Anja Copelj

Registered Psychologist Number: PSY0001629896

Anja is a Clinical Psychologist who has over 10 years of experience working with children and their families across a wide range of settings. She has worked in early intervention services, community health, tertiary mental health settings, educational settings, and in private practice.

Anja has a long-standing interest in working with infants and children and their families.

Anja has worked with a wide range of clinical presentations across childhood, from the preschool years through to adolescence. She has extensive experience in working with children that have neurodevelopmental concerns (e.g., Autism, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Difficulties). She has also worked with children and young people presenting with complex emotional and behavioural concerns.

Anja also has a special interest in infant mental health and supporting parents during the perinatal period and early parenting years to navigate the transition to parenthood and manage the challenges and adjustments that are part of this vital life stage.

Anja takes an individualised approach to understanding the child’s presenting concerns to help them, and their parents, understand their feelings, and how to communicate their needs appropriately. Anja ensures that she completes a thorough assessment, involving the child and the systems around the child (parents, teachers, support staff and other therapists) to help understand the presenting concerns and develop an individualised treatment plan that will meet the needs of the child and their family.

She draws on various therapy modalities including Theraplay, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Circle of Security, attachment theory and family-based interventions.

Journal Publications

• Copelj, A., Gill, P., Love., A., & Crebbin, S. (2017). Psychological growth in young adult refugees: Integration of personal and cultural resources to promote wellbeing. The Australian Community Psychologist, 28, 85 -104.

• Copelj, A., & Kiropoulos, L. (2011) Knowledge of depression and depression related stigma in immigrants from former Yugoslavia. Journal of Immigrant and Migrant Health, 13, 1013–1018. Doi: 10.1007/s10903-011-9463-8

Conference Proceedings

• Copelj, A. (2010, 8th July). Assessment of Depression Literacy, Stigma and Help Seeking behaviour in immigrants from former Yugoslavia. Poster presented at the XXth Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP). Melbourne.

• Copelj, A., et al. (2010, 8th July) Assessment of knowledge and attitudes related to mental health and psychological help seeking in Sudanese Youth. Paper presented at the XXth Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP). Melbourne.