Expert Psychological Services in Brisbane City – Vella & Co Psychology
Vella & Co Psychology is a private practice located in the leafy surrounds of Wickham Terrace, just moments from the heart of Brisbane City.
Founded by Lead Psychologist Kurt Vella, our team brings together over 40 years of collective experience, delivering high-quality psychological services both domestically and internationally. Our practice is built on a foundation of specialized expertise, enabling us to support your mental health and psychological wellbeing at every stage of life.
Why Choose Vella & Co Psychology?
We offer a range of treatment and assessment services informed by evidence-based approaches, including:
Developmental psychology
Attachment theory
Trauma-informed care
Mentalization-based therapy
Our goal is to provide a professional yet personal space where you can work collaboratively towards improved psychological functioning and emotional resilience.
Start Your Journey to Better Mental Health
Taking the first step towards therapy can feel daunting, but when you’re ready, you’ll find yourself in experienced and compassionate hands. Whether you’re looking for individual therapy, family support, or specialized assessments, we’re here to guide you.
Conveniently located on the fringe of Brisbane City, we welcome patients from across the region seeking effective, personalized mental health care.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or learn more about how we can support you.
Service Philosophy
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Our core approach and philosophy with all services offered is to be conducted in the utmost respect, ethical framework and professional manner. We take very seriously the need for safety, agency, and collaboration in any endeavour. Ultimately we rely on this foundation to build a therapeutic alliance that creates a stepping stone towards deeper understanding of yourself, and those around you. When you can heal, and grow, the flow on effect of this can be far reaching and enriching to the people with you and the world around you.
The Team
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Kurt Vella -
Director/
Psychologist
Over 15 Years of Experience as a Psychologist: I’ve had the privilege of working with people from all walks of life.
Diverse Professional Background: My career spans hospitals, schools, prisons, rural community centers, and private practice, giving me unique insights into a wide range of challenges and environments.
My Approach: I strive to create a space that is warm, understanding, and compassionate. My curiosity drives me to genuinely understand and connect with my clients.
Who I Work With: I welcome individuals and families from all backgrounds.
Inclusive Practice: I’m proud to provide a safe and affirming space for LGBTQIA+ clients.
Wide Range of Experience: I work with most mental health diagnoses and presentations, tailoring my approach to meet your unique needs. I’ve had extensive training in attachment, developmental psychology, trauma-informed care and Mentalization.
Specialized Skills:
Providing evidence-based individual and group psychological treatment.
Conducting thorough psychological assessments and formulating individualized care plans.
Delivering expert family court assessments and comprehensive report writing.
Availability: I’m here to support you in-person on Mondays, Tuesdays in the Brisbane Suites and Thursdays and Fridays via Telehealth
Trudy Chapman - Senior Psychotherapist
With over 30 years of experience, Trudy Chapman is a compassionate therapist with a special-focus in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and emotion dysregulation disorders. Her career spans private practice, public and private hospitals, and advanced training in Australia and the UK, making her a trusted professional in this complex area of mental health.
Trudy’s expertise includes:
- Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT): Enhancing emotional awareness, resilience, and relational understanding.
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Teaching practical skills for managing emotions and impulsivity.
- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: Providing deep, insight-oriented treatment to address underlying patterns.
- Supervision and Mentorship
Academic and Professional Excellence:
Trudy holds a Masters in Psychotherapy Studies (University of Kent, UK) and has trained in Psychodynamic Counselling (University of London) and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy with the Guild of Psychotherapists (UK). She also served as an Honorary Psychotherapist at the renowned NHS Maudsley Hospital in London.
Who Trudy Works With:
Trudy treats a wide range of mental health concerns, particularly complex and long-standing issues. She thrives in longer-term therapeutic relationships, tailoring care to each client’s unique needs.
Get In Contact:
If you or someone you care about is seeking help for Borderline Personality Disorder, emotion dysregulation, or related challenges, Trudy Chapman offers a supportive and professional space to begin healing. Contact Vella & Co Psychology today to learn more about working with Trudy.
Fee Schedule
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Psychologists:
Psychologist Initial Two Sessions (Assessment and Formulation) - $285 per session
Psychologist Subsequent Sessions - $250 per session
For court related assessment and report writing please enquire for Kurt’s availability and fee schedule.
Psychotherapists:
Psychotherapist Initial Two Sessions (Assessment and Formulation) - $185 per session
Psychotherapist Subsequent Sessions - $150 per session
Note: Psychotherapy sessions are not funded by Medicare or DVA, but can be subsidised through WorkCover or NDIS (plan managed and self-managed funding).
Rebates and Referrals
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Private (Out of Your Own Pocket) Funding:
No referral is needed for privately funded appointments, you can self refer and attend for as long as you see benefit and value in the endeavour.
Medicare Funding:
MENTAL HEALTH CARE PLANS: You can be assessed through your GP or Psychiatrist for eligibility for a Mental Health Care Plan. The referral provides up to ten subsidised sessions per calendar year. Usually you will be referred for an initial six sessions, upon which your Psychologist will write to your referring doctor with a clinical summary to request four further sessions.
TREATMENT CARE ARRANGEMENT: For those engaging with several health specialists (health specialists include psychologists, psychiatrists, dieticians etc.), a Treatment Care Arrangement (TCA) can be written by your GP giving additional rebates of $54.60 for 5 sessions per calendar year.
Private Health Insurance Funding:
Having private health insurance with an extras package often includes rebates for Mental Health services, but you would need to check with your plan. Also be mindful that you can’t use both medicare and private health funding at the same time, it’s either one or the other.
Department of Veteran Affairs Funding:
Your General Practitioner can refer you for 12 session blocks under a DVA Allied Health Treatment Cycle Referral. This can be reviewed and renewed at the end of each 12 session block providing there is enough evidence to suggest the appointments are treating your condition.
NDIS Funding:
We can accept both Plan Managed and Self Managed funding streams. And the amount of appointments will depend on how much of your funding you would like to dedicate to Psychology or Psychotherapy to build your capacity toward your goals.
Get in touch
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Mobile – 0499 006 518
Email – reception@vellapsychology.com
Location
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Ladhope Chambers, Suite 101, Level 1,
131 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane 4000
Parking & Transportation
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Street Parking: If you are driving in, your best bet for street parking (all within walking distance) is on:
- Turbot Street (between 9am and 4pm),
- Flynn St
- Berry St
- Sedgebrook St
- Terrace St
- Or further up Wickham Terrace towards Brisbane Private Hospital
Undercover Parking: There are several undercover parking complexes (Astor Terrace, Bartley Street, Little Edward Street and Wickham Terrace) which range between $20-$30. There's also bus and train stops very close.