Damien Haines
Practice Locations: Hurstville, Leichhardt, Wentworthville
Healthshare Activity: 39 Answers
Professional Profile
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Bio
Damien Haines is a registered Psychologist who brings a warm and empathetic approach to therapy. He emphasises engagement in the world and encourages clients to find the choices they have where they see none. Damien has extensive experience helping adults with mood and anxiety disorders. He has two established practices in Hurstville and Leichhardt and continues to maintain a relationship with Northside West Clinic in Wentworthville.
If you are experiencing difficulties adjusting to significant changes in your life, suffer from depression, anxiety or bi-polar, experience panic attacks or are just not coping with life as well as you think you should, please make contact with Damien to arrange an appointment. -
Hospital Affiliations
Northside West Clinic
23-27 Lytton St
Wentworthville, NSW
2145 -
Registration Numbers and Professional Memberships
AHPRA Registration Number: PSY0001588635
Member of the APS (MAPS)
Associate Member of the APS Clinical College
WorkCover Endorsed: 10174
Medicare's Better Access to Mental Health Scheme Accredited -
Qualifications
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Psychology, Hons) UNSW
Masters of Psychology (Clinical) UWS -
Awards and Publications
Dadds, M. R.; Perry, Y; Hawes, DJ; Merz, S; Riddell, AC; Haines, DJ; Solak, E; Abeygunawardane, AI (2006). “Attention to the eyes and fear-recognition deficits in child psychopathy”. The British Journal of Psychiatry 189 (3): 280–1 - Areas Of Interest Stress Management Anger Management Anxiety Bereavement Bipolar Disorder Depression Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Panic Attacks Phobia Schizophrenia Suicide Prevention Bullying Insomnia Physical, Emotional and Sexual Abuse Postnatal Depression Relationships
Answers contributed by Damien Haines
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What natural remedies are used to treat anxiety?
There is nothing that you can take (prescription or otherwise) that will get rid of your anxiety. At best they will mask your anxiety. Your brain will still experience it, however, it will be reduced ... read more -
Side effects of anti-depressants. Should I stop to taking them?
Hi Aisun Good to see that you are on the path to improving your mental health. I'd just like to suggest that you minimise your usage of Atavan or any Benzodiazapiene. They are a great ... read more -
What are Cluster B personality disorders?
To your first question, there are three "Clusters" of personality disorders. Cluster A is sometimes called the "odd type", Cluster B is sometimes called the "dramatic" typeand Cluster C is sometimes called the "anxious" type. ... read more -
How can I care for my older sibling following a suicide attempt?
Hi Michelle Anne Here is a lost of links I have found that may be of help for you and your sistser. http://www.grow.net.au/index.php/grow-in-your-state/grow-nsw under Regional and you should find Lake Macquarie. Grow is a community ... read more -
What causes 'derealization' and how can I manage it?
Making the assumption that there are no biological reasons for this experience, it sounds that it is anxiety driven. When anxious one of the responses that our body has is to increase our breathing. If ... read more -
What causes 'derealization' and how can I manage it?
Hi Derealisation is where you feel disconnected from the world. Something similar is depersonalisation which is where you feel disconnected from yourself. Too much caffeine/nicotine can create this and is exacerbated by poor sleep. Ask ... read more -
What are general parenting tips for teenagers?
I would also add thinking about your attributions to your teenagers behaviours. If you see them as a lazy so and so, that is all you will see. I've found one of the most effective ... read more -
How can I care for my older sibling following a suicide attempt?
If you are comfortable giving your location or that of your sisters (not address just suburb or town etc) then I or others may be able to provide or suggest resoirces that are locally available ... read more -
How can i get my friend to seek professional help?
This is a really difficult place to be. Of course you can call her doctor, just remember that you cannot get any information from them (confidentiality), and that it may impact negatively on your relationship. ... read more -
What medication is available to help with stress management?
Unfortunately, there is no medication that will help with stress. He is stressed (from what you write) due to real things in his life. Until they change, and/or until he deals with them in a ... read more -
What types of behaviors would someone show when they are suicidal?
I thin the only thing I would add to the above is talking about feeling numb/detatched/unfeeling/cold. While the list above may indicate that someone has suicidal ideation, it may also mean that they just need ... read more -
What should one do when they see situations, feelings or behaviors in others that may indicate they have suicidal thoughts?
I could not agree more with the above post. While it may feel awkward discussing their suicidality, by normalising it it will help with increasing understanding. The lack of understanding is something I often hear ... read more -
Is my medication making me sleep?
This question would best be answered by a psychiatrist as they have the expertise to also be able to adjust them to minimise side-effects while maximise therapeutic effects - although not always to the outcome ... read more -
How can I care for my older sibling following a suicide attempt?
Hi MichelleAnn It sounds like you feel quite overwhelmed by these recent events, and quite unsupported by the mental health unit your sister attended. Having worked in private psychiatric hospitals I would suggest the following ... read more -
my depression has come back and have thoughts aboout suicide sometimes. What can i do, need help?
I agree with bluebutterfly above. It can be very difficult to find a mental health practitioner that you can relate to. I would suggest that you persist though. My suggestion always is to search for ... read more -
How can I manage SSRI withdrawal symptoms? (Zoloft)
This is really not my area of expertise. I would suggest though that you talk to your gp about the need to taper it so quickly. Is there a need to do this? A change ... read more -
how can you tell if your depressed or just sad?
You sound like you are in a terrible place. It sounds like an awful act of betrayal. I can also understand wanting to work as much as possible, I imagine it helps you to keep ... read more -
I think my mother is suffering from anxiety. How do I get her to a GP?
Hi It can be really difficult to encourage loved ones to access services that may be of benefit to them, I often encounter this with carers - and not just around mental health issues. I ... read more -
What is adjustment disorder?
Adjustment disorder is where someone has greater difficulty than others in dealing with a change in circumstances. I realise that that explanation doesn;t really help. It is probably best explained through examples. It is normal ... read more -
daughter has depression, moving home,new to mum, diagnosed recently
A good place for yourself to go is the Arafmi organisation in your state. They are there to help support those who care for people with a mental illness. Other links include http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12329/45891/45891.pdf ( a ... read more -
Exercising to eat... Please help?
Hi McKinley I agree with Melanie above. It sounds like you may be experiencing some form of eating disorder - ie you eating and your focus on what and how you eat is dysfunctional. I ... read more -
Wanting help suffer from a touch of BPD & PTSD overweight change life
Hi, it seems that you have a lot on your plate and probably feel like no time to do it in as well. Wanting to lose weight, cease smoking (?) , simplifying/reducing your medication (?), ... read more -
How does stress relate to the gut and immune system?
Anxiety/Stress suppresses ones immune function. There are numerous studies that have demonstrated that those who have higher levels of anxiety develop more illness. A video called "Stress - Portrait of a Killer" reports on a ... read more -
What are the side effects of Antidepressants?
Your local pharmacist is probably your best bet in regards to understanding your medication regime - including "herbal" medications whcih can also interact with what you are taking. I am also unaware of any link ... read more -
Why does depression seem so common among veterans?
The short answer to this question is that veterans are highly likely to be placed and have experienced highly stressful situations where they may at times be sleep deprived, fearful of their lives, running into ... read more -
Why do I suddenly feel so depressed?
Great, it sounds like you are making active decisions about your welfare. I would also add to your plan Lifeline's number (13 11 14) and visit their web site for additional supports in your area ... read more -
Post traumatic stress disorder symptoms
Hi Beanz I've listed at the bottem a link with a few resources you may find helpful. I am unsure what type of treatment you have received in the past, but from an evidence base ... read more -
Is my 6 year old son suffering clinical depression?
It would be better if you could find a child psychologist, rather than a generalist as this would mean you are more likely to get an expert treament rather than a general one. http://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist/ is ... read more -
What are deep breathing techniques that can help with anxiety?
Unfortunately, deep breathing exercises have no evidence to support their use. In fact they are often used as a placebo in experiments. When it is used as an aid when you expect anxiety, or when ... read more -
Can yoga help anxiety?
It is possible that yoga can be helpful with reducing anxiety. Yoga is a physical "mindfulness" activity - that is an activity that focusses your attention on body position, tension, relaxation etc. Mindfulness itself has ... read more -
Why do I suddenly feel so depressed?
It really sounds that you need help ASAP. It also sounds that you need something more than Cymbalta. Please talk to your GP about a suicide prevention plan. Ask your GP about community mental health ... read more -
Is my 6 year old son suffering clinical depression?
It is very difficult to answer your question with what you have written. There are a number of things that could explain what is going on with your son. They range from your concerns around ... read more -
My partner has depression and bipolar, where can I get support??
Hi cairnsfans. Carers are eligible for psychological assistance when they themselves are suffering from (as reported by their gp) a mental disorder covered by the Better Access Scheme. It is on my experience that many ... read more -
What if SSRI's and SNRI's Don't work?
I am making the assumption that you have been acurately diagnosed with those disorders. If so GAD is particularly "resistant" to pharmacotherapy and an isolated treatment. The combination of your disorders, in particular, would suggest ... read more -
My partner has depression and bipolar, where can I get support??
Hi Suzi480. Depending on the extent this is affecting your life you may be eligible for the Better Access Scheme under Medicare for psychological assitance (or search for a psychologist here www.psychology.org.au/findapsychologist). Alternatively, go to ... read more -
Major Depression - How do I know how I really feel??
Is it Depression, is it Anxiety, is it me? How can I trust my feelings and actions if I don't know what's causing them? The answer is unfortunately probably not that helpful: it is probably ... read more -
How effective is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in treating agoraphobia?
The short answer is very. The long (realistic) answer is far more involved. Effective treatment for agoraphobia relies on a number of variables such as how long the person has sufered from it, medications they ... read more -
How do I prevent a relapse of anxiety and depression?
It sounds to me that you have had a pretty difficult time of it for a while. Low motivation, poor sleep (too much) emotionally overwhelmed and it appears feeling a little hopeless. I do not ... read more -
What's wrong with me?
From what you have written it appears you may be suffering from a mood disorder, although without more information it is difficult to say anything more meaningful. It sounds to me that you feel that ... read more
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