About Dr Esme Dark
Dr Esme Dark is a holistic clinical psychologist, somatic psychotherapist and a nature lover. One of the places she feels most at home is in the ocean. She believes that wellness happens when we connect more deeply to our bodies, one another and the natural world.
Dr Esme Dark has spent the last 15 years working as a psychologist with people experiencing psychological distress. Her work is informed by a human rights lens, she uses this approach to work with clients from diverse backgrounds and works closely with the LGBTIQ+ community. She draws on a range of psychotherapeutic approaches including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems and Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy. In addition to these modalities Esme’s work is informed by eastern philosophy, nature-based practice, yoga and authentic movement.
Dr Esme Dark currently works as Trial Therapist as part of the Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab at Monash University. The team are investigating Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy to treat Generalised Anxiety Disorder. This is the first trial in the world to look at Psilocybin- assisted Psychotherapy as a treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and is the largest psychedelic research trial in Australia to date. She also joining the therapy team on the upcoming trial using MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy to treat PTSD in military veterans and first responders.
Esme is the founder of a private psychology practice based in Melbourne, Australia through which she runs therapeutic group programmes that draw on her skills in somatic psychotherapy, nature based practice and creative arts therapy. In addition to this she works therapeutically with adults and teens; provides clinical supervision and works as a wellbeing consultant for numerous organisations.
Prior to this work Esme spent 9 years working with refugee background clients in the UK, Thailand and Australia. She led the Child and Adolescent Team at the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture and Trauma. It was through this work that Esme became particularly interested in the imprints of trauma on the body and the impact this has on psychological health. Esme has provided training and consultation to hundreds of staff teams working in the mental health and trauma space across Australia and internationally.