Dr Riham Abousennah, PhD

Registered Psychologist | Founder & Director of Evolve Minds Psychological Services

Dr Riham Abousennah is a registered psychologist with a PhD and over two decades of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families through a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and developmental challenges. Since beginning her clinical journey in 2002, she has worked with more than 700 clients across private practice and university-based services in Australia and internationally.

Her career has been shaped by a deep commitment to understanding the human experience in all its complexity. Guided by compassion, curiosity, and cultural humility, Dr Riham creates a safe, inclusive, and non-judgemental space where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered to make meaningful, lasting change. Her therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, and person-centred — integrating evidence-based approaches with genuine care and respect for each person’s story, background, and goals.

Dr Riham supports clients experiencing:
• Anxiety and panic
• Depression and low mood
• Emotional-regulation difficulties
• PTSD and trauma
• ADHD and Autism (neurodivergence)
• Behavioural challenges in children
• Relationship stress and parenting difficulties
• Borderline personality traits

Drawing on a rich foundation of evidence-based therapies, Dr Riham integrates Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Schema Therapy to provide holistic, tailored support. When working with children and adolescents, she adopts a collaborative, family-oriented approach — involving parents, teachers, and allied-health professionals to create practical, individualised strategies that foster growth, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.

In addition to therapy, Dr Riham conducts comprehensive psychological assessments for ADHD and Autism in both adults and children. Her neurodiversity-affirming framework combines structured clinical interviews, validated diagnostic tools, and thoughtful, strengths-based formulation reports that bring clarity, direction, and a deeper understanding of each individual’s unique profile.

Beyond her clinical practice, Dr Riham collaborates with the TreeHause Autism Assessment & Therapy Team (THAAT), working alongside paediatricians and allied-health specialists to deliver holistic developmental care. She is also a Contributor and Public Educator with SBS Australia – Arabic, where she hosts the program Family Talk, raising awareness around mental health, parenting, family dynamics, and social wellbeing within culturally diverse communities.

Her extensive experience across both local and international contexts has shaped her into a psychologist who bridges science with empathy, integrating multicultural awareness and clinical expertise to meet the needs of every client.

Dr Riham offers in-person sessions from her consulting rooms in Williamstown. Sydenham, Mambourin and Newport (Victoria), as well as secure online therapy across Australia. Fluent in English and Arabic, she provides culturally responsive, evidence-based care for every stage of life — helping individuals and families build resilience, deepen self-understanding, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Working with Psychiatrists

We work closely with a group of professional psychiatrists to make sure clients get faster, better-coordinated care.

If you complete an ADHD assessment with us, you don't have join waitlist for a psychiatric review. Our partner psychiatrists prioritise referrals from Evolve Minds, and in many cases you can book a one-off medication consultation soon after your assessment is finished. As well as ASD, ADHD, and other mental health presentations

Our psychiatry partners include:

• Dr Samir Ibrahim, Consultant Psychiatrist, Sydenham Specialist Clinic

• The Primrose Clinic, a national telehealth psychiatry practice specialising in ADHD and autism

This means less time waiting, and a smoother path from assessment to treatment.

• Dr. Riham has collaborated with Associate Professor Peter Nottle, a leading figure in bariatric surgery with over 30 years of experience in weight management and upper gastrointestinal procedures. At the Victorian Bariatric Surgery Centre, she provided psychological support for patients undergoing weight loss surgery, including preoperative assessments and postoperative care, ensuring a holistic approach to treatment.

  
  

Medico-Legal & Compensable Injury Services

Evolve Minds provides independent psychological assessment and treatment for legal, immigration, and compensation-related matters, prepared to the standards required by courts, tribunals, insurers, and government bodies.

• Protection Visa Psychological Assessment Reports — supporting protection visa applications with independent psychological evidence

• Citizenship Test Exemption Assessments — psychological assessment for applicants seeking an exemption on the basis of permanent impairment

• TAC (Transport Accident Commission) — psychological treatment and assessment for clients recovering from transport accidents

• WorkSafe Victoria — psychological treatment and assessment for workplace injury claims.

  
  

Speaking & Publications

International Keynote — Pakistan, 2025
I was invited to deliver a keynote at the 8th International Conference on World Religions in Pakistan, speaking on how early childhood trauma contributes to extremism, and what can be done to prevent it at its roots. This talk was also published as a research paper.

Book Chapter — IGI Global Scientific Publishing
I contributed a chapter, "Breaking the Cycle: Faith-Based Peacebuilding, Generational Trauma, and Spiritual Resilience in International Relations," to the edited volume Faith Diplomacy in International Relations: Beyond the Rhetoric, published by IGI Global Scientific Publishing.

Dr. Riham Abousennah, PhD
Senior Psychologist and Director, Evolve Minds Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
director@evolve-minds.com.au