Hi, I’m Della
I’m Della Zhang, a Registered Psychologist and the founder of Luma Psychology. I work with adults aged 18 and over.
Young people aged 15–17 are also welcome to enquire; each request is considered individually. If you are aged 15–17, or enquiring on behalf of someone in this age group, please book a free 15-minute phone consultation with Della to discuss whether Luma Psychology is a suitable fit.
You may be used to getting on with things, meeting expectations and being someone others rely on. Perhaps other people think you’re doing well, while you find yourself second-guessing decisions, replaying conversations or feeling that you should be coping better. Keeping things going can take more effort than anyone else sees.
There may also be a longer story behind how you feel today. Perhaps you grew up feeling you had to get things right, keep the peace or put your own needs aside. Difficult experiences or relationships may still be affecting how you see yourself, trust others or respond when things become stressful. You don’t have to call these experiences ‘trauma’ for them to matter here.
You don’t need to have it all worked out before we meet. You can start with whatever has been on your mind, even if it feels difficult to explain. I’ll take time to understand what life has been like for you, what matters to you and what you would like to be different.
My style is warm, honest and straightforward. I listen carefully, ask questions and share what I notice, while making room for your perspective. You know your own life in ways I don’t, and that matters in how we work together.
Sometimes we’ll focus on practical ways to make everyday life more manageable. At other times, it may help to explore earlier experiences or patterns that keep returning. We don’t have to explore everything at once, and you can choose what you feel ready to share. We can decide together where to begin and adjust as we go.
You don’t need to ‘get therapy right’. We can start where you are.
A little about my background
Before becoming a psychologist, I worked in business and marketing, progressing from entry-level roles into leadership positions. This gave me experience of different workplace cultures, expectations and relationships, and an appreciation of how closely work can become tied to our confidence and sense of ourselves.
I’ve also lived in several countries and now call Melbourne home. Living across different cultural settings has shaped my perspective on belonging, family expectations and the different meanings people attach to success, responsibility and asking for help.
I don’t assume that sharing a language or cultural background means sharing the same experience. I’ll take time to understand what matters to you and how your own background fits into the picture.
My clinical background and approach
My clinical work has included community mental health and specialist services, supporting adults affected by difficult relationships, traumatic experiences and significant life changes. I have also worked with people affected by war, displacement and the continuing impact of trauma within families.
Alongside this, I have experience providing cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in a specialist sleep clinic, and supporting adults in a multidisciplinary chronic pain service.
My work draws on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), schema-informed work and mindfulness-based strategies. The approach we take will depend on your needs, preferences and the goals we agree on together.
My doctoral research focuses on trauma-informed interviewing.
Thinking about working together?
You’re welcome to send a short appointment request and tell me a little about what you are looking for. A brief overview is enough, and I’ll contact you about the next step.