Hennessy Clinical Psychology

Hennessy Clinical Psychology Clinical Psychologist, Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, NDIS, DVA.

MPsych (Clin), BPsych (Hons I), MAPS FCCLP
David has worked in a range of mental health and physical health settings, including inpatient acute psychiatric and psychiatric residential rehabilitation, acute medical health psychology and physical rehabilitation, community mental health case management, and private practice. David also spent eight years with Lifeline across counselling, supervision, and training roles. David has worked in a range of mental health and physical health settings, including: inpatient acute psychiatric and psychiatric residential rehabilitation, acute medical health psychology and physical rehabilitation, community mental health case management, and private practice. David is experienced in working psychotherapeutically to assist clients experiencing:

Complex adult mental health presentations
Schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder​
Adjustment to physical/medical health issues​
Persistent pain
Trauma and complex trauma
Mood and anxiety disorders
Phobias
Obsessions and/or compulsions
Substance use and addiction
Grief and loss

27/01/2026

Psychology and Adult ADHD
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist, Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, QLD

Adult ADHD is often overlooked or misattributed. Many people have lived with symptoms for years—difficulty starting tasks, regulating emotions, staying focused, or managing daily structure—without knowing why.

A diagnosis can bring clarity, and therapy can support people in reconnecting with their strengths.
Psychologists can help with emotion regulation, time management, and understanding ADHD through a neurodiversity-affirming lens.

Medication is coordinated through a psychiatrist, while psychological therapy complements care with practical and emotional strategies.

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Local therapy in Varsity Lakes
Telehealth available anywhere in Australia
Appointments via: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/contact/

🔗 Read more: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/psychology-and-adult-attention-deficit-disorder/

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26/01/2026

Me Time Improves Work Time
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist, Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, QLD

Sustainable productivity does not come from constant effort alone. Recovery plays a central role in how we think, regulate emotions, and make decisions.

Research shows that regular time for rest and psychological detachment improves focus, reduces burnout risk, and supports long-term wellbeing. This applies across many roles, including work, study, and caring responsibilities.

Simple practices such as walking, pausing for meals, and marking the end of the workday can make a meaningful difference.

Local therapy in Varsity Lakes
Telehealth available anywhere in Australia

The easiest way to make an appointment is on our website:
https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/contact/

Read further:
https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/me-time-improves-work-time/

25/01/2026

Therapy for Phobias in Varsity Lakes
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist, Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, QLD

Main Text:
Do you experience intense fear of things like flying, spiders, needles or lifts?
You’re not alone, and support is available.

At Hennessy Clinical Psychology, we provide respectful, evidence-based therapy for people with phobias.

Treatment is paced gently, and always with care.
From exposure therapy to skills for managing anxiety, we help you reclaim confidence and return to the parts of life fear may have taken away.

📍 Local therapy in Varsity Lakes
📱 Telehealth available anywhere in Australia

The easiest way to make an appointment is on our website:
🔗 https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/contact/

Read further:
https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/therapy-for-phobias-varsity-lakes/

24/01/2026

Nature and the Nervous System
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist, Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, QLD

Listening to nature, looking at nature, and feeling nature all matter.

When we intentionally pay attention to birdsong, moving water, wind through trees, sunlight on skin, or the rhythm of waves, the autonomic nervous system begins to settle.

This kind of intentional engagement with nature supports:
• Reduced physiological stress
• Improved emotional regulation
• Increased parasympathetic nervous system activity
• A greater sense of grounding and calm

Nature helps not only because we are outside, but because we are present and attentive.

Slow down.
Look.
Listen.
Feel.

Your nervous system is paying attention.

Read further: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/the-mental-health-benefits-of-nature/

David the clinical psychologist in Varsity Lakes
The easiest way to book an appointment with me is online:
hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/contact/

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23/01/2026

Surviving in Adversity, Surrounded by Beauty
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

Comfort and discomfort are constants in life.
When adversity is high, it can feel as though pain is too large and our capacity to cope is too small.

Noticing beauty does not stop the pain.
It can help steady us.

A sunrise over the ocean.
The sound of birds.
The quiet presence of another person.

Like daisies growing on volcanic rock, resilience and beauty can coexist, even in harsh conditions.

You do not need to force gratitude or positivity.
You can simply make space for both pain and beauty.

Both belong.
Both are part of being human.

Read Further: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/surviving-in-adversity-surrounded-by-beauty/

Enquiries and appointments
https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/contact/





21/01/2026

The Psychology of Fun

As adults, it is easy to lose touch with the playful part of ourselves.
Life can start to feel heavy, structured, or predictable.

Psychological research shows that light hearted play supports emotional balance, helps the nervous system settle, and strengthens connection with others.

Fun is not childish.
It is part of being human.

Small moments matter.
A playful movement, a laugh, time in nature, or doing something simply because it feels enjoyable can help us reconnect with parts of ourselves that feel open and alive.

You do not need more pressure.
Sometimes you just need permission.

Read further:https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/the-psychology-of-fun/

Psychology for adolescents and adults.
Hennessy Clinical Psychology | Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, QLD





20/01/2026

The Mental Health Benefits of Nature
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist
Gold Coast, Varsity Lakes

Spending time in nature supports mental health by lowering stress, calming the nervous system, and helping us think more clearly.

Walking among trees, along a river, or near the ocean gives your mind space to reset.

Nature is not a luxury.
It is part of sustainable mental health.

If you are feeling burnt out, anxious, or emotionally flat, small moments in nature can help.

Read more about the health benefits of nature: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/the-mental-health-benefits-of-nature/

The easiest way to book an appointment with me is online:
hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/contact/





20/01/2026

Regular gentle exercise and psychological health
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

You do not need an intense exercise program to support your mental health.
Research shows that even modest, regular physical activity such as walking is associated with lower risk of depression and better emotional wellbeing (2, 4).

Walking helps by
• settling the nervous system
• reducing stress and emotional tension
• improving attention and mental clarity
• supporting mood regulation
• encouraging gentle, values consistent self care

Time spent walking in nature appears to add further benefits, including improved mood and reduced stress (1, 3).

For many people, a realistic starting point is five to ten minutes on most days. The aim is not perfection. It is consistency, kindness, and choosing something that fits your life.

If walking is difficult due to pain, disability, or safety concerns, similar gentle movement or supported outings may offer comparable benefits. A psychologist can help tailor this to your circumstances.

David Hennessy
Clinical Psychologist
Psychology for adolescents and adults

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Read further: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/regular-walking-and-psychological-health/





19/01/2026

Psychology and Humour: More Than Just a Laugh
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

In clinical practice, humour is often underestimated. But the evidence is clear:

Humour can reduce cortisol, boost dopamine, serotonin and endorphins, and create meaningful psychological shifts in mood, perspective, and regulation.

Intentional humour is:

✅ A stress buffer
✅ A connection enhancer
✅ A reset for the nervous system

As psychologists and mental health professionals, we must differentiate between inclusive, connecting humour and sarcasm that deflects or divides.

🔗 Full article: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/the-grass-is-always-greener/

🧠 David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist
📍 Varsity Lakes, QLD

18/01/2026

The Grass Is Always Greener. Or Is It?
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

Social comparison is part of being human. We look outward to gauge how we’re doing, and modern life (especially social media) can intensify that reflex.

Two psychological processes often fuel the “greener elsewhere” feeling:
• Social comparison: measuring our lives against what we see in others
• Hedonic adaptation: quickly adjusting to improvements, then wanting the next thing

The result can be a quiet erosion of contentment.

A more balanced reframe:
Instead of asking “Is it greener over there?” ask “How can I care for the ground I’m on?”

Practical steps I often recommend:
• Gratitude as a daily attention-training practice
• Values-based actions that are small, repeatable, and meaningful
• Curiosity (not envy) when others succeed
• A reminder that every lawn has weeds up close

Read further:https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/the-grass-is-always-greener/

David Hennessy | Clinical Psychologist | Gold Coast (Varsity Lakes)

17/01/2026

Varsity Lakes Psychologist

Looking for a psychologist can often come after a long period of “trying to manage” on your own.

Many people come to therapy feeling worn down rather than broken. Anxiety, low mood, burnout, trauma, grief, or ongoing stress can quietly build over time, especially when life keeps moving and there is little space to pause.

Therapy is a place to slow things down, make sense of patterns, and develop steadier ways of responding to life as it actually is, not how we think it should be.

I work with adults from Varsity Lakes and across the Gold Coast, offering evidence-based psychological therapy that is practical, respectful, and paced to the individual.

There is no requirement to have everything clearly defined before starting. Often, clarity comes through the process itself.

Bookings available online.
https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/varsity-lakes-psychologist/





16/01/2026

More About How Slight Variations in Emotional State Affect Decision-Making
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist

Even small shifts in our emotional state can quietly shape our decisions.
What feels obvious, risky, or reassuring can change depending on whether we are calm, anxious, tired, or content.

Psychology shows that emotion and reason are not opposites.
They work best together.

Learning to notice our emotional state gives us a pause point.
That pause can make room for wiser, more values-aligned choices.

Gentle awareness matters more than forcing positivity.

David Hennessy
Clinical Psychologist
Varsity Lakes
Even small shifts in our emotional state can quietly shape our decisions.
What feels obvious, risky, or reassuring can change depending on whether we are calm, anxious, tired, or content.

Psychology shows that emotion and reason are not opposites.
They work best together.

Learning to notice our emotional state gives us a pause point.
That pause can make room for wiser, more values-aligned choices.

Gentle awareness matters more than forcing positivity.

David Hennessy
Clinical Psychologist
Varsity Lakes

Read further: https://hennessyclinicalpsychology.com/small-variations-emotional-state-decision-making/





Address

155 Varsity Parade
Varsity Lakes, QLD
4227

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 7am - 5pm
Thursday 7am - 5pm
Friday 7am - 5pm

Telephone

+61414277596

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