Child and Family Therapy

My Background

Since 2003 I have been supporting children and young people (alongside their families/carers) who have challenging and complex needs. My clinical focus has been supporting those who have experienced significant developmental and complex relationship trauma such as chronic adversity, abuse, neglect and lack of safely while growing up; as well as other experiences of trauma such as chronic toxic stress, childhood medical procedures, adverse community environments for eg. poverty, discrimination and violence.

I have worked in private practice and paid employment as a counsellor/advocate and senior clinical supervisor with organisations providing sexual assault, family violence and homelessness support. I have worked extensively with intercountry adoptees and their families. Including young adoptees, adult adoptees and adoptive parents who are learning to manage the complexities and unique challenges intercountry adoption can bring across a lifetime. My work has included trauma focused individual and family sessions. Through this, I have gained extensive experience working alongside parents, carers, schools and the broader child protection system to support a shared understanding of trauma, attachment needs and how best to support children and young people to manage the impact these experiences have on them.

I have a background in disability and music and began my career as a Music Therapist. During this time I established Music Therapy programs in 6 women’s refuge’s in Metropolitan Melbourne which was a first for Victoria. Through music, I supported the relationship between the mother and child using an attachment / trauma focused lens. From this, I developed and facilitated Therapeutic Music and Creative Arts groups for women and children escaping family violence, as well as implementing Therapeutic Music and Creative Arts groups within schools for children identified as ‘at risk’ of early school leaving, depressive mood states, and social isolation. I have also provided Music therapy programs for parents/carers and pre-school age children experiencing social disadvantage and isolation within their community to support healthy attachment and connection.

It was as a result of this work, that I became passionate about understanding more about the systems of interactions between family members and the neuroscience behind the impact of trauma. I completed my Masters of Clinical Family Therapy in 2010, and have continued extensive professional development in relation to trauma informed practices, and specialising in EMDR.

I am published in the ‘Supporting Homeless Families’ journal, and ‘The Australian Journal of Music Therapy’, and have presented at several Australian Music Therapy Association of Australia National Conferences, as well as the Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre professional Development Series. I am sought as a clinician, consultant, trainer and speaker.