About Me
Clinical Psychologist & Psychotherapist
More about myself
What I'm all about.
My psychology journey began with a passion to understand what it is to be human and was apparent from my first Psychology undergraduate lecture. After a number of years travelling the calling to work in the psych field was strong and upon immigrating to Australia I embarked on professional clinical psychology training.
After doctoral studies, I took a position at Karitane, a community based mothercraft centre, where I began to deeply understand the mother-infant dynamic, attachment issues, and essentially where I believe many psychological difficulties begin. Later, I began private practice, (Maternal Connections), with two close colleagues and further specialised in the perinatal period. This has been hugely satisfying and continues today. Along this journey I felt a strong desire to increase my competence and to deepen the therapeutic work I was able to do. Recently, I embarked on an exciting, cutting edge psychoanalytic psychotherapy training. This further education and training has fuelled my passion and significantly complemented the depth and breadth of my therapeutic offering.
Recently, we also expanded our Maternal Connections private practice to support a broader range of adult difficulties. The new practice is called Connections Psychology Clinic which comprises myself in Woollahra and my colleagues in Leichhardt and Randwick.
Listed are a few of my professional milestones:
Experience
My professional journey
Jan 2018 - present
Connections Psychology Clinic
Co-Director and principal clinical psychologist
Woollahra
Private practice of a small team of highly qualified and experienced clinical psychologists supporting adults experiencing a range of difficulties
2014 - present
Maternal Connections
Co-Director and principal clinical psychologist
Woollahra / Randwick / Leichhardt
A private practice providing specialised psychological support to women and their families from pre conception through pregnancy, and the parenting journey.
2010 – 2014
Karitane
Clinical psychologist
Randwick, Sydney
A community based mother craft centre offering parenting support and targeted early intervention services to parents with children aged 0- 5 years of age.
2009 – 2010
Northside Clinic
Clinical psychologist
Greenwich, Sydney
A private 88 bed facility offering specialist clinical care in mood and anxiety disorders, drug and alcohol dependence, postnatal depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and general mental health disorders.
Education
My studies
2018 – present
University of Sydney
Master of Science in Medicine (Psychotherapy)
Sydney
Contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy training.
2007 – 2011
University of Sydney
Combined Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Sydney
Clinical training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Schema Therapy
Thesis: ‘An Investigation of the Effects of Maternal Social Cognitive Biases on Children with Anxiety and/ or Disruptive Behavioural Disorders’.
AH Martin Scholarship.
1996 – 1999
University of Cape Town
Bachelor of Social Science with Honours in Psychology
Cape Town, South Africa
Academic Bursary, Deans Merit List and Class Medal.