- Person-centred focus
- Values and boundaries
- Practical steps
About Jacob
Jacob Mangelsdorf is a counsellor with 18 years' practical experience. He has worked since 2008 with people facing relationship strain, addiction, loss, trauma and everyday stress. Jacob writes plainly and directly in sessions and focuses on helping people move toward the life they want.
He starts by looking at a person's context and history. That includes family of origin wounds, childhood and adult trauma, and patterns that keep repeating. Jacob uses a compassionate inquiry style to help clients understand why they feel stuck and where their stress comes from.
From that shared understanding he helps people set clear, achievable goals. He supports development of values, boundaries and practical steps to make change. He draws on person-centred, holistic ideas and mixes in elements of ACT, DBT, CBT, Gottman couples ideas and family therapy when those approaches suit the person.
He has particular experience working with loss and grief, including issues connected to suicide and suicide intervention. He also works with addictions and supports people dealing with relationship breakdown, communication problems and family issues. Jacob particularly enjoys working with men who want more fulfilling relationships and clearer life direction.
Outside work he is a husband and father of two. Running, music and time with friends and family are important parts of his self-care and feed into his approach with clients.
Approaches that guide online work and progress
Jacob blends person-centred, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) elements in his practice. Person-centred work focuses on listening and understanding each person's story to build trust and direction. ACT helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values, useful for anxiety and avoidance. CBT offers practical skills to change unhelpful thinking and behaviours, which can help with panic, stress and addiction.Finding the best approach is part of the process. Jacob will work with clients to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change as needs evolve over time.
If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking as formats are not documented here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also makes accessing a therapist in Australia simpler when geography or work schedules are a barrier. Appropriately qualified or registered professionals can adapt exercises, homework and progress checks to work well across remote sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Jacob commonly help with?
He commonly helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationships, family and trauma and abuse related difficulties.
What is his therapeutic style like?
Jacob uses a compassionate inquiry approach and a person-centred, holistic starting point to understand what keeps someone stuck and to set practical goals.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has been practising as a counsellor since 2008, giving him 18 years of experience supporting a wide range of concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is listed with PACFA and practices in Australia.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside Australia work with him?
He is not currently accepting international clients.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a therapy connection?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule according to therapist availability.