What We Treat

One of the most common challenges my clients present with is difficulty in managing their anxiety. In fact, statistics show that nearly 30% of adults experience anxiety at some point in their lives – so you are certainly not alone!

Anxiety can be a normal reaction to life’s stressors and when activated in the appropriate contexts (i.e. in the face of real danger) can be highly beneficial for our survival. It can help us to be more alert, cautious, and ready to fight, flight or freeze – all of which are evolutionarily designed to keep us safe in the face of danger and threat.

When fight/flight/freeze is activated, the intelligent part of your brain (prefrontal cortex) is temporarily taken offline so that the more instinctual part of your brain (reptilian brain) can kick into gear and help you swiftly survive the danger.

However, in a modern world, we are less under threat by a bear or a tiger as we are by an overdue bill, conflict with a partner, a school assignment and so on – all important issues that require the use of our intelligent brain and not our reptilian brain.

So, when our experience of anxiety becomes excessive, hard to manage, disproportionate to the event and significantly impacts our day-to-day functioning it may be time to seek professional help. This is the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder.

Some common anxiety disorders include:

• Generalised anxiety disorder

• Panic Disorder

• Agoraphobia

• Other Specific Phobias

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Most people go through some form of trauma in their lifetime, for some the effects of these terrible events do not linger for long however for many individuals the effects of trauma can be severe, complex and persistent. When people think of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) they generally think of veterans, or car accidents and natural disaster survivors and although all are very real examples of trauma that can lead to PTSD symptoms, most people that I meet in my practice have not experienced such events. Traumatic events are highly subjective; what is perceived as traumatic to one individual may not be so to another. Which means we are all unique in our response to life’s events and there is no shame in our individual experiences or symptoms that develop as a result of our trauma.

A lot of the clients I work with have experienced repeated childhood neglect and abuse and have found the courage to seek support, acknowledge that what happened to them was not their fault and take on the brave responsibility for healing and reconnection to the true self. If this is you, just know that all parts of you are welcome and will be supported with loving kindness and compassion.

Trauma work is some of the most rewarding and insightful work that I get to engage in on a daily basis. I would be honoured to help you in your journey.

I offer ADHD treatment with innovative and evidence-based methods. My approach includes Neurofeedback, a cutting-edge modality that trains the brain for improved focus, attention, and self-regulation. By tailoring your treatment program to your unique needs, I ensure efficient and impactful results, helping you achieve mental clarity, focus, productivity and improved functioning across all domains of life.

I am dedicated to providing holistic and individualised addiction treatment. Understanding that addiction affects every aspect of your life, I utilise a blend of EMDR to process trauma, Neurofeedback to enhance brain function, Biofeedback to manage stress, and Cognitive Behavioral approaches to change harmful patterns of thought and behaviour. My goal is to guide you through the recovery process, helping you rebuild your life with resilience and strength. My aim is to help you achieve lasting sobriety and a healthier, more fulfilling future. Let’s embark on this transformative journey together.

The experience of stress is a normal response to life’s challenging, difficult or demanding events. Stress can cause changes to our physical sensations, our emotions and can result in psychological strain. From a functional perspective, stress signals the body to pay attention and resolve the challenge at hand. At healthy levels, stress is instrumental in helping us to protect ourselves/others and achieve things that are of value to us. The way we respond to our experience of stress is crucial to our wellbeing so learning to cope and regulate stress is an essential life skill. When we are stressed it can sometimes lead to excessive worry, irritability, changes in heartrate and breathing, poor concentration and difficulties with memory. Some individuals also experience difficulties with appetite and sleep. If stress is not well managed it can lead to unhelpful coping strategies such as use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs as well as a decline in functioning in various areas of life.

The good news is that stress is very much manageable, and you can learn the skills and tools you need to not only cope but thrive in stressful situation.

Some common stressors that people may experience include:

• Workplace stress

• Relational Stress

• School or academic stress

• Parenting Stress

• COVID-19 and other health related stress

Depression is a very common mental health condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally 5% of adults suffer from depression and that it is a leading cause of disability around the world. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th Edition (DSM-5) includes the following defining criteria for depression:

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.

• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.

• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.

• A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).

• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.

• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.

• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.

• Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

If you are experiencing five or more symptoms from the above list during the same 2-week period, it could be likely that you are be experiencing an episode of Depression.

Depression is highly treatable, manageable and with the right tailored support you can get back to feeling like yourself again.

In my clinic, I see many clients with Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD. These clients usually feel deflated, disillusioned, and hopeless after multiple hospital admissions or severely disrupted relationships, careers, and a lack of a reliable and consistent support network.

My clients don’t just feel waves of emotions, they describe them as tsunami. And by the time they come to seek help, most people with BPD have developed specific ways to cope that make life all the more challenging including risk taking behaviour, impulsivity, various types of addictions, self-harm and suicidal behaviour.

Although BPD is a serious and severe condition, in my experience it has also been highly treatable using Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) as per Marsha Linehan’s model. Evidence shows a tremendous treatment success rate for individuals who follow the DBT program.

Please reach out for support because you are not alone and how you feel makes sense!

Grief is a natural response to loss – the loss of a loved one, a pet, a job, a relationship breakdown, a miscarriage, bankruptcy, and the list goes on. There is never a deadline for when grieving should end or how it should be experienced. Grief does not have a set pattern and can look differently for each person. When grieving a loss, your thinking, feelings and body sensations are strongly impacted. You may experience low mood, worry, anger, forgetfulness, lack of concentration, social withdrawal, difficulty sleeping and/or eating and maybe even some somatic pains such as belly aches and headaches.

It is crucial to seek support when grieving to help you in the process of healing and meaning making post significant loss.

Some of the ways in which therapy can help during this period is in giving you the space and containment for your grief, honour your loss, and prepare for future triggers and cope ahead.

As a dedicated psychologist, I offer Peak Performance Training designed to help you reach your highest potential. My tailored approach integrates EMDR, Neurofeedback, Biofeedback, and Cognitive Behavioral techniques to address your unique needs and goals. By utilising these evidence-based modalities, I provide comprehensive support to enhance your focus, resilience, and mental agility. Together, we will unlock your true potential, enabling you to excel in both personal and professional spheres.