Dr. Leah Zelencich

Black and white professional headshot of Leah Zelencich, Clinical Psychologist in Melbourne, shoulders up, with a calm and warm expression.
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Dr. Leah Zelencich

(she/her)
“I offer a caring therapeutic relationship, ensuring that first and foremost you feel heard and accepted. Through collaborative exploration I seek to gain a holistic understanding of your concerns, which then guides our choice of evidence-based therapies and how they are applied. I believe therapy should be empowering, reconnecting you with your strengths and supporting meaningful change.”

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE

I work with adults experiencing a wide range of mental health concerns. I commonly support people with:

  • Impacts of trauma (including PTSD): Supporting recovery from single-incident and complex trauma, with an emphasis on safety, nervous system regulation, and rebuilding a sense of agency.
  • Emotion regulation difficulties: Assisting people to understand and respond to strong emotions in ways that feel more manageable and aligned with their needs.
  • Depression: Working collaboratively to reduce feelings of low mood, hopelessness, and disconnection, while supporting re-engagement with valued experiences.
  • Anxiety: Helping individuals navigate generalised anxiety, panic, phobias, and worry with practical, evidence-based strategies.
  • Neurodiversity and person–environment mismatch: Supporting neurodiverse people to understand their needs, reduce masking, and navigate environments that may feel invalidating or overwhelming.
  • Stress and burnout: Developing strategies to manage competing demands and support sustainable wellbeing.
  • Substance use: Providing harm-reduction informed support to explore the function of substance use and increase alternative coping strategies.
  • Adjustment and identity challenges: Assisting with transitions, identity development, and navigating changes in relationships, roles, or life circumstances.
  • Voice-hearing and other perceptual experiences (including psychosis): Working collaboratively to reduce distress and strengthen understanding, meaning-making, and coping.
  • Impacts of medical, physical, or cognitive health conditions: Supporting emotional adjustment, self-compassion, and quality of life.
  • Self-harm and/or suicidality: Providing compassionate, non-judgemental support focused on safety, understanding distress, and strengthening connection to life.

I have extensive experience working with adults in outpatient and community mental health services, primarily within the public sector. This has included specialist work focused on understanding and responding to the psychological and psychosocial drivers of suicidality. I have supported people navigating a range of complex and intersecting life circumstances, including family violence, workplace difficulties, medical conditions, grief and loss, financial or housing instability, substance use, and experiences of psychosis.

I am experienced in delivering neuro-affirming mental healthcare and value the opportunity to think creatively with clients to adapt therapy in ways that feel respectful, meaningful, and effective for them. Alongside my work at Cova Psychology, I currently work in a state-wide specialist trauma service.

I’m committed to creating a supportive environment for people of all identities and backgrounds. My approach is grounded in frameworks that attend to both internal and external influences on wellbeing, past and present, as well as the coping responses we develop to survive and make sense of our experiences. I work collaboratively to explore what change might look like and to support people in moving towards greater stability, connection, and agency in their lives.

THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES

My approach is collaborative, paced, and grounded in evidence-based practice. I aim to create a safe and validating environment where people feel supported to explore their experiences and make meaningful change. Therapy is tailored to each person’s needs, preferences, and goals.

  • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): a trauma-focused therapy that supports the brain to reprocess distressing memories, reduce emotional intensity, and build a sense of safety.
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): a structured approach that helps people examine beliefs formed during traumatic experiences and develop more flexible and compassionate ways of understanding themselves and the world.
  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): supporting individuals to gradually approach memories, situations, and emotions that have been avoided, reducing fear and distress while rebuilding confidence and agency.
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): helping people respond to difficult thoughts and feelings with openness, while taking actions aligned with personal values and quality of life.
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) principles: building skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and effective communication.
  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT): identifying unhelpful patterns in thoughts and behaviour, and developing more balanced and supportive ways of understanding and responding to experiences.
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed approach: exploring different parts of the self with curiosity and compassion, supporting a kinder and more connected relationship with oneself.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Monash University
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), La Trobe University

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  1. Zelencich, L., Wong, D., Kazantzis, N., McKenzie, D., Downing, M., & Ponsford, J. (2020). Predictors of anxiety and depression symptom improvement in CBT adapted for traumatic brain injury: Pre/post injury and therapy process factors. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. doi: 10.1017/S1355617719000791
  2. Zelencich, L., Kazantzis, N., Wong, D., McKenzie, D., Downing, M., & Ponsford, J. (2019). Predictors of homework engagement in CBT adapted for traumatic brain injury: Pre/post-injury and therapy process factors. Cognitive Therapy and Research. doi: 10.1007/s10608-019-10036-9
  3. Zelencich, L., Kazantzis, N., Wong, D., McKenzie, D., Downing, M., & Ponsford, J. (2019). Predictors of working alliance in CBT adapted for traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. doi: 10.1080/09602011.2019.1600554
  4. Kazantzis, N., Whittington, C., Zelencich, L., Kyrios, M., Norton, P. J., & Hofmann, S. G. (2016). Quantity and quality of homework compliance: A meta-analysis of relations with outcome in cognitive behavior therapy. Behavior Therapy. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2016.05.002
  5. Savvas, S., Zelencich, L., & Gibson, S. (2014). Should placebo be used routinely for chronic pain in older people? Maturitas, 79(4), 389-400. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.09.006

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

  • Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)