Dragana Mandic, PACFA

Dragana Mandic is a PACFA-registered counsellor who focuses on creating a steady, practical space for people facing stress, anxiety, depression and parenting challenges. He uses a warm, collaborative style to help clients make sense of difficult feelings and find workable steps forward. Dragana also supports those dealing with trauma, abuse and relationship strain, including issues around separation and blended family dynamics.

With ten years of experience in community and family service settings, Dragana has spent much of his career supporting vulnerable people and children through child-inclusive practice. He combines straightforward tools from cognitive behavioural therapy with attachment-based ways of understanding relationships. Sessions involve listening, mapping problems, and practising small changes that build coping and resilience.

Dragana draws on elements of dialectical behaviour therapy and emotionally-focused therapy when emotion regulation or connection work is needed. He keeps language simple and practical so people can use new skills between sessions. His practice emphasises respect and collaboration rather than rigid techniques.

People often come for help with parenting stress, communication breakdowns, abandonment or attachment concerns, and the emotional impact of chronic illness or major life changes. Dragana tailors the pace and focus to each person’s situation, helping them set clear, achievable goals.

Sessions are offered in English, Croatian and Serbian. He works from Australia and follows professional standards set by PACFA. Before booking, readers should confirm current session formats and scheduling options.

Approaches that suit online and face-to-face work

Attachment-based work looks at patterns in close relationships and how early bonds affect current reactions. It helps when worry, abandonment fears or trust issues make relationships feel unstable. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with small experiments or practical exercises to reduce anxiety and low mood. Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) helps people name and shift strong emotions tied to relationships, which can improve connection and reduce repeated conflicts.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That choice can be reviewed and adjusted as progress is made, so care stays relevant to changing needs.

Session formats are not detailed in the original biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It also makes attendance possible when someone is managing chronic illness, caregiving duties or limited mobility. Appropriately qualified counsellors can use these approaches effectively whether sessions are online or in person, and the therapist will discuss practical arrangements when arranging the first appointment.