About Me

Why did you decide to become a psychologist?

I love listening to people’s stories and working together to help them work towards their goals. The work is really rewarding, creative, challenging and inspiring. Now that I’ve seen hundreds of clients, I like to provide supervision and support to the next generation of psychologists too.

I know that you have had different jobs. What kinds of stuff have you done?

Good question! I have worked as a psychologist in primary schools, universities, hospitals, charities and in private practice for more than 20 years all over Australia. I have worked with people of all ages but I really like working with kids, families and new parents the best.

Why?

Your brain grows really quickly during childhood so if you learn skills to cope when you are young, it’s likely that those skills will be useful throughout your whole life. Babies and kids’ brains are like big balls of Play-Doh. Just like you can mould Play-Doh to become different shapes, you can mould brains to learn new skills and cope with challenges through education and practice. As we get older, our brains become stiffer, more like plasticine, and it’s more difficult to change old habits. That’s why it’s important to treat psychological problems early – at a young age. The way I work with kids is to play games, draw pictures, read stories, watch videos, and have lots of fun. It’s nice for me to watch kids gain confidence and courage and feel happy to be who they are.

I also like working with new parents. You probably don’t remember this but becoming a parent can be really hard work because you have to learn a brand new job without getting much good sleep! I get a lot of pleasure in helping new parents through these tough times, and the pay-off is huge for not only the new parent but for the whole family.

Is it good to be a psychologist as well as a Mum?

It’s a balancing act but there are some benefits!

1. You guys help me to stay grounded and realise that it’s impossible to be a perfect parent!
2. You keep me up-to-date with what kids are into, like TikTok, Star Wars, Pokemon, Minecraft, handball, soccer, etc.
3. I have been around child care centres, kindergartens and schools a lot! That means I know about their systems, challenges and funding streams so I am able to advocate for the kids I see.
4. I got to be a new Mum three times so have a good memory of what it’s like to be pregnant, give birth, and look after really little (different) babies. I actually wrote my thesis on what helps new parents adjust successfully to parenthood.

Oh yeah, I remember that! Where did you learn how to be a psychologist?

I started off at Monash University in Melbourne and did a Bachelor of Arts/ Science in 1993. That was when I got interested in psychology. Then I moved to Canberra to do a Post-graduate Diploma in Psychology. And finally, lured by the sunny weather and easy-going lifestyle, I moved to Brisbane to do a Master of Clinical Psychology at QUT. I have also done training in Circle of Security Parenting, schema therapy, narrative therapy, expressive therapies, solution-focused therapy, mindfulness and Triple P Parenting and see my supervisor regularly. I blend these approaches to match the individual or the family that I am seeing.

What does a psychologist actually do?

People come to see me when they need help with problems. For example, they might be feeling sad or worried a lot. These feelings might get in the way of them enjoying life. My job is to help people to work out ways to solve these problems so that they can start feeling happier and confident more often. Psychologists help people by talking, giving information, playing games, teaching skills and even using creativity to draw out feelings, like drawing and craft.

Do the people you see get better?

Lots of clients feel like they move closer to their goals and feel more confident. I use known techniques that have been tried-and-tested to work by lots of psychologists and researchers.

Thanks Mum. Can I go and play with my friends now?

Yes, sure.