Professional Experience

Shamma is a compassionate psychologist who provides evidence-based interventions for children (6 and up), adolescents, and adults. She is experienced in conducting cognitive assessments and diagnosing ASD and ADHD. She has a particular interest in trauma-related disorders in adults, and treats a wide range of concerns, including neurodevelopmental conditions (ASD, ADHD, and intellectual disability), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), complex trauma, grief and loss, work stress, pregnancy-related issues, depression, and anxiety disorders (including social anxiety and specific phobias). She also supports children and adults accessing the NDIS, including providing therapy, review reports, and capacity-building updates.

Shamma is passionate about supporting individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. She has a special interest in supporting Muslim clients and is committed to providing culturally and religiously sensitive care. Beyond therapy, her work also includes assisting those requiring psychological assessments and reports for immigration matters, as well as students requiring documentation for universities and other tertiary institutions.

She has a calm therapeutic style and offers a supportive space grounded in listening without judgement, where people feel understood and respected. In her sessions, she focuses on building rapport and fostering genuine engagement with her clients. She aims to provide a steady and emotionally regulated presence, particularly for individuals experiencing high levels of anxiety.

Shamma’s sessions are collaborative and structured. She takes a comprehensive, formulation-driven approach, integrating cognitive, behavioural, developmental, and contextual factors to develop a detailed understanding of each client’s presentation. She prioritises safety, regulation, and functional improvement, alongside emotional understanding. Her goal is to empower her clients in making meaningful changes to their lives.

She integrates a range of therapies, including CBT (a mix of cognitive and behavioural strategies), ACT (values-based work), Narrative Therapy (particularly for clients with a history of trauma), and DBT (distress tolerance skills). She may adapt therapy to the individual’s interests as well as their developmental needs. With children, she works within the broader system around them, involving parents, schools, and other specialists.

In her clinical work, Shamma has observed that perspective can play a powerful role in shaping emotional and behavioural responses. The way someone interprets an experience can influence their emotions, actions, and overall functioning. She also recognises the importance of foundational needs as highlighted in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, noting that self-reflection and growth can be difficult to access when areas such as safety, sleep, food, and housing are not yet stable.

Shamma deeply values the trust her clients place in her and the opportunity to build strong therapeutic relationships with them. She believes meaningful change is a gradual process that takes time, patience, and support, and is committed to walking alongside her clients throughout their journey. She finds it incredibly rewarding to witness their growth and progress over time.

Outside of work, Shamma enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, travelling, going to the gym, reading, and listening to The Homecoming Podcast with Dr Thema and The Mel Robbins Podcast. She also enjoys fantasy fiction, with the Harry Potter and Fourth Wing series among her favourites.