Depth therapy for men, trauma, and the patterns that don't shift with CBT.
Schedule Your Free Discovery Call
I'm Sebastian Kitchen, a PACFA-registered integrative psychotherapist. I see clients at Manas Psychology in Kangaroo Flat — about 10 minutes south of Bendigo CBD via the Calder Highway — alongside my main practice in Kyneton and online. Most therapy across Bendigo defaults to clinical psychology with Medicare-rebated CBT — which is genuinely helpful for many people, but it isn't what every client needs.
I work with men, with trauma that hasn't responded to standard approaches, with ADHD and AuDHD adults, and with people who've used their Medicare sessions and want to keep going deeper. My approach is somatic, relational, and goes beyond talk — drawing on attachment theory, trauma-informed frameworks, and existential and person-centred approaches.
Sessions are in-person at the Kangaroo Flat consulting room. There's a free 15-minute discovery call before any commitment.
If you're looking for a therapist in Bendigo, you've probably noticed that most of what's available is Medicare-rebated psychology — structured, short-term, CBT-focused. That can be genuinely useful. But it's not the only thing people need from therapy, and it's often not enough for those dealing with trauma, complex relational patterns, or the kind of work that requires depth and time rather than a treatment protocol.
Bendigo waitlists for psychologists regularly stretch to several months. Many clients have already used their annual Medicare sessions, found them helpful up to a point, and are now looking for somewhere to take the next layer — something somatic, relational, longer-term. That's the work I'm trained for.
I live in the Macedon Ranges, just under an hour south of Kangaroo Flat, and travel up regularly. This is my region too — not a Melbourne practitioner running a satellite office.
Body-based healing for trauma, anxiety and chronic tension. Drawing on Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.
Including complex and developmental trauma. Gentle, nervous system-oriented work — not re-living the past.
When worry lives in your body as much as your mind. Somatic and relational approaches to genuine, lasting calm.
Understanding and shifting the patterns shaping how you love, connect, and relate to the people closest to you.
Reconnecting with meaning, energy and aliveness when life feels flat, heavy or disconnected.
Depth work for men navigating midlife, identity, or the gap between how they function and how they feel. Also ADHD and AuDHD adults.
My work is relational — the therapeutic relationship itself is a primary vehicle for healing. I'm not hidden behind clinical distance. I'm genuinely present with you, attuned to what you're experiencing, and committed to a real human connection in the room.
It's also somatic — I pay attention to what's happening in your body, not just what you're saying. The tension in your jaw, the way your breathing changes, a contraction in your chest — these are meaningful signals, and learning to work with them is often where the deepest healing occurs.
And it goes beneath the surface — we're not here to manage symptoms. We're here to understand what's underneath them, and to create lasting change rather than temporary relief.
This may be the right fit if you:
Have tried therapy before but felt something was missing
Want to work with your body and your mind together
Are ready for longer-term, open-ended work
Have used your Medicare sessions and want to continue
Value warmth and authentic connection over clinical distance
Are a man looking for a therapist who won't pathologise how you've coped
Are navigating ADHD or AuDHD and want more than strategies
The practice is at Manas Psychology, 3 Lansell Street, Kangaroo Flat VIC 3550 — about 10 minutes south of Bendigo CBD via the Calder Highway. Off-street parking is available.
If travel is difficult, online sessions are available via secure video throughout Australia and internationally.
Greater Bendigo is one of regional Victoria's largest centres — a city of roughly 130,000 with strong health, education, and creative sectors, set in the country of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. Kangaroo Flat is one of its southern suburbs, easily reached from Bendigo CBD, Eaglehawk, Big Hill, Lockwood, Marong, and the towns of the wider Loddon-Mallee region — Castlemaine, Maldon, Heathcote and beyond.
Therapy access in regional Victoria has historically been thinner than in Melbourne. Waitlists for psychologists in Bendigo regularly stretch to several months. Many clients have used their annual Medicare sessions, found CBT helpful but limited, and are looking for somewhere to take the next layer of work — somatic, relational, longer-term, or specifically male-attuned. That's the work I'm trained for.
I live in the Macedon Ranges, just under an hour south of Kangaroo Flat, and travel up regularly. This is my region too — not a Melbourne practitioner running a satellite office.
Manas Psychology, 3 Lansell Street, Kangaroo Flat VIC 3550 — about 10 minutes south of Bendigo CBD via the Calder Highway. Off-street parking is available. Kangaroo Flat station (V/Line Bendigo line) is a short walk from the practice.
No referral is required. You can self-refer directly by booking a free discovery call through the website or calling 0490 333 809. GPs and other practitioners can also refer patients directly.
As a PACFA-registered psychotherapist rather than a psychologist, I operate as a private-pay practitioner — Medicare rebates do not apply. However, some private health funds offer partial rebates for PACFA-registered practitioners. Many clients find this works well, particularly those who have already used their annual Medicare psychology sessions and want to continue their work.
Psychologists in Bendigo typically work within Medicare-rebated frameworks — structured, short-term, CBT-focused. That can be genuinely helpful. But it's often not enough for people dealing with trauma that hasn't responded to standard approaches, complex relational patterns, or the kind of work that requires depth and time. My work is relational, somatic, and open-ended. We work with what's happening in your body and in the room — not just talking about your problems from a distance.
Men's therapy is a specific focus of my practice. I work with men in midlife, men navigating relationship breakdown, men who carry trauma they've never had a context for, and men who function well on the outside while something is coming apart inside. I see clients of all genders — but I've trained specifically in men's work, and I notice it in the room.
Yes. The Kangaroo Flat practice is easily accessible from across the Bendigo region — CBD, Eaglehawk, Big Hill, Lockwood, Marong — and from Castlemaine, Maldon, and Heathcote. For clients further afield, online sessions are available throughout Australia and internationally.
Psychologists typically hold a postgraduate degree in psychology and are registered with AHPRA. They often work with structured, evidence-based protocols like CBT. Psychotherapists train specifically in the therapeutic relationship itself, often with deeper training in modalities like somatic therapy, attachment work, and existential approaches. Both are qualified mental health professionals — the difference is often in approach and depth. I'm registered with PACFA (Reg. #32932), the peak body for psychotherapists and counsellors in Australia.
I'm an integrative psychotherapist based in Central Victoria. My clinical work draws from somatic psychology (Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy), attachment theory, trauma-informed approaches, and existential and person-centred frameworks. I have a particular interest in men's therapy and in working with ADHD and AuDHD adults who want more than strategies.
I work under clinical supervision with Dr Tra-ill Dowie PhD, ensuring your therapy meets the highest standards of care and accountability.
Free 15-minute discovery call. Let's talk about what brings you here and whether we're a good fit.
I offer a free 15-minute discovery call so we can talk about what brings you here and whether we're a good fit. Kyneton, Bendigo, or online — I'd love to hear from you.
Schedule Your Free Discovery CallServing Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk, Big Hill, Lockwood, Castlemaine, Maldon, Heathcote, and surrounding Central Victoria communities.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9am–6pm
Locations: Kyneton • Bendigo / Central Victoria • Online in Australia or internationally
