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 a member of the Society's Board of Clinical Psychologists.
I am also a member of the Australian Society of Hypnosis (which trains psychologists, doctors and dentists in the use of hypnosis).
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 clinical psychologist, 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.
