About..

What I do

I have a passion for Schema Therapy and working with people who have suffered from trauma. My first clinical placement was at Hollywood Hospital working in the Trauma Recovery Program for Military Personnel, after which I continued working at the hospital in different programs (Inpatient Group Therapy & Dialectical Behaviour Therapy). In November 2015 I joined the Schema Therapy outpatient program, where I remained until February 2020. Seeing the success of the program and how many people recovered from their ‘schemas’ only served to continue my love of this style of therapy, whilst adding to this other modalities (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing and Gottman Marital Therapy for couples). Running in conjunction with my group work, I have managed a private practice since 2015.

What I did

After completing Honours in 2001 I took nine years from study to travel and work in the United Kingdom. This led to many interesting positions, from working as bar staff (stereotypical!), entering milk data for National Milk Records, being a personal assistant in London to a wealthy widower (I lasted a week!), to training staff in Glasgow for B&Q call centre to name a few. Once I returned to Australia I worked for a disability employment agency whilst completing my Masters in Clinical Psychology. Here I was lucky to study under Dr Christopher Lee and volunteered on his international study, which examined treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder. This sparked my interest in Schema Therapy, and working alongside people who repeated the same patterns throughout their lives.

Who I am

When it all boils down, I am a country girl who likes nothing better than to hang out with animals, preferably in a checkered shirt (me, not the animals). I am not the overtly professional type, I find that this often gets in the way of our humanity and the ability to be close. I am authentically myself, which makes some rubbish jokes, loves English comedies and can be a bit of a grub. The reason I love what I do? There is nothing better than being part of a person’s recovery, from seeing themselves as flawed or broken to believing that they are worthy and deserving of love. Science shows us that we, as humans, need and require connection. I have to admit, I’m a bit of a connection junkie! And it sure beats entering the fat content of milk all day!