I’ve been working in the perinatal mental health field since 2015 and over the past 8 years I’ve worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools and private practice. I’m endorsed as a Clinical Psychologist however prefer to introduce myself as a Perinatal Psychologist because that’s more reflective of my training, experience and the clients I love working with. I’ve completed further training in the areas of fertility, grief and loss, Perinatal and Infant Mental Health and I’m an endorsed member of the Centre for Perinatal Psychology. I am informed by attachment theory and inter-personal neurobiology and I utilise Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques in session. I also enjoy offering EMDR (which is one of the most effective treatments for trauma).
Professional Bio
What to expect from a therapy session with me
I define my therapeutic style as warm, approachable, empathetic and nurturing. I believe in creating a therapeutic experience that works best for the individual client and enjoy working collaboratively with clients to meet their goals. I adjust my approach and style to suit the needs of the client so if someone needs slow and gentle that’s the approach I will take, if someone requests more of a direct approach or needs bursts of humour thrown into session I can do that too. I feel that one of the most important aspects of therapy is the therapeutic relationship that develops between a clinician and a client and my aim in session is to create a safe space free from judgement where clients can allow themselves to be vulnerable, talk freely about their struggles and feel heard, understood and supported. My hope is that over the course of therapy I can assist individuals to heal from their traumas, cope with the challenges they are facing and find ways to make sense of their new normal.
A typical first session will involve me asking about what led to the appointment being made and asking a bit of relevant background information to help me get an understanding about your situation. I will ask some questions about what you are hoping to get out of therapy and any goals you may like to set (some people have clear goals of what ‘better’ would look like, others are unsure and that’s OK I can always provide gentle guidance if needed). For those who have done therapy in the past I welcome their input about what they think would work best for them (and what wont). I view the first session as a bit of a ‘trial’ it gives the client to get a sense of how I respond, how I share information and at the end of the session I will check in to see if it feels like a good fit. If you feel like I am the right therapist for you then we will chat about what I think may be helpful for your specific situation, and book further sessions from there.
To find out more information about the specific areas I enjoy supporting clients with please feel free to click on the below buttons. If you think I may be a good fit and you would like to make an appointment please fill out an enquiry form (click here) or contact me directly on the email / mobile below
FAQs
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New clients are welcome to either complete the online enquiry form which will appear when you click the ‘book appointment’ button, send me an email or give me a call (details below in the footer)
Existing clients can make an appointment by clicking on the ‘book appointment’ button
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Everyone has different needs when it comes to therapy, sometimes people want just a one-off session to talk through a concern or to test out how therapy feels, other times people might want ongoing support and to book in for regular sessions at an interval that suits them (weekly, fortnightly, monthly).
Usually I recommend people book an initial session and at the end of that session I can make suggestions about the number of sessions and frequency which may be helpful for your specific circumstances
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You do not need a referral to see me. However, if you are hoping to receive a rebate from medicare you will be required to obtain a referral from your GP or Psychiatrist.
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Sessions are $260 (55 minute session).
With a valid referral, a Medicare rebate of $145.25 is available. The out of pocket expense will be $114.75.
I understand in some circumstances the private fee may be prohibitive to accessing therapy, if you are currently experiencing financial strain and would like to be considered for a reduced fee service please let me know at time of booking so I can discuss further with you -
Babies and children are very welcome in the therapy room. I am very used to working flexibly with babies being present in session and can conduct sessions while a parent is feeding or changing nappies. Especially if one of the concerns bringing you to therapy is bonding / attachment its very helpful for us to work through this with your baby present
Partners are also welcome to come if you would like them to be present, I am not a couples therapist and am unable to offer couples therapy however welcome your partner in the room as a supporter. Sometimes its helpful to get extra information from them about how things are at home and sometimes its helpful for them to hear about what we are working on in session to help them better understand what is going on for you and how they can help. -
Yes! I understand there may be many reasons making it hard for someone to make it to an in person session and we have the option of a video call or a telephone call depending on your needs and preferences