- a family seeking a child psychologist in Sydney's upper North Shore (or telehealth psychology)
- a clinician seeking high-level supervision
- a school looking to support student wellbeing
Support that stabilises the environment your family is growing in
PATHWAYS OF CARE
Meaningful change rarely happens in a couple of sessions – it emerges when we work together to create the conditions for growth at home, at school and in your family’s daily rhythms. My approach integrates clinical psychology, family systems theory, attachment principles, and developmental neuroscience to address both the symptoms and the soil they're growing in.
The family ecosystem method: a three-phase approach to meaningful change
FOR FAMILIES
When you work with me, you don't just get a therapy hour. You enter a structured pathway designed to stabilise your family's environment, address root causes, and build resilience that lasts. Here's how it works:
Assessment & Stabilisation
This phase includes:
Clinical Assessment: A thorough evaluation of your child's emotional wellbeing and your family's unique patterns and stressors.
Family Systems Understanding: We explore the bigger picture—how relationships, generational patterns, and life events shape what's happening now.
Creating the Container: We work together to reduce overwhelm and establish the predictability that creates a foundation for therapeutic work.
Optional Add-On - Sensory Landscape Audit: I offer a specialised evaluation that creates a tailored blueprint for supporting their unique needs at home and school.
PHASE 1:
We don't just assess the child; we stabilise the ecosystem they grow in. Before we begin deeper therapeutic work, we work together to establish the conditions that support change. In your first session, you'll receive my exclusive Family Foundations: A Reset Guide—a curated toolkit of resources to help you begin lowering stress and establishing rhythm at home immediately.
Therapy & Connection
This phase includes:
Individual Therapy for Your Child/Teen: Sessions using CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) skills to build emotional regulation and psychological flexibility. I always encourage involvement in a way your child is comfortable with—whether that's a brief check-in, joining for part of the session or being in the loop afterwards.
Family Therapy: Whole-family sessions where we work together on communication patterns, conflict resolution, and strengthening relationships. Using family systems principles and attachment-based approaches, we address the dynamics that affect everyone—not just the identified "problem."
Parenting Support: Coaching sessions for parents using attachment-based approaches, family systems principles, and Circle of Security concepts. You'll learn practical strategies and scripts for co-regulation at home.
Connection AND Structure: Regardless of the pathway, this isn't permissive parenting – it’s about holding boundaries with warmth, preparing kids for real life while maintaining secure relationships.
PHASE 2:
Targeted clinical intervention tailored to your family's unique needs.
As the foundation becomes more stable, we introduce therapeutic work using evidence-based approaches. Depending on what your family needs, we might use one or a combination of these pathways:
Growth & Future-Proofing
This phase includes:
Regular Check-Ins: We assess progress throughout. If things aren't improving as we’d hoped, we always reassess together, considering different therapeutic approaches or support from other specialists.
School Advocacy: If needed, I can join you for school meetings to translate your child's needs into practical classroom strategies. With significant schools experience across the North Shore, Northern Beaches and the Central Coast, I speak the language teachers understand. If you would like a specialised school support package, please see my ‘Comprehensive School Liaison Package’ below.
Future-Proofing: We develop strategies for navigating future challenges—developmental transitions, exam periods, friendship struggles—so you have tools to draw on if and when things feel hard again.
Finishing Strong: When you're ready, we end therapy intentionally. My hope is that the skills and insights you’ve developed will continue to support your family long after our work together ends.
PHASE 3:
Embedding the changes for the long term, and knowing when to finish.
Therapy isn't meant to last forever. My goal is to help you build capacity, not create dependency. As new patterns start to feel more natural, we work toward finishing well.
Comprehensive care add-ons
For families navigating complex needs or requiring additional coordination Beyond the core three-phase approach, I offer specialised services for families who need deeper assessment or comprehensive school coordination.
Comprehensive school liaison package
What's Included:
- Attendance at Learning Support Team or Student Wellbeing meetings
- Direct consultation with teachers, year coordinators, and school counsellors
- Strategic planning for school-based support systems
- Documentation support and advocacy letters
- Regular "touchpoint" meetings to ensure alignment across environments
- Optional: Classroom observation to see challenges in real-time
Ideal for: Families navigating school refusal, complex learning needs, or situations requiring ongoing coordination between multiple professionals. If you feel you need a more curated package, please enquire to discuss.
High-level coordination between clinical care and your child's school—ensuring everyone is working from the same playbook. With extensive schools experience, I act as the bridge between clinical insights and practical classroom implementation. This isn't just sending a letter—it's active, ongoing partnership with your child's educational team.
Sensory landscape audit
What's Included:
- Comprehensive sensory processing assessment
- Environmental recommendations for home setup
- Detailed report for school with specific classroom adjustments
- Follow-up consultation to implement recommendations
Ideal for: Families seeking to understand how their child's sensory needs impact learning, behaviour, and emotional regulation.
A specialized evaluation that maps your child's unique sensory and spatial needs, creating a tailored blueprint for both home and school environments.
Clinical supervision and professional learning
FOR CLINICIANS
High-level supervision for provisional psychologists and early career clinicians. As a Board Approved Supervisor with extensive clinical experience, I provide guidance grounded in clinical psychology, developmental frameworks, and evidence-based practice. I also run professional development workshops for allied health teams.
Consultation services for student wellbeing
FOR SCHOOLS
Strategic consultation for schools navigating complex student mental health needs. Having worked as Head of Psychology Services at a large independent school and across 45+ schools as a systemic wellbeing consultant, I help schools develop effective support systems, provide staff training, and bridge the gap between clinical care and classroom practice.
- Frequent emotional outbursts or shutdowns
- When school feels impossible for your child
- Anxiety that's affecting daily life
- Withdrawal from friends or activities
- Perfectionism leading to burnout
- Sleep difficulties or changes in appetite
- Constant conflict at home
- Academic pressure and exam stress
- Big life transitions (new school, divorce, loss)
- Difficulty managing anger or frustration
- Low self-esteem or negative self-talk
- Friendship struggles or social anxiety
- Family tension or communication breakdown
- You just know something isn't right
Here are some signs therapy might help:
Is Psychology support for you?
WONDERING IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY?
Here's what to expect
GETTING SUPPORT FOR YOUR CHILD CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING
Standard sessions are 50 minutes, though I also offer extended 75 or 90-minute sessions for family therapy or initial consultations. Sessions can be in-person at my Hornsby psychology practice or via telehealth psychology across Australia.
Flexible to your needs
SESSION LENGTH & FORMAT
The first session is usually with parents (or the whole family, depending on your child's age and comfort level). We'll discuss what's been happening, your concerns, and your goals. You'll leave with my Family Foundations: A Reset Guide and a clear sense of next steps.
We start with you
THE FIRST SESSION
Lots of families start with weekly sessions, then move to fortnightly as things stabilise. We adjust the frequency collaboratively based on what's working for you. Some families see significant shifts in 6-8 sessions, others need longer or shorter term support. We check in regularly about progress, and if things stall, we reassess together.
All at your pace
HOW OFTEN AND FOR HOW LONG?
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Narrative Therapy
- Family Systems Therapy
- Attachment-based Therapy
- Circle of Security
tailored to your family
WHAT THERAPIES DO YOU USE?
If you wish to claim a Medicare rebate for appointments, please see your child's GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist for a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). If you have private health insurance, you may be able to use this - please check with your individual insurer.
Medicare & Private Insurance
PAYMENTS & REBATES
I assess whether we’re a good fit from our very first session – I won’t take your family on if I believe another specialist would serve you better. If during our work together it becomes clear a different approach or practitioner would be more helpful, I’ll tell you honestly and help you find the right support. You deserve a psychologist who truly gets your family's needs.
honesty over everything
WHAT IF IT'S NOT THE RIGHT FIT?
