About me

I became a psychologist after being nearly killed by a drunk driver in a head-on car accident as an 18 year old. This included being trapped in the car wreck, severely injured and bleeding near to death before being freed. The ensuing psychological trauma saw me sink into the pits of despair before discovering self-help psychology books in my father’s bookshelf. From reading these, I managed to halt my psychological ‘free-fall’, and within the year decided to become a psychologist so that I could help other similarly traumatized people. I undertook the required years of study and training, and since the late 1980s, have been providing counseling/clinical services to those in need. In 2007 I was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Southern Cross University for major research and thesis in the clinical health psychology topic of psycho-social factors in the causation of illnesses (such as cancer and heart disease) and positive health.

I divide my psychology practice between Lismore (1st Floor 115 Keen St) &  Nimbin Medical Centre (35 Cullen St, Nimbin) New South Wales, Australia. With a focus on evidence-based therapy and personalized care, I am committed to helping people achieve emotional well being and resilience. I believe in creating a supportive and safe environment where people can explore their inner world, address painful traumas, and develop the insights and skills required to lead fulfilling lives. My services attract a Medicare subsidy when referred by a GP, and I am a provider for NSW Victims Services.

In broad theoretical terms, i identify with Humanistic Psychology values (with an emphasis on respecting the uniqueness of each person, having faith in each person's authority in their own lives and their ability to move towards growth and wellbeing; and an endorsement of facilitative approaches to psychological care). I remain critical and skeptical of many of the 'sacred cows' of the mental health professions, such as many of those promoted by institutional and biological psychiatry, eg. I do not think CBT is the best or only useful approach to psychological help; I object to psychiatric labels as unscientific and damaging to people; and i am dubious about the value of many biological psychiatry interventions. Such sacred cows can often be challenged on the grounds of scientific evidence (or lack thereof); physical, social and psychological damage done to people via psychiatric interventions; inadequate and incoherent theory; human rights abuses, and basic ethics (see the Power Threat Meaning Framework for an example of viable challenges and alternatives to psychiatric labels and dogma).