About Brendan McMahon, Brisbane Psychologist and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist.
Brendan McMahon
B, Psych (Hons), MAPS
Registered Psychologist, and Psychotherapist
Brendan McMahon
I am a fully-registered, Brisbane-based psychologist and psychodynamic psychotherapist with over 15 years of experience in the fields of psychology, counselling and psychotherapy and primarily conduct psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy. My practice is centrally located at Silverton Place on Wickham Terrace in the Brisbane CBD. I have experience in private practice, inpatient psychiatric settings, community organisations, research, and teaching psychology students in a university. I have experience with all age groups; however, my current focus is on adult psychotherapy with individuals aged 18 years and older. I completed my qualifications in psychology at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane. My pronouns are: he/him/his.
I am registered with the Australian Health Practioner Regulation Agency’s (AHPRA) Psychology Board of Australia and am a full member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). I am also a member of the APS Psychoanalytically Oriented Psychologists Interest Group (POPIG) and previously held the position of national web editor with POPIG. I was previously employed as a sessional academic in the School of Psychology and Counselling at QUT. I am also an international affiliate member of the American Psychological Association (APA), which is the world's leading body for the science and practice of psychology.
In addition to the provision of adult psychotherapy, I am also a Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisor for provisional psychologists undertaking the 5+1 pathway towards full-registration as a psychologist. I also conduct psychoanalytic supervision that is of a more collegial nature with other psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, and others who work in health care for professional and personal development purposes. To learn about this click here.
I am a member of a number of other organisations devoted to psychology and psychotherapy and these are listed below. I was a former committee member of the C.G. Jung Society of Queensland and have an active interest in Jungian and Post-Jungian Psychoanalysis/Analytical Psychology as well as contemporary American psychoanalysis. I have also published peer-reviewed research on spirituality and anxiety via QUT, and I have an active interest in the intersection of psychology, psychotherapy, spirituality, and religion. As a psychologist, I am registered with Medicare for the provision of psychological services and am also registered with most major private health funds.
I work primarily with thoughtful adults who are seeking a deeper understanding of themselves, whether they are navigating distress, life transitions, relationship challenges, or questions of meaning and purpose. Some people come with clearly defined difficulties, while others come with a sense that something in their lives feels unsettled or unclear. My aim is to provide a reflective and compassionate space where these experiences can be explored at a pace that feels right for you.
Problems and issues I work with
My focus is on adult psychotherapy. People seek therapy for many different reasons, sometimes because they are struggling, and sometimes because they are seeking deeper understanding or growth. I offer a thoughtful and compassionate space to explore concerns such as:
Emotional distress and inner experience
Depression
Anxiety
Low self-esteem, self-worth, and self-image
Shame
Burnout
Obsessionality
Self-Sabotage
Trauma and developmental History
Psychological Trauma and PTSD
Relational Trauma and Narcissistic Abuse
Childhood Issues
Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
Attachment Difficulties
Abandonment
Life Transitions and Meaning
Adjustment Difficulties
Mid-Life Concerns
Existential Issues and Questions
Life Meaning
Difficult Life Transitions
Relationships and identity
Relationship Difficulties and Relationship Patterns
Sexuality and Gender, Including LGBTIQ Issues
Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM) sometimes called Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM) and Relationship Diversity (e.g. Open Relationships, Swinging - sometimes referred to as “The Lifestyle” or “Swinger Lifestyle”- and Polyamory)
Sexual Difficulties and Pleasure (I am also kink friendly and have experience working with persons who engage in BDSM)
Spirituality and depth exploration
Spiritual and Religious Concerns, Including Religious Trauma, and Spiritual Abuse
Cult and High Control Group Involvement and Recovery (Either yourself or a loved one)
Impact of Conspiracy Theories and Belief Systems
Dreams
Personal Growth and Personal Development
Creativity
I also see persons who do not have a psychological or psychiatric diagnosis and wish to engage in personal and self-development and explore issues of life meaning, spirituality, creativity, lack of passion in life, difficult life transitions, and existential issues. I also believe that life is meant to be enjoyed and can be fun and am happy to help you work on things that prevent you from doing this.
Many of these are people who work in creative industries, or they may be in high pressure executive roles or medical professionals and may find that they are becoming burnt-out and that life is lacking that certain spark that it used to have. I also work with people who have difficulty in prioritising their own self-care and need a special space to attend to their own needs as they continue to balance the demands of their career, family, and other aspects of life.
My approach is collaborative, reflective, and paced according to each person’s needs. I aim to create a space where difficult experiences can be explored safely and thoughtfully.
My work is grounded in a contemporary psychoanalytic/psychodynamic framework which is influenced by the following schools of psychoanalytic thought: Jungian and Post-Jungian Psychoanalysis, Object Relations, Intersubjective Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalytic Self-Psychology, and Relational Psychoanalysis. However I also incorporate ideas and interventions from other schools of therapy such as Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Mindfulness Based Interventions, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), where appropriate.
To learn more about Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Psychotherapy click here
Finding the right therapist is a personal decision. You are welcome to take your time in considering whether my approach feels like a good fit.