Counselling Psychologist
AHPRA Registered Supervisor
Committee Member (APS CCOUNS-National)
About Me
I have been working as a psychologist since 2008.
Originally from San Antonio, Texas I began my career as a psychologist in Australia and have worked with schools, young people, adults and parents.
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I am eclectic in my approach but I draw from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Brain Development, Attachment Theory, ACT, Psychodynamic, Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal Theory and trauma informed approaches. I have also trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). I am a keen advocate for mindfulness and meditation and the ways we can learn to "be still and be more gentle with ourselves."
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I like to think I have an empathic, compassionate and down to earth style that is warm and engaging. Early on I realised that "being with" my clients and really tuning into their emotions was my calling. I look forward to meeting you and to seeing how I can help!
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Common Concerns in Counselling
Anxiety
Anxiety is our body's threat response system. Run mostly by our Amygdala in our brains, this natural fight, flight or freeze response can get a little out of whack leading us to respond both in our bodies and in our brains in uncomfortable and sometimes unhelpful ways. During therapy, we can learn about this natural response system, how to notice it taking hold, reset and respond to it rather than be hijacked.
Perfectionism
Brene Brown calls Perfectionism the "Twenty Tonne Shield." In a nutshell perfectionism is an anxiety response...if we can be perfect or do everything just right, we are safe, we are good enough. But there is a cost to carrying around this shield. The good news is that there are healthy alternatives and new ways of viewing the self.
Depression
"Not Good Enough"
Depression, or prolonged lowered mood can be intense and debilitating. Often it can be physiological in nature, where you can't get out of bed, motivation decreases and you lose interest in things you once enjoyed like exercise or catching up with friends. It can also be a deep feeling of sadness or shame/guilt or regret. It can come with sensations or heaviness, pit in your tummy or even feeling sick. Depression can invade your thinking.
Feeling enough is a very common theme for a lot of my clients. Often, early life experiences lead us, as children to internalise negative or hurtful interpersonal events as "our fault" or our "defectiveness."
Grief & Loss
Neurodiversity
Grief is a unifying human experience. We will all experience the intensity of grief and loss during out lifetime if we are connected to others. The wave of grief can wash over us. Other times, the sea is calm and peaceful. A powerful experience is to sit with another person and know that they will not leave you alone in the tumultuous seas and who will walk beside you through the more challenging moments.
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There are many individual differences in how we process information from the world around us and the world within us. ASD, ADHD, Sensory Processing disorders reflect the "different wiring" of a brain/body. It is very common to need support when getting these diagnoses to help better understand the self, meet oneself with acceptance and compassion as well as learn new tools to help manage the sense of overwhelm that can often accompany the lived experience associated with have a neurodivergent brain. I always say my most favourite people are neurodivergent...so I aim to provide a neruodiversity affirming space.
