Dr Anna Symonds

Dr Anna Symonds brings over a decade of psychiatric expertise to Ponti Health, shaped by training across diverse public and community mental health settings in south-western and south-eastern Sydney. After completing her medical degree at the University of Birmingham, she relocated to Australia in 2014 and has since built a practice grounded in thorough assessment, thoughtful diagnosis and genuine collaboration.

As a Staff Specialist Psychiatrist at Headspace—one of Australia's leading youth mental health services—Anna works with patients aged 16 and over, supporting young people and adults through critical life transitions and complex mental health challenges. Her approach is both evidence-based and deeply human: she takes time to understand how biological, psychological and social factors intersect in each person's life, then works alongside them to develop treatment plans that reflect their unique needs and goals.

Anna's clinical interests span youth mental health and early intervention, neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD and autism, perinatal mental health, and trauma and attachment-related difficulties. As a trained Circle of Security Parenting facilitator, she brings specialised skills in supporting parent-child relationships and attachment. 

She is trained in a range of psychotherapeutic modalities, including Brief Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and integrates these approaches into her clinical practice. Her experience in refugee mental health assessments has given her practice a transcultural lens—understanding how culture, migration and identity shape mental health and healing.

Beyond clinical work, Anna has a keen interest in medical education and is an accredited supervisor of trainees with The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and holds a Conjoint Lecturer position at UNSW, where she contributes to shaping the next generation of psychiatrists through undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

 At Ponti Health, Anna thrives in our collaborative environment, where psychiatry works hand in hand with other specialties within and outside Ponti Health. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, perinatal mental health concerns or the complexities of trauma, Anna brings both clinical rigour and compassionate care to every consultation.

Outside the consulting room, Anna balances her professional life with family time, travel when possible, and staying active through tennis, cycling and running. Her background as an international competitor in athletics and cross-country speaks to her understanding of perseverance, discipline and what it takes to show up—even when things feel hard.