I am a Clinical Psychologist.
I am a Clinical Psychologist (registered with AHPRA, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, and a member of the Australian Clinical Psychological Association) with experience working with people with acquired brain injuries and related adjustment, mental health, and/or behavioural concerns. I have worked in the UK and Australia across inpatient and community brain injury services, working with individuals, groups, and family members.
I approach my work with clients from a biopsychosocial and trauma-informed perspective. I am aware that the consequences of a brain injury rarely occur in isolation and I recognise the importance of developing a comprehensive formulation with individuals to drive values-based goals to guide psychological therapy. My work is informed by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Families and/or the support team around the individual are often crucial to achieve and maintain positive outcomes and I am experienced in collaboratively working with multiple stakeholders.
I hold a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King’s College London, in the UK and a PhD from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. My research involved developing and trialling a social cognition group treatment program, ‘SIFT IT’, for people with acquired brain injuries. This program aimed to support individuals experiencing challenges in establishing and maintaining their social relationships following their brain injury. I facilitated groups to help individuals better understand their own and other’s emotions, recognise their thinking ‘biases’, perspective take, and choose adaptive behavioural responses in line with their own values and related social goals. I recognise that social cognitive and social behavioural challenges can often be particularly burdensome for individuals and their close others, and I am passionate about supporting people non-judgementally to find ways to better support their social relationships.
I have published my work in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences and workshops organised by the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI), the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Special Interest Group, and the International Neuropsychological Society. I have also co-authored book chapters, contributing to handbooks on neuropsychological rehabilitation and social cognition remediation.
