Accredited clinical psychotherapist

I work with individuals who might struggle with the complexities and uncertainties of life. These experiences may feel elusive, messy or chaotic, silently eroding key areas of our existence, slowly draining life from colours and flow. Over time, a life with no colour and flow could impact our overall sense of wellbeing.

Why Sfumato? – Sfumato was one of the models of painting during the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci described it as “without lines or borders, in the matters of smoke or beyond the focus plane”.

Sfumato Psychotherapy reflects this principle – what wishes to be seen is beyond the daily focus. In the sfumato of life, the healing figures of our imagination hide by day and walk by night; they speak when we lose ourselves in play in order to be found again.

Vassilka Vass Dimitrova-Isbell

Approach

  • About me and how I work

    My approach is trauma informed, relational and rooted in the Psychodynamic framework; I draw on the immediacy and richness of the therapeutic relationship. This allows both of us to engage in creative conversations. I incorporate variety of modalities, such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT Skills, ACT and others, to meet your needs because working with complex trauma requires a multimodal approach.

    I don't administer cures or give tips for quick fix. I believe healing is deeply creative process occurring within the therapeutic relationship, involving both client and therapist.I work with the whole person and I am interested in what happened to you, but also in what didn't happen. I welcome painful stories, I also welcome your interests, passions, and dreams, and what makes you get up every single day. One of the aims of my approach is to make all aspects of your life experiences feel safe in the therapeutic space.

    ... What a beautiful adventure!

  • My experiences and interests

    I have been living in Australia since 1999. My formal training in the counselling field began in 2008. Since then, I have attended many, many professional development workshops and courses, short and long. I am experienced in working with people presenting with Complex Trauma and related issues, such as BPD, dissociative disorders, other mental health concerns, domestic and family violence.

    My background and interests in the Performing and Creative Arts, World Literature and Cinematography, fuel my understandings of life, and ultimately my approach to the inner life of us.

    Research interests
    I have strong interest in the life of the dream, creativity, and play.

  • Qualifications and Accreditation

    Relevant Qualifications:
    * MCAP (Applied Psychotherapy), Jansen Newman Institute

    Other related training:
    *Sandplay Therapy, STANZA
    *Psychodynamic Training, Mandala

    Other Qualifications:
    * MA Creative Writing, UNSW
    * BA Theatre (Rhetoric), Sofia Bulgaria

    Memberships:
    * PACFA, clinical

  • In emergency

    If you find yourself in a crisis situation, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    If your life (or that of another) is in an immediate danger, please dial 000.

    Free telephone counselling services:

    * NSW Rape Crisis: 1800 424 017
    * Kids Helpline: 1800 55 180
    * Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
    * Mensline: 1300 789 978