I'm a clinical psychologist, now located in Myrtleford, Victoria.
After completing training in Brisbane, Queensland, I started my career working for LifeLine. I provided psychological treatment to children and adults, and I provided training and supervision to telephone counsellors.
From there I moved into general private practise providing therapy to adults, couples and children, and this is where I have remained.
I have worked with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression and mood disorders, grief and loss, low self-esteem, eating disorders, relationship issues, sexual problems, life transitions and adjustments, and trauma.
I also have extensive experience providing psychological assessment and Medico-legal Neuropsychological Assessment and Report Writing.
My particular areas of interest are working with attachment, and trauma.
Adult attachment issues can manifest as difficulties in forming and maintaining close relationships, fears of intimacy, or patterns of emotional withdrawal or dependency. Our early attachment experiences profoundly influence our core beliefs about our selves and others. I enjoy working with people to resolve their attachment issues, and working with parents to support their children in developing a secure attachment style. In this work I draw from the Circle of Security (COS) intervention.
Trauma is often described as little t or big T.
Little “t” tends to refer to single incidents (which often have a life threatening component), such as experiencing or witnessing injury and accidents, assaults or threats of harm, and natural disasters. Typically the experience overwhelms the person and involves significant feelings of fear and helplessness.
Big “T” refers to complex or developmental trauma, and is trauma that happens in relationships. It tends to be cumulative and repetitive and often results in feelings of confusion, worthlessness, fear and helplessness. Emotional neglect, and inconsistent or frightening caregiving can lead to developmental trauma. I really enjoy working with people to resolve the impact of trauma (little and big) in their life. I use EMDR to facilitate the processing of trauma.
My approach is psychodynamically informed, which means I operate from the assumption that our past experiences influence who we are in the present.
I also draw from neuroscience and other theoretical models including poly-vagal theory and the somatic (body) frameworks.
I utilise evidence based treatments such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and Dialectal Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and I use EMDR as often as I can.
The therapeutic relationship is the greatest tool for change, and my primary focus throughout the process of therapy.
I find great meaning and joy in my work, and humbly thank all my clients for the privilage of our therapeutic alliance.
