Our Psychologists

Shumaila is a Registered Psychologist who takes a therapeutic approach to her practice. She offers client-centred, strengths-based, collaborative treatment and uses a variety of therapeutic modalities tailored to individual needs.

She uses evidence-based interventions and techniques, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), among other therapeutic modalities, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Solution-Focused Therapy.

She has a special interest in working with adolescent and young adults, in the areas of depression, anxiety, trauma, early psychosis, ADHD, disability, ASD and family issues.

Shumaila is proficient in administering psychological assessments, including cognitive assessments and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessments for adolescents.

Age Groups
• Adolescents
• Young adults

Therapeutic Modalities:
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Motivational interviewing
• Solution-focused therapy

Tran is a compassionate and non-judgmental therapist, who takes an integrative approach to helping individuals build healthy relationships and find meaning in their experiences. She works collaboratively with individuals to understand the impacts of their early life experiences on their thoughts, behaviours and interpersonal difficulties.

During her training, Tran developed an interest in theories of emotion, which helped her to understand what is behind emotions and how emotions influence human behaviours. Following the training, she gained extensive experience in supporting individuals to identify, understand and express their emotions to build healthy interpersonal relationships.

Tran works collaboratively with individuals to understand the impacts of their early life experiences on their thoughts, behaviours and interpersonal difficulties. She has experience working with individuals to identify their emotional needs, challenge unhealthy coping styles and work on adaptive ways to get their needs met.

She supports individuals across the lifespan and with various backgrounds. 

She is a compassionate and non-judgmental therapist, who takes an integrative approach to helping individuals build healthy relationships and find meaning in their experiences.

Age groups: Young adults, adults and younger persons

Therapeutic Modalities

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (ITP)
• Schema Therapy

Sonja is the Principal Clinical Psychologist, Family Therapist and Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisor.  Sonja believes in a strengths-based, wholistic approach to understand each individual’s unique talents, values and goals, as well as the personal, social, relational and contextual factors that are contributing to mental health, or other psychological struggles.

Sonja has held multiple roles across public hospitals (consultation/liaison, inpatient and outpatient), community health, and private clinic settings, as well as several years working as a school psychologist.

 She had been providing clinical supervision and training for more than 20 years, and has held leadership roles in perinatal psychology, and child and youth mental health. Sonja has expertise in perinatal psychology and infant mental health, child/adolescents/parenting/family, complex presentations with co-morbidity and risk, functional neurological and somataform disorders, giftedness, and clinical supervision.

Age Groups

• Infants
• Children
• Adolescents
• Adults

Therapeutic Modalities

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness-based techniques
• Attachment therapy
• Parenting interventions
• Systemic-family therapy

Other Locations

Liverpool

Suite 302/203-209 Northumberland St,

Liverpool NSW 2170

02 9174 5640

Parramatta 

Level 9/80 George St,

Parramatta NSW 2150

02 9174 5600

Vanessa is a Clinical Psychologist with over a decade of experience working with a range of mental health concerns, including adjustment, relationship issues, grief and loss, depression and anxiety. Vanessa completed her undergraduate and postgraduate psychology training at the University of Melbourne. She has supported clients in a range of public mental health services, including youth and adult community mental health and hospitals. More recently, Vanessa has worked in private practice.

Vanessa has particular interests in:

• Perinatal mental health

She enjoys supporting families during pregnancy, postpartum and through parenthood. She has a focus on helping them to find joy and increased confidence in these life transitions and values the opportunity to support and enhance parent-child relationships.

• Trauma

She also has expertise and interests in supporting clients who have had traumatic experiences, including those early in life.  

Vanessa’s approach is compassionate and warm. She is aware that it can be daunting to commence therapy. Hence, she is committed to providing an empathic, non-judgmental environment where clients feel listened to and safe to talk about their difficulties. She is interested in helping clients to reflect on how past experiences, especially where these are traumatic or challenging, may connect to current concerns and provides support to work through these together.

She draws on a range of therapeutic approaches, depending on a client’s needs and goals. She utilises EMDR when supporting clients who have experienced trauma. She is a registered Circle of Security facilitator and she will also often draw on attachment theory in her work with clients. She is also a registered Circle of Security parent group facilitator.

Age groups:

• Adults
• Older Persons

Therapeutic modalities:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Attachment-based therapy (ABT)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

Ghazal is an experienced clinical psychologist with over 18 years of expertise in State and Federal Government, the private sector, and senior leadership roles in wellbeing services. She has worked with individuals across diverse backgrounds, tailoring her approach to meet each client’s unique needs.

Ghazal holds multiple postgraduate qualifications, including a Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) from Edith Cowan University and a Master of Psychology (Organisational Psychology) from the University of Western Australia. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) Clinical College and the British Psychological Society.

With a compassionate and evidence-based approach, Ghazal supports individuals facing a wide range of psychological challenges, including anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, and stress-related concerns. She has a particular interest in helping adults manage neurodiversity, improve emotional regulation, and navigate personal and professional relationships. Ghazal also provides psychological support for workplace stress, leadership challenges, and organisational change, helping individuals and teams build resilience and adapt to complex environments.

Age Groups:
• Young Adults (18+)
• Adults
• Older Persons

Therapeutic modalities:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness and Compassion-Focused Therapy
• Schema Therapy
• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

Dr Annelies is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist originating from Belgium, who moved to Australia in 2017. Dr Annelies finished the training as a Psychiatrist and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in the Netherlands in 2004 where she had a special interest in diagnosing and treating ADHD, ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders until moving to Australia in 2017. She believed then, and still believes, in medication to treat mental health disorders but also in non-pharmacological strategies with the child and the important people around them including mindfulness and the collaborative problem-solving method (Ross Greene). In Australia, Dr Annelies has worked treating children's mental health problems caused by traumatic events, such as (complex) PTSD, Reactive Attachment Disorder and Dissociative Disorders. Dr Annelies again believes that medication can have a role in the treatment of these disorders, however, that therapeutic interventions and non-pharmacological strategies are equally important for the child and family's healing and recovery. 

Further Description: 

Dr Annelies completed her training as a medical doctor in Belgium in 1999 and then moved to the Netherlands where she completed her training as a Psychiatrist and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in 2004. For 14 years she provided specialised care in assessing and treating children and young people with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and their comorbidities, both in a clinical and out-patient setting. Dr Annelies worked passionately for 5 years as the Clinical Director of a day-clinic facility for children with severe mental health problems, where she pioneered a clinical enhancement program informed by the well-known collaborative problem-solving method (Ross Greene). Dr Annelies believes that medication can be helpful in the treatment for children and young people with ADHD and ASD, but also believes that therapeutic interventions and non-pharmacological strategies, like family work and skill development in the child, as well as the important people around and raising them, are equally important.

In Australia, Dr Annelies has worked for Queensland Health, treating children's mental health problems caused by traumatic events, such as (complex) PTSD, Reactive Attachment Disorder and Dissociative Disorders. Dr Annelies developed a keen interest in this area and has further trained in different therapeutic modalities (EMDR, Theraplay, DDP, Play Therapy), and completed a 12-month long, international certification course for treating complex PTSD with Bessel Van Der Kolk (2019) and an international 12-month long certification program in treating dissociative disorders in children and youth (2024, Waters and Marks). Dr Annelies again believes that medication can have a role in the treatment of (complex) PTSD, however, that therapeutic interventions and non-pharmacological strategies like attachment-based therapy (Theraplay, DDP) and individual treatment delivered in a playful way, like EMDR and dissociation treatment, are equally important for the child and family's healing and recovery. 

Age Groups:

• Children and Adolescents (0-17 yrs)

Therapeutic Approaches and Modalities:

• Theraplay - D(yadic) D(evelopmental) P(sychotherapy)
• EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
• Play Therapy
• Collaborative Problem Solving Method
• Dissociation Work
• Mindfulness
• Assessment
• Medication Therapy

Emily is a Clinical Psychologist who provides confidential therapy in a safe, caring and respectful way. She has practiced in both Australia and Hong Kong, in counselling centres, non-profit organisations, hospitals, schools and in private practice.

With more than 10 years of experience in the field, she is well versed in working with adults and children from diverse cultures and backgrounds who experience a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, stress, interpersonal/relationship problems, grief and loss, trauma, obsessive behaviours and addictions, as well as issues relating to personal growth and life direction.

Emily’s gentle and supportive approach has helped many individuals find relief from their symptoms and reach a place of genuine and greater wellbeing. She adopts a client-centered, integrated approach to treatment, based on psychodynamic, attachment, emotion-focused, mindfulness and cognitive/behavioural theories.

Languages:
• Cantonese

Age groups:
• Young Adults
• Adults
 

Therapeutic Approaches and Modalities:

• Psychodynamic therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Emotion-Focused Therapy
• Compassion-focused and strengths based
• Trauma informed 
• Mindfulness 

Karen is a Clinical Psychologist with qualifications including a Bachelor of Arts (major in Psychology), Graduate Diploma of Psychology and Master of Clinical Psychology. Karen’s professional experience has comprised all life stages and diverse settings including inpatient and outpatient settings, educational and private settings.

Karen has a particular interest in working with young people and adults experiencing anxiety and mood disorders, trauma histories, chronic health issues and supporting families with parenting concerns.

Karen adopts an empathetic, respectful and compassionate approach to support clients in exploring their strengths and values, empowering them to live a meaningful life. Karen values creating a safe, collaborative and non-judgmental therapeutic space for children, adolescents and adults and is committed to working with clients to tailor therapy to their individual needs.

Karen employs an evidence-based therapeutic approaches which may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy and mindfulness based interventions to treat a range of presentations such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, chronic pain, grief and relationship issues

Age Groups

• Children
• Adolescents
• Young Adults
• Adults
• Older Persons

Therapeutic Modalities

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Therapy and mindfulness

Sam is a warm and experienced Clinical Psychologist supporting clients across the lifespan, with a particular focus on children, young people, and families. He works collaboratively with clients experiencing anxiety, neurodivergence (Autism/ADHD), and the many challenges that come with parenting or school/learning.

Sam enjoys supporting clients understand themselves better through high-quality, evidence-based assessments in Autism, ADHD, Learning and Cognitive differences, and Functional Capacity (NDIS), and specialises in supporting clients through the NDIS process. He also provides ongoing, individually tailored intervention built around each client's strengths, needs, and goals, alongside comprehensive child and family support.

Sam also values working as part of a broader support team, and enjoys consulting and coordinating with schools and allied health professionals to make sure each client is supported consistently across every part of their world.

Sam's approach is grounded in neuroaffirming practice, working alongside each client's natural way of thinking rather than trying to change it. His therapeutic approaches include:

• Neuroaffirming Approach and Neurodiversity Paradigm
• Child-Focused Therapy and Play Therapy
• Family Systems Theory and Narrative Therapy
• Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• School and Allied Health Liaison
• Parenting and Family Support
• ADHD, Autism, Learning, and Cognitive Assessments
• NDIS Support and Functional Capacity Assessments

Sam has extensive experience working with diverse presentations and age groups. He is particularly interested in supporting helping children & young people (aged 2 to 25-year-old), and their families and supports, build confidence, develop practical skills, and achieve meaningful, lasting change

Sam holds a Master’s of Clinical Psychology, a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), and an Engineering Backgrounds, with a Double Degree in Engineering (Mechanical) and Business (Management).

Age Groups

• Children
• Teenagers
• Adults
• Families

Patty strives to provide a warm, genuine and transparent approach for all clients, establishing a trusting and collaborative therapeutic alliance. Her belief is that the integration of evidence-based treatments with a reciprocal authentic relationship leads to improved client outcomes.

She has a particular therapeutic interest in working with adults and adolescents in the areas of neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD & ASD) and challenging behaviours; particularly emotional and behavioural dysregulation and difficulties with attachment or trauma backgrounds and emerging personality disorders.

She has experience in providing psychometric assessment and interventions for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

She works with young adults to help manage life transitions, depression, anxiety, stress and relaxation. She also has experience working with new parents to manage postnatal depression, parenting anxiety and assisting in adjusting to parenthood.

Patty is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, and a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPi).

Age Groups
• Children
• Adolescents
• Young Adults
• Adults
• Older Persons

Therapeutic Modalities:
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness