Paul Reid

Psychotherapist & Lacanian Psychoanalyst

Paul Reid is a PACFA registered psychotherapist and Lacanian psychoanalyst with more than 15 years of clinical experience. He works with individuals and couples online, available to clients across Australia and to Australians living abroad. His practice draws on extensive training in Lacanian psychoanalysis — a rigorous, depth-oriented tradition that prioritises genuine understanding over symptom management.

Training and Background

Paul holds a Diploma in Counselling and Communication, a Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling), and has completed postgraduate theoretical and clinical studies in Lacanian psychoanalysis. Lacanian analytic training is distinguished from most counselling and psychotherapy training by its scope and demands: it involves years of theoretical study, ongoing clinical supervision, and the requirement that the analyst undertake their own personal analysis. This is not optional additional learning — it is a foundational requirement of the training itself. Paul has fulfilled each of these requirements over the course of his clinical career.

Before establishing his private practice, Paul worked in community mental health settings, developing clinical experience across a broad range of presentations. That experience, combined with his psychoanalytic training, informs an approach that is both practically grounded and theoretically rigorous. Paul continues his professional development through ongoing supervision and engagement with the psychoanalytic and psychotherapy community in Australia.

Approach

Paul's work is speech-based. There are no worksheets, no structured homework tasks, and no symptom-management protocols to follow between sessions. The aim of therapy is understanding — understanding your history, your patterns, what drives your choices, and what makes certain difficulties so persistent.

This is work that takes the unconscious seriously. Lacanian psychoanalysis, developed from the work of Jacques Lacan and building on Freud, holds that much of what determines how we live — our fears, our desires, our recurring problems — operates beneath the level of conscious awareness. It pays close attention to language and speech: not just what you say, but how you say it, what you avoid, what returns despite your best efforts to leave it behind.

In practice, this means Paul follows the client's lead rather than imposing a framework. Sessions are exploratory, not structured. The pace and direction of the work are determined by what is most alive, most pressing, or most difficult for you.

Who Paul Works With

Paul works with adults experiencing a wide range of difficulties, including:

If you are unsure whether your concern is something Paul works with, contact him directly — he is happy to discuss it before you commit to an appointment.

Online Practice

Paul works exclusively online via secure video call. This is not a contingency arrangement — it is how he practises. Online sessions offer the same depth, quality, and therapeutic relationship as any other format, and the flexibility of online work means Paul is accessible to clients wherever they are: across Victoria, interstate, and to Australians living overseas.

Learn more about online therapy with Paul

Registration

Paul is a Clinical Member of PACFA — the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. PACFA is the national peak body for the counselling and psychotherapy profession in Australia. Clinical Membership is the highest individual membership category, requiring practitioners to meet stringent standards in training, supervised clinical hours, and ongoing professional development. Checking that your therapist holds PACFA Clinical Membership — or an equivalent registration — is one of the most reliable ways to verify their professional standing.

How to Book

To enquire or book an appointment, use the booking link below or visit the contact page. No referral is required.

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