About my services and background:
I am a psychologist/psychotherapist providing psychological services to the Geelong area. I also offer tele-health. I was born and raised in Geelong and moved back from the Byron Bay area in 2022 with my family. I have practiced full time as a therapist since 1989.
I am a father of 5 gorgeous children (some now adult) ranging in age from 36 to 5 years old. I have a lived experience of blended families and rich neuro-diversity within my family. I also have 4 grandchildren- 4 very busy boys! I am well acquainted with the wild, wonderful and unpredictable messiness of life and the sovereign wisdom of each of us- which is a guiding principle in my work.
I also offer a dance/ movement practice called Moving Soul which is a part of a worldwide dance movement practice, Open Floor International (www.openfloor.org). This is described in the “Dance” tab on this website. I have been exploring the healing power of dance since 1982 and have completed various training in dance and dance therapy as listed below.
Note: Currently these dance offerings are on hold whilst I settle and build my psychology practice.
Summary of qualifications:
1982: Bach. Behavioural Science, La Trobe University
1986: Grad. Dip. Ed. Psych, Monash University
1992: Grad. Dip. in Movement and Dance, Melbourne University
1993-6: Dance Therapy training with International Dance Therapy Institute of Australia under American Dance Therapist, Marcia Leventhal
1995: Grad. Dip. in Family Therapy, La Trobe University
2006: Masters in Clinical Family Therapy, La Trobe University
2007: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Teacher Training (MBSR), Open Ground.
2019: Completed Teacher Training with Open Floor International.
More detail about my background and my therapeutic approach:
My therapeutic approach is tailored to the needs of each individual, couple or family and combines insights from neuropsychology, psychodynamics and attachment theory, analytic theory (Jungian), family therapy and cognitive-behavioural schools gained during more than 30 years of study and experience.
My approach can perhaps be best understood by tracking my training and experiences as a therapist since 1978.
I initially completed a Bachelor of Behavioural Science at La Trobe University in 1982 and a Graduate Diploma in Educational Psychology at Monash University in 1986.
In 1986 my first position as a psychologist was at Odyssey House Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Melbourne where I facilitated therapy groups and conducted individual therapy under the supervision of a clinical psychologist, primarily within a psycho-dynamic framework, over a three year period.
I then worked for WorkCover for twelve months, managing a caseload of people with complex injuries including people with chronic pain, depression and anxiety disorders.
In the five years from 1991, I worked in the area of acquired brain injury, firstly with a Specialist Unit of Commonwealth Rehabilitation Services and then with the Head Injury Unit of the Transport Accident Commission Rehabilitation Hospital in Melbourne. It was during this time that I began more formal training in systemic family therapy, solution focused therapy/ brief interventions and began working with couples and families. I completed a Graduate Diploma in Family Therapy at La Trobe University in 1995.
In the ensuing 12 years up until 2008 I worked at Eastern Access Community Health in Melbourne as a therapist specialising in problem gambling. During this time, with a team of 2 other psychologists, I researched and developed the G-MAP, an assessment and treatment instrument for Problem Gambling published by the Australian Council for Educational Research in 2001. Alongside individual, couple and family work I provided clinical supervision to the psychologists of the trauma team within the Victims of Crime Service.
I completed a Masters in Clinical Family Therapy in 2006 and teacher training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in 2007.
From 2008-2021 I maintained a full time solo private Practice in the Northern Rivers of NSW until moving to Geelong in 2022.
Since 1983 I have also maintained a passionate interest in body based therapies, particularly creative dance and dance therapy. In addition to many hours of dancing the 5 Rhythms and attending classes in contact improvisation, I completed a Graduate Diploma in Movement and Dance at Melbourne University in 1992 followed by three years of Dance Therapy training with the International Dance Therapy Institute of Australia under American dance therapist, Marcia Leventhal. Most recently I completed teacher training with Open Floor International.
I am fascinated with the links between current neurological research and psychotherapy, particularly how the “soft science” of the inner child can be mapped and is mirrored in the “hard science” of neurology.
Most recently I am immersing my self in the links between mitochondrial health, mental health, brain function, chronic inflammation, chronic disease and longevity. This is leading me into exciting explorations into intermittent fasting, hormesis, high intensity training and better sleep!