About
I’m a psychologist, researcher, educator, Board-approved supervisor and former naturopath based in Melbourne.
Before becoming a psychologist, I worked for more than seven years as a naturopath and lecturer. I later completed postgraduate training in community psychology and a PhD at Monash University.
A lot of my work has focused on men’s mental health, mindfulness and Buddhist psychology. My PhD investigated how Buddhist psychology and mindfulness can be integrated with contemporary psychological approaches, and what may have been lost when mindfulness was adapted into modern therapy.
My research has been published in Mindfulness, The American Journal of Men’s Health, Frontiers in Psychology and Psychological Thought.
Clinically, I work with adults, adolescents and couples, although most of my clients are men. I also provide supervision to psychologists and other practitioners.
Education & Training
Education
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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Monash University)
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Master of Psychology (Community Psychology)
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Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
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Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy)
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5-Year Buddhist Program (The Basic Program at FPMT)
Clinical Training
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Schema Therapy
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Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiCBT)
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Assertiveness Training
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Gottman Method Couples Therapy
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Family therapy
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Compassion-focused approaches
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Psychological assessment
My style
I’m probably not the most traditional psychologist. I tend to cut people off a lot more than other psychs, I’ve been told. My style is fairly relaxed, open and direct. I try to make therapy feel more like having coffee with a mate than something clinical or stiff.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers. Most of the time, the client and I are trying to work out what is happening together. Often, I’ll throw out a few common psychological profiles or patterns that I think might fit, and the client tells me whether any of it feels right for them. I think listening properly, noticing patterns and understanding the person in front of you are usually more important than trying to impress them with the name of a therapy technique.
The same goes for supervision. Psychology is serious work, but that does not mean we need to make it more stressful or complicated than it already is. I want psychologists to feel supported enough to think clearly, be honest when they are unsure, and gradually develop their own way of working.
Morty, my Vizsla and occasional therapy dog, also helps make things feel a little less formal.
What I’m trying
to do
This side of my work is partly about giving something back. I want to make psychology more practical, clear and hopefully a little less boring.
I’m not trying to replace people who have spent their careers becoming experts in one particular therapy. I’m more interested in helping psychologists join the dots, feel less overwhelmed and become more comfortable in the work.
I focus on the stuff that does not always get taught well at university, like how to structure a session practically, how to run a successful clinic, or how to join the dots and make sense of what is actually driving someone’s problem.