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Rhythm Clinical Psychology

Dr Jichun (Jess) Hao

Therapy That Moves With You

Evidence-based therapy for adults for anxiety, trauma, and relationship patterns in Sydney, supporting emotional clarity, resilience, and lasting change.

Life’s rhythms shift across different stages, stressors, and transitions.

I’m Dr Jichun (Jess) Hao, an AHPRA registered clinical psychologist based in Surry Hills, Sydney. I offer thoughtful, reflective, evidence-based therapy for adults experiencing anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, trauma, and relationship patterns. My approach integrates careful assessment with deeper therapeutic work, supporting you to develop insight, emotional clarity, and meaningful, lasting change—so you can move toward a steadier rhythm that feels more grounded and true to you.

About Rhythm Clinical Psychology

I am an AHPRA registered clinical psychologist offering in-person and telehealth appointments in Surry Hills, Sydney. I provide evidence-based therapy for adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, and relationship patterns, with a focus on emotional clarity, insight, and meaningful change.

Many people come to therapy feeling stuck in patterns they understand intellectually, but still struggle to shift emotionally—such as anxiety, depression, perfectionism, relationship difficulties, burnout, or feeling out of sync with themselves.

In my work, I see therapy as something that moves with you. Rather than rushing change, I aim to create space to slow down, understand your experience, and gently explore the patterns shaping your life.

My approach is grounded in presence, dedication, and genuine connection, while also making space for humour and courage as part of the therapeutic process. I believe meaningful change often comes not only from insight, but from the willingness to face difficult experiences with support and compassion.

Sessions are collaborative and paced to suit your needs, supporting both insight and practical change. I work best with clients who are reflective, curious, and looking for deeper, sustainable shifts over time.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, therapy can be a space to find a steadier, more grounded rhythm that feels more aligned with you.

Dr Jichun (Jess) Hao, clinical psychologist based in Surry Hills Sydney

Meet Dr Jichun (Jess) Hao

Clinic Director/Principal Clinical Psychologist/Board-approved Supervisor

She/her

BA (Hons), MSc (Counselling Studies), PhD (Psychology-Science), M Psych (Clinical)

Jess is a warm and empathic clinical psychologist based in Sydney. Jess’s work is grounded in evidence-based practice and a thoughtful, reflective approach to therapy. She takes a collaborative, client-centred approach, meeting people where they are and working together to reduce distress, build resilience, and support meaningful and sustainable change.

Jess has experience working across private practice, hospital, and not-for-profit settings, supporting individuals and families experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, perfectionism, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, self-esteem concerns, cultural adjustment, and parenting challenges.

She is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and non-judgemental space for individuals from diverse backgrounds. With an international background spanning China, the UK, and Australia, Jess brings a strong understanding of cultural identity, adjustment, and the complexities of navigating change across different contexts.

Jess has also undertaken extensive research in Attachment Theory and brings this lens into her clinical work, exploring how early attachment experiences may shape clients’ current patterns of relating, coping, and functioning. She is also attentive to how these patterns may emerge within the therapeutic relationship itself, using these moments thoughtfully to support deeper insight and meaningful change.

She completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology with honours) from the Australian National University, a Master of Science (Counselling Studies) from the University of Edinburgh, a Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology-Science) from the University of Newcastle and a Master of Clinical Psychology from the University of Technology Sydney.

Jess is registered as a Clinical Psychologist with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and an associate member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

In addition to her clinical work, Jess is a Board-Approved Supervisor and provides supervision to provisional psychologists, registrars, and other health professionals.

Outside of work, she values exercise, music, art, time in nature, and connection with family and friends.

Services We Offer

Clinical psychologist Dr Jichun (Jess) Hao conducting a therapy session in a calm consulting room in Sydney

Individual Therapy

Concerns that we help with

We support people through a range of experiences, including:

  • Anxiety such as social anxiety, health anxiety, and generalised anxiety;

  • Work stress/burnout/perfectionism;

  • Depression;

  • Trauma (childhood and recent);

  • Grief and loss;

  • Adjustment difficulties associated with significant life events (e.g., illness, career change, relocation, parenting, shifts in identity/life direction);

  • Body image/eating disorder related concerns;

  • Couple conflicts/relationship concerns;

  • Difficult family relationships;

  • Self-esteem;

  • Cultural identity issues;

During your first consultation, we can discuss how many sessions you might need.

Currently, we only accept referrals for adults (18+).

Please note that we unfortunately don’t have capacity to see clients under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Compulsory Third Party (CTP), or the Workers’ Compensation schemes. We also don’t provide reports for legal, study, NDIS or insurance purposes.

Therapeutic Approaches

Our main therapeutic approaches include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Compassion Focused Therapy, with influences from Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Attachment Theory, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Clinical Supervision

I am a board-approved supervisor with AHPRA. I provide clinical supervision for provisional psychologists, clinical psychology registrars, other psychologists, and other healthcare professionals. I have expertise in anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, psychological difficulties associated with medical conditions, grief and loss, family/relationship issues, cultural adjustment/identity issues.

Fees and Rebates

The APS National Schedule of Suggested Fees 2025-2026 has the standard 46 to 60-minute consultation fee at $318.

At Rhythm Clinical Psychology, sessions generally run for 50–55 minutes, with a fee of $280 per session.

Regular appointment under a GP referral

If you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you are entitled to a Medicare rebate of $145.25 per session for 10 sessions per calendar year (out-of-pocket fee-$134.75).

Private health funds
Please check with your fund to see if you are covered.

Clinical Supervision

Please contact us for fees for supervision.

Cancellation Policy

We require 24 hours notice for cancellations or changes to your appointment, or the full fee will be charged.

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that reaching out for support can feel daunting, especially if this is your first time seeking therapy. If you have any other questions, please feel free to send us an email or give us a call—we’d be more than happy to help and will get back to you as soon as possible.

  • We work with individual adults aged 18 and over. We support clients experiencing anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, low self-esteem, depression, childhood or recent trauma, relationship difficulties and recurring patterns, immigration and cultural adjustment challenges, as well as grief and loss.

    Many of our clients are insightful, self-aware, and may already understand their struggles on an intellectual level—even knowing why certain patterns exist or what needs to change. Yet making those shifts emotionally, relationally, or in day-to-day life can feel much harder.

    That’s where we can help—supporting you to move beyond insight alone and create meaningful, lasting change.

  • Individual therapy sessions (50 minutes) are $280 per session.

    If you are eligible for a Medicare rebate under a Mental Health Care Plan, the current rebate is $145.25 per session, leaving an out-of-pocket cost of $134.75.

    Please email us directly to discuss fees for clinical supervision.

  • To allow us to offer appointment times to other clients who may be waiting, we kindly ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Appointments cancelled or changed with less than 24 hours’ notice will incur the full session fee.

    We understand that unexpected situations can arise, and we appreciate your understanding and consideration.

  • You only need a referral from your GP if you wish to access Medicare rebates under a Mental Health Care Plan.

    If you do not plan to claim through Medicare, a referral is not required. Simply submit an enquiry, send us an email, or give us a call, and we’ll be happy to help you book your first appointment.

  • Under a Mental Health Care Plan, you may be eligible for up to 10 Medicare-rebated psychology sessions per calendar year. Your initial referral will typically cover 6 sessions. After these sessions, you will need to return to your GP for a review before accessing any remaining sessions.

    Payment for your session is made in full at the time of your appointment. We will process your Medicare claim on your behalf, and your rebate is usually deposited into your nominated bank account afterwards.

    If your rebate does not come through, please contact Medicare directly for assistance.

  • Yes, you can use the same referral to see any psychologist.

  • To make the most of your first session, we’ll begin with a thorough assessment to better understand your current situation, goals, and any concerns you may have.

    If you plan to claim your sessions through Medicare, please feel free to bring or send through your Mental Health Care Plan prior to your appointment.

    You’re also welcome to jot down any questions, concerns, or topics you’d like to discuss so we can make sure your session focuses on what matters most to you.

  • Your initial appointment will run for approximately 50 minutes. During this session, we will complete a thorough assessment to gain a deeper understanding of your current concerns, personal history, and what has brought you to therapy. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

    By the end of the session, we will discuss our initial impressions, what therapy may involve, and provide an indication of the recommended focus and approximate number of sessions based on your individual needs.

  • The short answer is: it depends. Therapy is a personalised process, and the length and frequency of treatment will vary depending on your goals, presenting concerns, and the changes you would like to make.

    Like any meaningful learning and growth, the best outcomes are often achieved through sessions at regular intervals. During your first session, we will work with you to develop a therapy plan and organise a schedule of convenient, reserved appointments.

    In most cases, therapy begins on a weekly or fortnightly basis. We will regularly review your progress together and discuss whether it feels helpful to continue, pause, space out sessions, or bring therapy to a close.

Rhythms and Insights

Rhythms & Insights is a space for reflection, psychoeducation, and clinical insight drawn from practice. Here, we will be sharing articles on common psychological presentations, relational patterns, and the emotional experiences that often bring people to therapy. These pieces are intended to offer clarity, reduce self-blame, and help make sense of internal experiences through a more compassionate and psychologically informed lens. This section will continue to grow over time—watch this space.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please submit an enquiry and we will be in touch shortly.

Email: info@rhythmclinicalpsychology.au

Phone: 0414 824 375

Please note that Rhythm Clinical Psychology is not a crisis service and operates by appointment only. Office hours are Wednesdays, 8:30am-4:30pm. This phone is monitored on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. Enquiries will be responded to during these times.

If you require immediate assistance or are in a crisis, please contact Lifeline (13 11 14), the Mental Health Line (1800 011 511), or dial 000.

Address:

Suite 320, Level 3

410 Elizabeth Street

Surry Hills, NSW 2010