Dr Rachel Hannam is a Brisbane psychologist, executive coach and Clinical Director of North Brisbane Psychologists, which she started in 2012. She has over twenty years’ experience helping individuals, couples and professionals navigate burnout, anxiety, relationship challenges and complex life transitions. Her distinctive approach combines evidence-based psychology with deep clinical curiosity – seeking to understand not only symptoms, but the underlying patterns that shape people’s beliefs and daily lives.
Psychology is often thought of as finding answers. For Dr Rachel Hannam, it begins with asking better questions.
Rachel has been a registered psychologist since 2002 and completed her PhD in Psychology at the University of Queensland, where her research explored professional burnout and resilience. Over more than two decades, she has worked with thousands of individuals, couples, professionals and organisations, helping people understand not only what is happening in their lives, but why it is happening.
Driven by Curiosity
Rachel often describes herself as a “psychology nerd.” That isn’t simply enthusiasm for the profession – it reflects a genuine fascination with people and the depths of the human psyche. Every person carries a unique story. Every relationship has its own dynamics. Every workplace conflict has layers beneath what is visible.
Rather than assuming there is a single explanation for someone’s distress, Rachel is interested in understanding the broader picture:
- personal history
- family systems
- personality traits
- attachment
- communication patterns
- cultural conditioning
- strengths and protective factors
This clinical curiosity allows her to tailor therapy to the individual rather than trying to fit people into predetermined categories.
Looking Beyond Symptoms
Many psychological concerns cannot be fully understood by looking only at symptoms, or existing beliefs.
Stress may be connected to deep patterns of unrelenting standards and perfectionism.
Relationship conflict may reflect attachment patterns developed decades earlier.
Burnout may arise from organisational culture as much as individual coping.
Anxiety may represent an understandable response to uncertainty rather than something that needs to be eliminated.
Identity distress may reflect a complex interplay of developmental history, relationships, temperament, socio-cultural influences, and the search for meaning and belonging, rather than a single cause or explanation.
Rachel enjoys working collaboratively with clients to investigate these underlying patterns with compassion, openness and evidence-informed thinking.
Rather than rushing toward quick conclusions, she believes meaningful change often begins with developing a richer understanding of ourselves.
Embracing Complexity
Modern life is rarely simple. Families, workplaces and relationships are increasingly complex, and psychological wellbeing often involves balancing competing needs, values and responsibilities.
Rachel has developed a reputation for working comfortably with complexity. Her professional background spans:
- organisational psychology
- leadership and coaching
- workplace wellbeing
- conflict resolution and mediation
- couples work
- families work
- clinical supervision
- adult mental health
This breadth of experience enables her to integrate ideas from multiple evidence-based approaches while remaining focused on the individual sitting in front of her.
An Integrative Approach
Rachel draws on a wide range of psychological models including:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
- Schema Therapy
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Gestalt Therapy
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy
- Emotion Focused approaches
- Positive Psychology
- Neuropsychotherapy
- Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
- Metcognitive Therapy (MCT)
Rather than following one model exclusively, she integrates these approaches according to each client’s goals, personality and circumstances.
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning
One of Rachel’s defining characteristics is her commitment to continual professional development. Alongside her clinical practice and supervision work, she has continued postgraduate study, contributed to professional education, undertaken media interviews, written extensively on psychological topics, and remains actively engaged with emerging developments across psychology and psychotherapy.
She believes the best psychologists never stop learning.
Helping People Make Sense of Their Lives
Whether someone is navigating burnout, relationship difficulties, workplace conflict, anxiety or a major life transition, Rachel’s aim is not simply symptom management. Her goal is to help people better understand themselves. Greater awareness often leads to greater choice.
With increased understanding comes the opportunity to respond differently, strengthen relationships, take responsibility, build resilience and move towards a more meaningful and intentional life.
That spirit of curiosity, compassion and thoughtful exploration continues to shape Rachel’s work as Clinical Director of North Brisbane Psychologists.