions in relationships or at work; or a general sense that something feels off, even if it is hard to name. You do not need to be at a breaking point to seek support.
Poor mental well-being can show up in many ways, and it often builds gradually rather than appearing all at once. Common signs include persistent low mood or irritability that is difficult to shake; disrupted sleep, whether sleeping too much or too little; changes in appetite or energy levels; difficulty concentrating or making decisions; increased worry or fear that feels hard to control; a sense of hopelessness or feeling disconnected from yourself and others; and withdrawing from relationships or responsibilities. Physical symptoms like headaches, tension, or unexplained fatigue can also be signs that your mental well-being needs attention. If several of these feel familiar, speaking with a psychologist is a good next step.