About me…
I’m an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at La Trobe University’s School of Psychology & Public Health, and I’m passionate about helping people build meaningful, fulfilling lives. Based in Melbourne, I’m a registered clinical psychologist with decades of experience supporting individuals and families in their recovery and wellbeing.
My background in Psychology
My path in clinical psychology began in the mid-1990s when I focused on psychological interventions for psychosis at Murdoch University. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working internationally—from pioneering early intervention services in Perth, to the National Health Service in the UK, and now back to Australia.
Along the way, I spent valuable years as a consultant clinical psychologist and psychology lead for early intervention for psychosis at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. These experiences shaped my approach to supporting people recovering from serious mental health challenges, including psychosis and bipolar disorder.
My Areas of Practice
For over 20 years, I’ve been practicing and teaching Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—an approach that helps people build psychological flexibility and create rich, meaningful lives even in the face of challenges. I’ve had the honour of training and supervising therapists, and I’ve been actively involved in the ACT community internationally. I was made a Fellow of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science in 2018 for my work in disseminating ACT.
My research and clinical work focus on understanding how people can develop psychological flexibility, particularly when experiencing difficulties like auditory hallucinations and psychosis. I completed my PhD at King’s College London exploring these very questions, and I continue to research how ACT can support both people recovering from mental health problems and health professionals themselves.
Sharing Knowledge
I believe in making evidence-based approaches accessible to everyone. I’ve co-authored several books, including a self-help guide called ACTivate Your Life: Using Acceptance and Mindfulness to Build a Life that is Rich, Fulfilling and Fun, and professional resources like ACT for Psychosis Recovery and a comprehensive text on ACT and mindfulness therapies for psychosis.
Whether you’re here as a fellow helper, a student, or someone interested in these approaches for yourself or a loved one, I’m glad you’ve stopped by.
