Queer Professionals · Brisbane CBD & Online

Warm and inclusive support for queer professionals

Affirming and evidence-based support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer professionals.

Registered psychologist providing inclusive support in Brisbane CBD.

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Hi, I’m Adam

I’m gay and live in Brisbane with my husband. Providing an inclusive and respectful space is important to me. My experience is primarily with sexually diverse professionals — gay, lesbian, and bisexual identifying people.

Whether your sexuality is central to what you want to work on, or simply part of the context of your life, you’ll be met with genuine understanding here. If you’re gender diverse and feel this service might be a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out — I’ll always be honest during the intake call about whether I’m the right person for what you’re working on.

The challenges queer professionals bring to sessions are varied. Some are specifically related to identity — navigating workplace disclosure, managing minority stress, or working through experiences of discrimination. Others are the same challenges any professional faces: anxiety, burnout, career direction, self-doubt — experienced within the specific context of a queer life.

Things Queer professionals often bring to session

Minority stress

The cumulative impact of navigating environments that aren’t always affirming — hypervigilance, emotional exhaustion, and the toll of managing how you’re perceived — can affect confidence, performance, and wellbeing in ways that are hard to name.

Internalised shame

Many queer people carry a quiet sense of not being fully acceptable — even long after coming out. It might show up as difficulty being visible, reluctance to let people get close, or a persistent low-level feeling that’s hard to name but hard to shake.

Coming out

Deciding whether, when, and how to be out is an ongoing consideration for many queer professionals. Managing the gap between who you are and how you present — and the cognitive load that comes with it — takes a real toll.

Anxiety and self-doubt

Whether connected to identity or not, anxiety and self-doubt are among the most common reasons queer professionals seek support. Sometimes minority stress or internalised shame are direct contributors. Other times, these may just be part of the picture.

Relationships

Navigating relationships — at home and work — can involve specific dynamics for queer professionals: workplace disclosure, negotiating relationship and family structures, or simply wanting to show up more confidently in the relationships that matter.

Burnout and exhaustion

The combination of professional pressure and the additional load of navigating identity in workplaces and relationships can accelerate burnout. Understanding all the contributing factors — not just the obvious ones — is essential to genuine recovery.

You don’t need to be experiencing a queer-specific challenge to benefit from support. Many queer clients come to work on general professional challenges and simply want to work with a psychologist who is affirming and inclusive. That’s always the case here.

You might also be looking for

If any of these feels more relevant to what you’re experiencing, there’s more specific information available.

Social anxiety

If fear of judgement or self-consciousness about how you’re perceived is showing up in professional or social situations — and the internal experience is exhausting,

Find out more
Burnout

If the combined weight of professional pressure and navigating your identity has left you feeling exhausted and depleted — and the usual ways of recovering no longer seem to work.

Find out more
Confidence & Self-Worth

If identity-related self-doubt and the impact of minority stress or internalised shame is affecting your confidence, sense of achievement, or how you feel about yourself.

Find out more

What we work on together

  1. Understand what’s driving the pressure
    We explore what’s affecting your work and wellbeing — whether that’s specifically related to your identity or part of a broader picture. Understanding the full picture is where we start.
  2. Build practical strategies
    You’ll leave sessions with tools you can actually use — approaches for managing anxiety, building confidence, or getting clearer on what you want from your career and life.
  3. Work on the patterns beneath the surface
    Mindfulness approaches help you change your relationship with the thoughts and feelings that are limiting you so they have less power over how you show up.
  4. Move forward in a way that’s authentic to you
    The goal isn’t to fit a standard template. It’s to develop a clearer sense of what you want and find sustainable ways to work and live that actually reflect who you are.
Book intake call

→ check availability and rates

Working with a psychologist who understands professional life.

I’m Adam Sadd, a registered psychologist and the founder of Uplift Psychology. With 17 years of combined experience across psychology, coaching, HR, and leadership, I have a practical understanding of how workplace pressure affects how we think, feel, and perform.

I work with professionals navigating anxiety, burnout, self-doubt, and career challenges — people who take their work seriously and want practical support that’s grounded in psychology. My approach is warm, inclusive, and focused on how you think and work.

Registered
Psychologist (AHPRA)

17+ years
combined experience

Board approved
Supervisor

Background in
Psychology, HR & Leadership

→ Learn more about Adam and his approach

Tailored to How You Think and Work

When supporting queer professionals, I draw on a blend of evidence-based approaches. Here’s some of what you can expect from our sessions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

A mindfulness-based framework that supports you to manage difficult thoughts and feelings, build psychological flexibility, and take action guided by your values.

Positive Psychology

Rather than focusing only on what’s not working, we build on your strengths, supporting resilience, motivation, and long-term wellbeing.

successful professional
Coaching Psychology

A forward-focused, goal-oriented approach that combines psychological insight with practical strategies. Helping you understand what’s getting in the way and move toward meaningful change.

Rates and Rebates

Session Type

Fee

After Medicare Rebate**

Initial session (50 min)*

$320

$218.45

Subsequent sessions (50 min)

$275

$173.45

*Initial session includes onboarding, psychological assessment, and developing a customised plan

**Medicare rebate available with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. Private health insurance rebates may also apply depending on your level of cover — I can process most funds at time of payment.

How You Can Get Started

Step 1
Book a 15-Minute Intake Call

I’ll call you for a relaxed 15-minute conversation. Ask questions, share what you’re looking for, and decide whether Uplift Psychology feels like the right fit for you. There’s no pressure, and no obligation to commit.

Step 2
Begin With a Clear Plan

In your first session, we’ll clarify your goals, explore what’s happening for you, and introduce evidence-informed approaches. Whether short-term or ongoing, your plan will be tailored to how you think and work.

Step 3
Practical, focused sessions

Focused on what’s important to you. Each session is practical, psychology-backed and solutions-oriented. You’ll leave with insight, strategies, and a clear sense of where to direct your energy.

Initial session $320  ·  Subsequent sessions $275  ·  Medicare & Private Health Rebates Available

A 15-minute conversation. No obligation.

Book Intake call

→ check availability and rates

You’re capable. getting support when you need it doesn’t change that.

A free 15-minute intake call is all it takes to get started. There’s no pressure, and no obligation to commit.

Book intake call

FAQs

I offer a forward-focused, evidence-based approach grounded in genuine understanding of queer experiences. Whether you’re working on something specifically related to your identity or navigating professional challenges that have nothing to do with it, the sessions are focused on what’s actually useful for you — without explanation, qualification, or assumptions about what your life should look like.

Not at all. Many queer clients come to work on anxiety, burnout, career direction, or other challenges that are not specifically about their identity. They simply want a psychologist who is genuinely affirming and won’t require explanation about their life context. That’s always the case here.

No referral is needed to book an appointment with me. You can get started by booking an intake call through the client portal.

If you’d like to access a Medicare rebate for your sessions, you will need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. It’s worth noting that your GP will need to provide a referral as part of this process.

That depends on your goals and what you’re working on. Some people come with a specific challenge or decision and find clarity in a handful of sessions. Others prefer ongoing support to build momentum, develop skills, and work through multiple areas over time.

In your first session, we’ll discuss your goals and work out an approach that suits where you’re at — whether that’s something targeted and short-term, or a longer-term plan. There’s no set formula, just a structure that works for you.

As we work together, I can provide guidance on what frequency and duration makes sense based on your progress and goals.

Yes. Many people who come to see me are managing well on the surface but carrying a lot internally. You don’t need to be in significant distress to benefit from support. If something is affecting your sleep, your enjoyment of work, your relationships, or your ability to be present — even quietly — there’s real value in working on it.