I am a registered Clinical Psychologist and member of the Australian Psychological Society. In addition to my university qualifications, I have completed a three-year Psychotherapy training with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy (ANZAP).
I have an extensive background in public mental health settings, most recently having worked at the Centre for Psychotherapy in Newcastle, NSW, specialising in longer term therapies for people struggling with moderate to severe mental health problems. My preferred therapy modality is the Conversational Model (CM), a trauma informed psychodynamic treatment that was originally specifically designed for individuals who struggle with severe mental health problems relating to psychological injury to the individual’s sense of self, generally as a result of trauma and abuse during childhood development.
The CM has also been successfully adapted to suit most mental health problems that individuals may struggle with, such as anxiety, depressed mood, difficulty managing overwhelming emotions, relationship struggles, psychosomatic issues, insomnia, a general sense of distress and problems with life transitions. The CM can be offered in a short or longer form, depending on the client’s needs.
This therapeutic approach intends to create a safe, comfortable therapeutic milieu for clients to be able to share their difficulties, and generally seeks to collaboratively address the underlying issues that have contributed to the development of the symptoms the client may be experiencing. The CM’s purpose is ultimately to assist clients toward a greater sense of maturity, vitality and fulfillment, and is suitable for people who are looking for a psychotherapy that focuses on personal and relational healing and development toward a sense of wholeness.