I hold registration as a psychologist with the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria, having held such registration since 1974. I am a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Society of Hypnosis (the latter of which trains psychologists, doctors and dentists in the use of hypnosis). My studies have spanned psychology, education, rehabilitation and hypnosis, all of which are drawn upon in my psychological practice.
My professional training was both as psychologist and educator, and my professional experience has reflected this training. My teaching was mainly in tertiary colleges and the University of Melbourne, at the latter of which I held the position of Associate Professor. While at the University, I was involved in the establishment and operation of a clinic that provided psychological and educational assessments as well as counselling and therapy for children, adolescents and parents. I have conducted my own practice, Lifespan Psychological Services, in the Glen Waverley area since 1992.
MY GENERAL APPROACH TO COUNSELLING AND THERAPY
The title of LIFESPAN for my practice was chosen purposefully for it reflects my view that development is a lifelong process - one which involves the person, from infancy onwards, seeking to give expression to his or her potentialities, capabilities, and interests.
There may be times in that development when problems of a personal, relationship or professional nature arise that hinder this development.
These problems may take many forms: for example, developmental delay in infancy; toiletting, sleeping or phobia worries in early childhood; learning difficulties or behaviour problems in primary school; study motivation, self confidence or assertiveness issues in adolescence; relationship concerns as a young adult; work stress anxiety or depression in middle adulthood; or in old age, grief over the death of a loved one or concerns about one’s life lived, or not lived.
As a psychologist and hypnotherapist, I view my role as one of assisting the person - whether child, adolescent or adult - to overcome, or in some cases learn to cope with, impediments to growth such as these.
The counselling and therapy strategies I employ are as far as possible science-based, that is, there is a rationale and supporting evidence for the use of a strategy for a particular condition.
While I use a variety of treatment approaches, tailoring the therapy or counselling program to the particular orientation and needs of the client, my underlying treatment approach is cognitive-behavioural in nature.
This model of therapy is based on the view that thoughts play a significant role in determining how we feel and act. By changing our thoughts - whether they be conscious ones or subconscious ‘habit’ type thoughts - clients can change how they feel and act. This approach can be an empowering one for clients, permitting them to take charge of their own change process towards their chosen goals.
Consistent with this general approach to therapy, I draw upon a variety of strategies to assist clients to change their thought and behaviour patterns, including psychodynamic, narrative, ‘mindfulness’, hypnosis and biofeedback strategies.
