About Me
Hi, I’m Joy Weissenfeld, a clinical psychologist and ANZAED endorsed eating disorder clinician based in the Wollongong and Port Kembla area. With over a decade of experience within the mental health field, I have worked across a wide range of settings, including private practice, not for profit organisations, inpatient and outpatient settings and community mental health.
My path led me to focus on eating disorders and body image difficulties because I understand firsthand how all-encompassing these struggles can be. When so much mental energy is consumed by rigid rules and inner conflict, it is easy to feel as though you are being pulled further away from the person you want to be and the life you truly want to live.
Whether you are feeling caught in an exhausting cycle of restriction, bingeing, or a constant preoccupation with food and/or physical appearance - you don’t have to navigate this path alone.
In addition to eating disorders, I also work with adolescents and adults experiencing a broad range of psychological difficulties including anxiety disorders (such as social anxiety, generalised anxiety, panic, and specific phobias), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, mood disorders, chronic stress, perfectionism and significant life transitions.
Together, we can look beneath the surface to understand the thoughts, emotions and life experiences that might be keeping you stuck. Our work will focus on helping you cultivate a gentler relationship with your mind and body, building practical skills that allow you to step out of the struggle, reconnect with what genuinely matters to you, and work towards meaningful and sustained change.
My Approach
I believe therapy is most effective when it feels collaborative, compassionate and personalised - so you feel truly heard and respected. I am dedicated to providing an inclusive and non-judgmental environment, offering affirming care for all genders, sexualities, neurotypes, abilities, cultures, and backgrounds. My focus extends far beyond managing a diagnosis; the ultimate goal is to build a life that feels meaningful and authentic to you.
Because every individual carries a unique story, I look beyond symptoms to understand the person underneath. I integrate evidence-based treatments including Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-E), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills. This helps us to address immediate challenges while also gently healing longer-standing patterns and unhelpful core beliefs that may be getting in the way of what ultimately matters to you.
Grounded in a Health at Every Size (HAES®) framework, my practice actively rejects weight stigma and the focus on weight loss as a primary measure of health. Instead, I aim to promote body acceptance and compassionate self-care through a holistic, non-restrictive and weight neutral approach. Whether you are navigating the complexities of an eating disorder, body image concerns, or patterns of disordered eating, I am here to provide a steady hand to guide you through - helping create space where you can breathe, heal, and simply be.