What we treat
I am delighted to become a member of the Someone Health team. I have over 10 years of experience in the provision of telehealth as a psychologist so, I can help you to feel at ease if this is new for you.
I have many years of experience helping people change behaviours that can form part of a chronic condition whether physical or psychological. These changes include becoming more physically active and fit; pain management; feeling in control of your eating; the moderate consumption of alcohol; smoking cessation (I am an accredited smoking cessation specialist) and cessation of problem gambling.
I have extensive experience helping people exit a substance abuse lifestyle, including the use of methamphetamine (ice), heroin and avoiding repeated incarcerations and being successful in achieving rehabilitation goals.
I also help people to become aware of how their thinking and beliefs can undermine their attempts to make sustainable changes to their behaviour and ultimately their physical and mental health. My approach is both guilt, blame and shame free as both are the biggest stumbling blocks on the path to healthy and satisfying living.
I am an LGTBI friendly practitioner and I have many years of experience working in a range of different communities and lifestyles. I also have extensive experience working with Indigenous and Islander clients, including in remote communities. I am a pet and companion animal grief counsellor who can help you with the loss of your treasured animal and all the pain that can bring.
Finally, I am skilled at assisting with decision making in critical life events such as career and education goals, exiting a relationship and divorce, a toxic workplace, sexual harassment and bullying, and the care of disabled, older and terminally ill family members. I can help you to feel confident that you are making a good decision and not giving up something that you might later regret.
**New this year! End of relationship coaching.** You have made the decision to exit a relationship(marriage, friendship, work, family): How do you make sense of the often conflicting emotions, your own and those of others? What about the advice you might receive? How are you going to address the practical issues: finances and property, lawyers and legal matters, children, workers comp., unfair dismissal. What to say and to whom and when? What will you say to children and family members, colleagues, and future employers? This isn’t relationship counselling. It is about making decisions, setting goals, planning and not getting drawn into senseless arguments that induce guilt and set you off course. This can often be a miserable time but it is also an opportunity to look to your future with optimism. Let’s talk things through.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Psychology and French. I completed a Masters degree by research. I have a Postgraduate Diploma in the Psychology of Old Age. I have also taught at university for a number of years, participated in research and trained psychologists and other health care professionals. I use evidence based therapy approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Therapy (CT), Cognitive Processing Therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Trauma Focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and I am trained in Family Therapy.; I have been fortunate to have worked with many different clients in a range of settings: private practice, government departments, GP clinics, university clinics, community clinics, inpatient and outpatient hospital clinics. I have learned to develop long-term therapeutic relationships which enables me to work with clients who have complex and chronic conditions. I enjoy working with children and adolescents but also with their parents, especially their mothers, who rarely seem to get any praise or encouragement for doing a pretty job of raising their children.