About the therapist

Professional background

🎓 Qualifications, accreditation & credentials

• Master of Applied Social Work – Massey University (Honored Graduation)

• Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health and Addiction – Auckland University of Technology (Academic Excellence Reward)

• Accredited Mental Health Social Worker – Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

• Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician (Mental Health) – Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED)

• Approved Counsellor – NSW Victims Support Scheme

• Current senior mental health clinician employment in public health

Core Therapeutic Stance

My motivation to devote myself to the field of social work and mental health comes from a genuine curiosity about human beings. I have lived in several different countries, which has given me the privilege of immersing myself in diverse cultures. I have also practiced in a range of mental health settings. The more I experience, the more I begin to see the commonality that underlies us as humans.

We all share universal needs: to survive, to be safe, to belong, to be seen, to have autonomy, freedom, and a sense of competence. I have also come to understand how these needs are deeply rooted in our relationship with ourselves — a relationship that often mirrors how we relate to others. Our ways of relating, usually shaped by our family background and social environment, influence our existence and the paths we have taken so far, and they continue to shape our future.

We are constantly “becoming human.” And we do not do this alone — we do it together.

My interest in this developmental process has shaped my practice. Fundamentally, I pay attention to (1) the quality of our relationship and (2) the long-term developmental trajectory of the people I work with. That is why I aim to cultivate a therapeutic style that is both relational and outcome-driven.

The following outlines some of my core therapeutic stances.

• Evidence-based practice
  My work is grounded in established research evidence. In other words, I use approaches that have been shown to be effective for specific presentations. For example, I prioritize family-based approaches for adolescent Anorexia Nervosa and oppositional behaviors, and exposure- and behavioral-based approaches for anxiety disorders and OCD.

• Formulation- and context-informed, with a non-pathologizing stance
  I do not view mental health difficulties as “diagnoses” alone. Rather than focusing solely on diagnosing, my preference is understanding. I seek to understand each person’s unique lived experience within their social, cultural, and relational context. While I value diagnosis as a guide informed by empirical research, I do not believe mental health difficulties can be reduced to “illness” alone. I see many difficulties as understandable patterns of coping—often developed for valid reasons. Instead of asking “What is wrong with you?”, my core question is: “What happened to you?”

• Unconditional belief in human dignity and worth
  I hold a fundamental belief that every individual is born with inherent and infinite worth. This belief applies equally in my personal life and in my professional work. I recognize that for people who have experienced significant adversity, beliefs such as “I am broken” or “I am beyond help” can feel painfully real. However, I firmly reject the idea that any person is “too damaged” or “unworkable.” Every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect—by themselves, by others, and by society.

• Unconditional positive regard
  Guided by the humanistic principle of unconditional positive regard, I assume competence, intention, and motivation within every individual. When these capacities are temporarily blocked, I believe they remain present beneath the surface, and therapy aims to remove barriers and support their re-emergence. In family work, I view all children and adolescents as fundamentally resilient. I make a clear distinction between behaviour and the person: behaviour may be problematic, but the person never is. Accordingly, I reject the notion that any child or adolescent is the problem. I also view families and parents as essential resources in a child’s recovery and reject the idea that parents or families are “the problem.” I respect the agency of individuals and families to make meaningful decisions about their own lives.

• Humans as fundamentally relational beings
  I believe mental health is deeply relational. A quote I hold close is: “We all have an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” Consistent with research, I view humans as inherently wired for connection. Relationships can contribute to distress, but they can also be powerful sources of healing and recovery. I value healthy dependency and actively challenge the pathologisation of connection-seeking behaviours, recognising that while some relational strategies may be ineffective, they are often attempts to meet valid human needs and can be supported to evolve.

• Shared responsibility in therapy
  I take responsibility for my role in the therapeutic process and outcomes. I align with a core Dialectical Behaviour Therapy principle: “Clients do not fail therapy—if therapy does not achieve the agreed outcome, either the treatment or the therapist has failed.” I acknowledge that all therapists have limitations, and I actively reflect, seek feedback, and adapt my approach when progress is limited. At the same time, I believe therapy works best when individuals and families take responsibility for their own lives and relationships. I reject the idea that a therapist can “fix” someone. Instead, I see therapy as a collaborative partnership—offering guidance, support, and encouragement as people step into their own agency. In work with children, I believe caregivers are irreplaceable, and while acknowledging the challenges adults face, I hold that responsibility and growth remain essential. Thus, I do not “fix” children; instead, I work persistently to support adults in supporting their children. Shared responsibility—where everyone contributes to the fullest of their capacity—creates the strongest foundation for change.

• The importance of social and cultural context
  I place strong emphasis on social, cultural, and systemic influences on mental health. I do not conceptualize distress as purely individual pathology. Human suffering emerges from the interaction between biology and social environment. Social contexts can create both risk and harm, as well as protection, meaning, and opportunity.

• Developmental perspective
  I take a developmental lens in all my work, particularly with children and adolescents. Therapy is not only about addressing current difficulties, but also about supporting long-term growth and resilience. My aim is to help resolve present challenges while planting the seeds for healthy future development.

Some indications I might be good fit for your needs:

For adults or adolescents seeking support for yourself:

• You are looking for individual treatment for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or eating disorders.

• You are experiencing complex mental health challenges (e.g., multiple diagnoses at once). I tend to integrate different evidence-based approaches and make adjustments based on your individual context.

• You have intense emotional experiences and are struggling with stability in your life.

• You are experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm and would like support that goes beyond a “safety plan” — toward building a life worth living (although safety planning will always be prioritized first).

• You want to improve and stabilize your interpersonal relationships.

• You are navigating a sense of emptiness and want support in developing a stronger sense of self.

• You have experienced trauma or other adverse childhood events and would like to make sense of these experiences, reduce emotional suffering, and build healthier relationships in the future.

For caregivers seeking support for your children or yourself:

• Your child is experiencing significant mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, eating disorders, self-harm, suicidality, or intense emotions, and you want to be part of their recovery and growth journey.

• You are concerned about your child’s behavior — for example, oppositional or aggressive behavior, or adolescent “delinquent” behaviors such as truancy, running away from home, or substance use — and want guidance on helping them get “back on track.”

• You feel a lack of control or powerlessness in your parenting.

• You have difficulties connecting with your child or young person.

• You experience high anxiety or distress in the parenting process.

• You have experienced trauma or adverse childhood events yourself and are concerned about how this might impact your parenting or the next generation.

·         You have experienced domestic violence or coercive control and are concerned about your children’s emotional and mental wellbeing.

For Families:

• Seeking options on how to support a loved one through difficult life challenges or mental health concerns

• Families facing high levels of conflict between members

• Families experiencing disconnection and isolation

• Families going through difficult transitions such as welcoming a newborn, moving house, separation, or the sudden loss of a loved one

• Families who have experienced trauma