Dr. Roby Abeles is a distinguished trauma and addiction therapist with more than 40 years of experience, recognised for her compassionate and integrative approach.
Her extensive career spans private and government organisations, rehabilitation centres, private practice, and practising non-directive play therapy for children in a primary school.
She has been sober for over four decades and, as an autistic and multiply neurodivergent individual, is passionate about training clinicians to work effectively and empathetically with neurodivergent clients.
Even though she failed her final year of high school due to undiagnosed learning disabilities, unrecognised trauma, emotional neglect and autism, Dr Roby went on to successfully complete a Doctorate (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology, dual Master’s degrees in Counselling Psychology and Spiritual Psychology, [for which she was awarded Student of the Year in 1996], to add to a Bachelor’s in Chemical Dependency Counselling, 1989.
Dr Roby’s personal journey is defined by unwavering persistence, resilience and a determined commitment to healing and recovery.
Adopted by Jewish Holocaust survivor parents, Dr Roby faced and overcame profound adversity throughout life, including childhood absence seizures, repeated experiences of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as a child, teen, and adult, she also had significant challenges and trauma with substance abuse.
Dr Roby entered rehabilitation in the United States in 1985, remaining there for nearly 20 years to complete her tertiary education and train as an integrative somatic psychotherapist.
Dr. Roby brings a unique perspective, lived experience and deep commitment to her work, empowering individuals and professionals alike to foster healing and understanding.
She co-founded Brainspotting Humanitarian training in Oceania with USA BSP Trainer Brooke Randolph.
Training sessions are held in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and attract participants from across Oceania. Most recently, BSP Oceania provided sponsorship for two young women—one from the Marshall Islands and one from Sāmoa—to participate in the BSP Phase One training cohort in Aotearoa.
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Dr Roby’s Therapeutic Expertise…
- Brainspotting 2004
- Brainspotting Trainer and Consultant 2013
- Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) 2010
- Ego State Therapy 1990
- EMDR (Approved Consultant Emeritus) 1996
- Interpersonal Neurobiology — having received training and mentoring under Dr. Dan Siegel 1996
- Spiritual Psychology 1996
- Neurodiversity in all its beautiful manifestations
- Client Centred Therapy 1993
- Integrative psychotherapy 1993
- Narrative Therapy 1995
- Axline’s Non-Directive Play Therapy 1997
- 12 Step Recovery 1985
- Gestalt therapy 1995
- Jungian Archetypal Therapy 2018
- Attachment Therapy for use with addiction and adoption 1993
"The wound is the place where the Light enters you." - Rumi
In 2004, Dr. Abeles was personally invited and trained in Brainspotting by its founder, Dr. David Grand, a method hailed by Dr. Norman Doidge as “a very important leap forward in helping people resolve trauma.”
Today, Dr. Abeles is in high demand worldwide, training therapists in her groundbreaking approach to addiction recovery. She pioneered the Trademarked Brainspotting “Crocodiles and Pearls” Frame Set Ups, a revolutionary technique designed to reduce shame, prevent relapse and deepen relational and attachment healing.
Dr. Abeles continues to shape the future of trauma therapy with visionary methods that empower individuals to reclaim their lives and rewrite their stories.
Her latest innovation, Brainspotting and The Hero’s Journey, transforms adversity into heroism through use of a Multi-Focal Brainspotting Frame. This powerful framework is also now taught both in-person and online to practitioners across the globe.In 2004, Dr. Abeles was personally invited and trained in Brainspotting by its founder, Dr. David Grand, a method hailed by Dr. Norman Doidge as “a very important leap forward in helping people resolve trauma.”
Training:
- Individual and group case consultation – zoom only
- Brainspotting Phase 1 and 2 training in person or on zoom
- BSP & Narrative therapy for resolution of addiction and other unwanted behaviours
On Demand Training:
- On demand Training: Brainspotting & Narrative Therapy for resolution of addiction and other unwanted behaviours
- On demand Training: Brainspotting and The Hero’s Journey
- On demand Training: Brainspotting Is More Than Just The Set Ups.
- On demand Training: Working with Dorsal Vagal Freeze and Collapse.