Butter does its best work in the background—it’s the ingredient that holds everything else together, quietly and reliably. We think therapy works best the same way.
Sometimes the best therapy looks nothing like therapy at all. Just two people doing the difficult, necessary work of understanding.
Butter Psychology is a clinical psychology practice located in Fitzroy North (Ngár-go, Wurundjeri country).
We work across the full spectrum of human difficulties—from the innate to those that emerge, predictably or otherwise, in the ordinary course of living. Our practice began with a simple observation: in the pursuit of diagnostic precision or treatment plans, clinicians often lose sight of the person sitting right in front of them.
Butter Psychology exists to foster a space where human connection is never secondary to outcomes, where curiosity trumps certainty and where life’s richness and many absurdities are met with care, honesty and a sense of play. Our aim is simple: to make therapy as human as the people who seek it.
We ground ourselves in research and evidence-based practice, while remaining anchored to what actually determines outcomes—the relationship between clinician and client. As butter subtly binds and enriches, we believe the therapeutic relationship can serve as the foundation for meaningful change. In the end, it is simple: two people in a room, building understanding.
For new clients, referrals or enquiries.
Abby Kortlang BBus, BCI, BBehSc (Hons), M.Psych
Psychology was not Abby Kortlang’s first career. Nor was it her second, nor even her third.
She studied business and journalism, lived in Copenhagen and New York, worked in hospitality and publishing. Her approach is shaped by a life lived outside the clinic. While the jobs themselves rarely held her interest, the people always did. That was the thread that connected it all—a recognition that people rarely follow straight lines, that curiosity matters more than certainty and that the most interesting truths most often emerge in conversation.
Abby works with a range of conditions: anxiety, depression, trauma, obsessive compulsive disorder and personality disorders. She has worked extensively with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, practising with the OCD Clinic in Brisbane and the Melbourne Wellbeing Group. Her clinical experience spans private practice, community mental health, hospital outpatient services and group therapy facilitation.
Abby has particular interest in supporting neurodivergent people and their families, drawing on years of specialised practice with autism and ADHD. Her research at La Trobe University’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre explored predictors of early communication in autistic children.
Abby is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Abby holds a Bachelor of Behavioural Science from the Queensland University of Technology (Psychology), Master of Clinical Psychology with Distinction (Griffith University), where she was named to the Dean’s List, and First Class Honours from La Trobe University. She has undergraduate degrees in Business and Creative Industries (Journalism) with Distinction from the Queensland University of Technology.
We provide evidence-based care for:
Anxiety
Depression
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Neurodivergence (ADHD & Autism)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD & CPTSD)
Personality disorders and vulnerabilities
Adjustment and stress
Support for parents and families.
Modalities of treatment include:
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Schema therapy
Internal family systems therapy (IFS)
Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
Compassion-focused therapy
Motivational interviewing
Parenting support (SPACE-informed treatment)
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
For new clients, referrals or enquiries.
New clients.
Complete the form below to request a new appointment.
For existing clients, please use the Client Portal to make appointments.
Existing clients.
p: +61 421 522 886
f: (03) 7054 6544
e: admin@butterpsychology.com
FAQs.
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We work with people from age 7 upwards.
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We treat a range of psychological conditions and stressors that inevitably come with life with a range of modalities, some of which are listed on our website.
Please reach out to us should you have any questions or queries about your individual situation, so we can ensure we are the right practice to support you.
We will gladly provide you with alternate referral pathways should we not be the right fit for you.
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Yes, we accept NDIS referrals. However, due to recent changes to NDIS legislation (October 2024), small practices like ours can no longer viably accept plan-managed clients.
We can only work with self-managed clients or those able to pay upfront and seek reimbursement from their plan manager.
NDIS sessions are $232.99 plus a $62.01 gap fee.
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A standard consultation of 50-60 minutes is $295.00.
If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you are eligible for a Medicare rebate of $145.25 for up to 10 sessions per calendar year.
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We understand life is messy! You get sick, things come up. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations under 48 hours incur a 50% fee; under 24 hours incur the full fee.
For Monday sessions, please contact us by Friday. See our cancellation policy for details. We know this seems strict, but as a small practice, late cancellations affect your therapist (who has prepared for your session), others who could have used the time and your own progress.