Jacob Mangelsdorf, PACFA

Jacob Mangelsdorf is a practising counsellor with 18 years of clinical experience, working with individuals and families across a range of relationship, trauma and addiction concerns. He supports people dealing with family of origin wounds, relationship conflict, both childhood and adult trauma, loss and grief, addictions, mental health challenges and stress-related difficulties. Jacob draws on what he learns alongside clients to shape an approach tailored to each person, blending practical skills with a warm, curious stance that seeks to uncover why someone is feeling stuck and where their distress originates.

He begins from a person-centred, holistic perspective in which context matters, and integrates elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Gottman couples work and family therapy according to individual need. His method focuses on helping people reconnect with their values, clarify boundaries and move toward the life they want to lead. Jacob has extensive experience supporting people through loss and suicide-related grief and intervention, and he often works with men who want more fulfilling relationships, work lives and personal wellbeing.

Jacob is registered with PACFA, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. Outside the counselling room he is a father of two, a husband, an experienced runner and musician, and he draws on those personal interests as part of his self-care and his work with clients.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify their values and learn to live in ways that matter to them even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise. It is often useful for stress, anxiety and patterns of avoidance.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or DBT, focuses on building practical skills for coping with intense emotions, improving distress tolerance and strengthening interpersonal effectiveness. It can be helpful for people who struggle with strong emotional reactions or relationship difficulties.

Gottman-informed couples work centers on improving communication, reducing destructive patterns and rebuilding trust through structured, research-based techniques that address common relationship challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Jacob works collaboratively with each person to identify which techniques fit their needs, goals and preferences. He adapts methods over time so therapy remains aligned with what is most helpful for the client.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging offers flexibility for people balancing work, family or geographic constraints. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals from home, schedule sessions around other commitments and continue care consistently when in-person meetings are impractical.