DR SANGEETHA MAKIELAN
MD (Hons), FRANZCP
Consultant Psychiatrist Psychotherapist

As a specialist medical doctor with extensive training in adult and child psychiatry, I take pride in providing an open-minded, safe space to help patients heal and grow. 

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The most effective therapy involves a tailor-made approach, which is why I personalise each of my talk therapy sessions. While medication has its role, life experiences, relationships, connections, successes, and failures are considered.

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Training and Qualifications

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After completing my medical degree I carried out my internship and my post-graduate medical training in Northern Ireland, UK.  Medical training was in the areas of General Medicine and Surgery, Cardiology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery. Then I commenced my specialist medical training in Psychiatry at the Maudsley (oldest psychiatry institution in the world) in London, United Kingdom. I worked at Maudsley Hospital, Guy’s Hospital and Bethlem Hospital in London before moving to the Gold Coast, Australia. In Gold Coast, I worked at Gold Coast University Hospital and Robina Hospital.

 

My specialist psychiatry training included experience working in a national children’s unit (UK), Perinatal and infant mental health services (including one of the few mother and baby units in Australia),  Child and adolescent mental health services, inpatient adult and old-age services, acute care services, early psychosis services, Consultation-Liaison services, rural and remote services in indigenous communities, mobile intensive psychiatric services and community adult psychiatry services.

 

On completion of my specialist training, I worked as a Child & Adolescent Consultant Psychiatrist (staff-specialist) at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, where I was responsible for the in-patient ward and training the next generation of Psychiatrists and doctors. I now work in private practice. I have a wealth of experience working with complex presentations in acute settings. I have been working with children, adolescents and adults across the lifespan.​

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• Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP)

• Accredited Member of the Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (FCAP)

• Holds an advanced certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

• Member of NSW section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry sub-committee of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)

• Member of the Faculty of Psychotherapy of RANZCP

• Hearing Member of the Medical Council.

• Royal Australian and New Zealand College (RANZCP) Accredited Supervisor (board-approved supervisor)

• Member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).

• Registered facilitator of the ‘Circle of Security’ Parenting Program 

• Registered facilitator for the ‘Tuning into Teens’ Parenting Program 

• Trained in autism diagnosis (ADOS-2 and ADI-R)

• Extensive training in Psychotherapy 

• Registered Facilitator for Westmead Feelings Program 2.

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In a nutshell:

 

• 15+ years of experience in psychiatry, supporting children, adolescents, and adults (including new mums) 

• Focus on psychotherapy, using medication only when appropriate and necessary

• Worked as Child & Adolescent Consultant Psychiatrist (staff-specialist) in public hospitals, including at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Westmead Hospital, Sydney.

• I currently run a private practice in Eastwood and Sydney CBD.

• Strongly believe the most effective treatment of children involves the entire family

• Passionate about early intervention in mental health

• Specialist interest in Psychotherapy (individual, parent-child, adult, family), Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT), couples therapy, giftedness and twice-exceptionality, play therapy, infant and perinatal psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry.