Meet Allan Owens, Principal Psychologist
Me? I live in the local area (near BREED Nirimba Fields). Outside my clinic room, I enjoy martial arts, BBQ cooking, camping, and quality time with friends and family. I am a proud Dad.
Philosophy: I enjoy supporting my clients and serving as their mirror as we partner to find ways forward. My client is the expert in them.
Background: My professional background is in psychology and high-pressure business settings. After nearly fourteen years of part-time study, I achieved registration as a Psychologist. I have worked in private practice for years and love holding space for my clients.
My clients: I work with adults (16 years and older). I partner with adults on issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, workplace stress, life transitions, and personal growth. I provide couples therapy and executive coaching. My clients and I partner on the “heavy lifting” of our collaboration, which helps my clients find clarity and direction.
How We Work Together
At Kintsugi Wellbeing Psychology, I serve as your mirror. This mirror reveals your hidden strengths and potential, while identifying unhelpful patterns that may be holding you back. As your mirror, I love assisting you in connecting the dots through collaboration. Like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which repairs broken pottery with gold, we’ll turn your struggles into strengths.
I bring valuable business and life experience to our sessions. I understand the pressures of balancing career demands, relationship issues, and life’s surprises. I’ve worked with clients suffering from anxiety that disrupts their sleep and depression that feels heavy. I understand the toll that workplace stress takes on you and what helps alleviate it. I will help you identify and shape the cycle of repetitive relationship patterns.
My approach is simple:
- We will work together to untangle complicated feelings and thoughts.
- I’ll challenge you when needed, respecting your capacity and readiness for change or new perspectives on the world.
- Depending on your challenges, you’ll get practical tools to use right away. Some people want a sounding board – no problem.
- You and I focus on helping you feel capable of handling life’s twists and turns.
Understanding What You’re Going Through
If you’re here, you might feel overwhelmed. You could be lying awake at night, your mind racing. You might feel trapped in your career. Or you may be stuck in a relationship with the same problems, no matter how hard you try. There may be trauma or hurts that you hide or try to diminish. Or you distract yourself in many ways to hold complicated feelings at bay.
You may think, “I should handle this myself,” or wonder if therapy is for you.
I understand. I’ve been there too.
My Journey to Psychology
My path to becoming a psychologist was not a straightforward one. This experience helps me guide others through their complex journeys. I grew up on the Central Coast, enjoying surfing and nature equally as a child. After my undergraduate degree in Business, I moved to Sydney to start my business career.
For over two decades, I worked in high-pressure business roles. First, as a data analyst, I designed complete systems for my teams. Then, when my son was born, I worked as an IT trainer, training adult learners in new computer systems. I also lead teams of people in high-pressure project environments.
I loved holding space for people, seeing their “A-ha!” moments as they learned new concepts. I did my fourth-year psychology thesis in these “A-ha!” moments. I enjoyed studying “what’s right with people” rather than “what’s wrong with people.” This more positive viewpoint permeates my professional practice.
Years later, I transitioned from leading a team of trainers to a role as an organisational change manager. Since then, I have led complex organisational changes. I gained exposure working at the executive level. Through this, I have gained an understanding of leadership pressures and performance challenges. I also coached executives in performance psychology. Loving a challenge, I helped teams navigate conflict situations throughout my studies in psychology, which spanned over fourteen years.
I know what it’s like to push through burnout, feel the need to prove myself, and carry the weight of responsibility while balancing work and life. I have been both a boss and an individual contributor. I have endured career setbacks and wondered where to take my career. As I evolved, I suffered from impostor syndrome.
During those years, I was also a husband and father. I learned to navigate marriage and raise a teenager. No parent gets through those times unscathed! While I have written extensively about my career, being a father and partner holds even greater significance. All these life experiences bring me the perspectives I offer to you as my client. Like many clients, I found that success in one area doesn’t guarantee fulfilment. Nor does success in one part of my life mean I have not had lessons to learn to improve in other parts of my life.
Why I Became a Psychologist
My passion is evident after years of guiding organisations and people through change. It’s all about helping individuals on their journeys. I completed the six years of full-time equivalent training to become a Psychologist. Due to my full-time work schedule, this took me fourteen years. This extra time was worth it, as I enjoyed immersing myself in each university subject while learning from life experiences. Will you find me to be a walking textbook? No. My evidence-based training is always there. But my attunement to your needs and being your mirror is vital for our partnership to flourish.
My background enables me to understand the unique pressures that adults face today. These include stress at work, changing careers, and managing relationships while aiming for their goals. Being a Psychologist is a vocation to me – it is a privilege to work with you.
How I Work With Clients
I act as your mirror, helping you see patterns and possibilities you might miss. My approach is collaborative because you are the expert on your life. My job is to help you connect the dots. I’ll help you create practical strategies and resilience for life’s challenges.
Using methods like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotion-Focused Therapy, I help you to:
- Untangle complicated thoughts and feelings
- Develop practical tools for immediate use
- Build confidence to handle challenging situations
- Turn struggles into sources of strength
Ready to Start Your Journey?
If you’re tired of feeling stuck and ready for real change, I’d be honoured to work with you. My clients often say they wish they had reached out sooner.
Currently accepting new clients for Saturday appointments at BREED Quakers Hill (from September 2025).
The Japanese art of Kintsugi transforms broken pottery with golden repair. We work together to turn your struggles into strengths, lacing your broken with gold.