Professional Experience

Mary has 25 years’ experience as a clinical psychologist in both the private and public sectors. She works with toddlers (aged 0 and up), children, adolescents, adults and families. She is highly skilled in assessing and treating a broad range of mental health conditions such as suicide risk, trauma, PTSD, complex trauma, ASD, ADHD, depression (including perinatal and postnatal), bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, OCD, generalised anxiety disorder and panic attacks. 

Mary has extensive training in various parenting and intervention programs (add)  mental health programs, including Circle of Security; Tuning into Kids, Parent Developmental Interview; Watch, Wait, and Wonder; Triple P (Positive Parenting Program); CARE-INDEX; Resilience Doughnut; Early Developmental Trauma; Advanced Mentalisation-Based Therapy and more. She has also been published in the Australian Child and Family Nursing Journal for the Circle of Security pilot study.

Mary believes that life experience fosters a deeper appreciation of fundamental human values, including authenticity, kindness, compassion, gratitude, vulnerability, advocacy, empathy and justice – all of which influence her approach to therapy. She takes a genuine, kind and caring approach to help individuals achieve their personal and SMART goals as they face life’s challenges and struggles. In her personal life, she has raised three happy and independent children, while allowing them the freedom to be who they want to be, validating and supporting their individuality. For Mary, living and working within her values is a privilege. She finds it most rewarding to see her clients reach their potential and goals, and celebrates each of them as unique individuals.

Mary uses a bio-psychosocial approach to support individuals and families. Her areas of expertise include assessments, early intervention, psychoeducation, crisis planning, goal planning, harm reduction, communication training, relaxation training, schema therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. She believes the key is to understand how each client’s brain works, and use this as a foundation to shape how they will embark on therapy. She uses various evidenced-based therapeutic approaches to customise her treatment for each client.

One of the most valuable insights Mary has gained throughout her career is that life experience cultivates resilience and gratitude for what we have. When she’s not working, Mary enjoys spending her time  with family and  people engaged in activities that bring her joy.