Meet Our Senior Registered & Clinical Psychologists

PGDip Psych

Richelle Deakin

Richelle Deakin is an experienced psychologist with over 12 years’ working in both private practice and public health.

Richelle is committed to helping you overcome the limitations caused by a range of mental health conditions so that you can experience more fulfillment and satisfaction in your life and your relationships with the people that matter most. Through the use of powerful and effective evidence based methods, Richelle works with you to help you understand how change is possible, and what you need to do to achieve your goals.

Areas of Practice

Richelle works with adults, adolescents and children experiencing a range of mental health issues including:

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Areas of special interest and expertise

Child and Adolescent Psychology

Richelle has over 12 years experience working with children, adolescents, and their families.

She is committed to assisting children and adolescents reach their full potential and can help with a wide range of issues such as social anxiety, behavioural and emotional difficulties, and coping skills to manage life’s challenges.

Richelle uses evidence-based treatment approaches that work specifically for children. She can also help parents by providing them with practical tools and strategies to help them be more effective in supporting a child’s growth and development.

Families with complex trauma and family relationship issues.

Richelle has a special interest in working with families where there are difficulties related to complex trauma and family relationship issues. She uses both individual and family-based approaches to work with children and their parents/caregivers. She believes that teaching families how to nurture strong, healthy relationships is fundamental for promoting healing, hope and changes that last.

Richelle uses evidence-based counselling approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other mindfulness-based practices. She also uses practical tools for helping parents/caregivers to be more effective in the management of their children’s behavioural and emotional difficulties.

On a personal note

Richelle is a busy working mum who understands the reality of juggling work and family life. In her spare time she likes doing outdoor activities such as going to the beach and bush walks, as well as spending time with her family.

BBehSc, PGDip Psych, MCouns, Assoc MAPS EMDRAA

Heath Christie

Heath is a registered male Psychologist with over 12 years’ experience providing psychological counselling, supervision, critical incident management, therapeutic program delivery and professional development.

Heath has returned to private practice at Ahead Psychology after 2 years working as a Senior Psychologist with Mates4Mates helping current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.

Heath employs a collaborative, strengths-based and holistic approach to help people understand their difficulties and to tailor management strategies so they can meet their goals and reach their full potential.

Areas of Practice

Heath has extensive experience working with adults, including older adults, experiencing a wide range of psychological problems including:

• Trauma
• Anxiety disorders
• Stress management
• Depression
• Grief and loss
• Substance use disorders
• Workplace Issues

Areas of special interest and expertise

Anxiety and trauma related disorders 

Heath’s area of special interest and developed expertise is in the treatment of anxiety and trauma related disorders, including PTSD, complex trauma and dissociative disorders.

He has helped people from a broad cross section of society including front line Emergency Services staff and ADF members.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy

Heath has undertaken Master Class level training in EMDR therapy, a powerful psychotherapy approach for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and many other types of psychological distress.

Heath also uses a range of other therapeutic techniques including Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative and Solution Focussed Therapy, Motivational Interviewing , and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.

On a personal note

In his spare time Heath enjoys spending time with friends, surfing, yoga, circuit training, cooking, riding motor cycles and travelling.

BA (Hons) Psych, MAPS

Patricia Smith

Patricia Smith is a Registered Psychologist with over 13 years’ experience.

She has worked in both private practice and the public sector, with the Australian Defence Force.

Patricia takes a practical and thoughtful approach to therapy with the aim of helping you to experience life in a more meaningful, fulfilling and connected way.

She is committed to helping you get a complete understanding of what is causing your current emotional and behavioural difficulties, and to show you better ways of coping and resolving issues that may be stopping you from living the life you want.

Areas of Practice

Patricia works with adults experiencing a broad range of psychological health problems including:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Stress management
• Complex and post-traumatic stress
• Adjustment disorders
• Life phase issues and decision making
• Relationship / marriage counselling
• Personality disorders
• Self esteem and changing self-defeating behaviour
• Anger management
• Assertiveness and social skills training
• Conflict resolution

Areas of Special Interest and Expertise

Relationship / marriage counselling

Patricia is passionate about helping couples to cope with the stress and pressures in their relationship that lead to conflict and disconnection. She does this by helping couples to understand the root causes of their problems, and to learn healthier and more effective communication skills that promote greater harmony and connection in their relationship as a couple.

Trauma Counselling

Patricia has a special interest and expertise in providing trauma counselling. She has experience working with people who are suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, acute stress reactions, and difficulties adjusting to major life changes or losses. The trauma may be related to experiences from your past, or more recent life experiences. Patricia is dedicated to helping you develop the knowledge and skills required to build hope for the future by moving past the trauma and hardships of the past. She does this by using counselling practices such as CBT (with a specific trauma focus) to help you to learn how to cope with the impact of trauma on you personally, as well as your relationships with others, and your ability to function day-to-day.

ADF members and their families

Patricia has over seven years’ experience working with ADF members. She has a special interest in supporting these members and their families to cope with the difficulties and challenges of the ADF lifestyle. She has an excellent working knowledge of ADF procedures and processes for managing mental health disorders, and understands the culture and pressures that contribute to mental health problems for ADF members. She is also very interested in supporting Defence families to cope and function better with the pressures they face when a member of the family is in, or transitioning from the ADF.

Patricia’s approach to counselling includes the use of evidence-based frameworks including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT); Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy; Schema Therapy; Critical Incident Stress Debriefing; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Trauma Focused Therapy.

Supervision of Psychologists for registration

Patricia is an accredited AHPRA Board-approved supervisor and can provide the mandatory supervision required for registration as a Psychologist via the following pathways:

• 4+2 internship principal supervisor
• 4+2 internship secondary supervisor

On a personal note

After living interstate for 16 years, Patricia now calls Brisbane home. She values getting the work/life balance right by making sure she leaves enough time for going to the gym, gardening, and always having a renovation or craft project on the go!

MAppPsych, BPsySc(Hons), BA (Psy/Eng)

Micah Bernoff

Micah Bernoff is registered Psychologist with 10 years’ experience in private practice as well as organisations and services supporting veterans, their families and current serving ADF members.

Micah understands that coping with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and trauma is tough so he uses proven counselling approaches and techniques such as CBT, ACT and Schema Therapy. Micah focuses on helping his clients understand and adjust to stresses and challenges by building their mental resilience to make changes that promote greater acceptance and satisfaction in life.

Areas of Practice

Micah has experience in the following areas:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• PTSD
• Adjustment difficulties
• Autism
• Conflict Resolution
• Relationships

Areas of special interest and expertise

Adjustment to change and life transitions

As well as his experience working the range of psychological problems listed above, Micah has a special interest in working with people who are struggling to cope with major changes and transitions at various stages of the lifecycle such as parenting, career and employment changes, relationship break downs, personal changes and changes in family dynamics.

Couples/Marriage Therapy

Micah has completed specialised training working with couples using the Gottman Method Couples Therapy. The goals of this approach are to help couples reduce conflictual verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy; and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship.

Leadership Coaching and Organisational Management

Micah has extensive experience working with Leaders and Senior Managers, teams and organisations to further enhance performance through change initiatives, strategic planning, operational planning and the creation and development of models of service.

On a personal note

Micah can be found most weekends deep sea kayak fishing, and loves reading, playing board games and mountain bike riding.

BSc(Psych)Hons, MMH(Family Therapy), Clinical Member AAFT and EMDRIA, MAAPi

Juliet Whitlock

Juliet Whitlock is a Psychologist with over 20 years’ experience in private practice and the public sector.

Juliet is dedicated to helping clients grow and develop personally in ways that allow them to live life with a sense of hope, satisfaction and resilience.

She does this by helping them develop insight, let go of old habits that hold them back, and learn to use simple and practical skills to support the changes they want to make in their life.

Juliet uses evidence based models of therapy such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Expressive and play-based therapies, Emotional Focussed Therapy (EFT) for couples, Solutions Focussed Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.

Areas of Practice

Juliet works with adults, adolescents and children and families experiencing various mental health issues including:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Trauma
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Stress management
• Trauma and complex childhood trauma
• Child attachment issues
• Parenting difficulties
• Workplace stress
• Relationship / Marital difficulties
• Family difficulties

Areas of Special Interest and Expertise

EMDR Therapy and the treatment of complex trauma

Juliet has special interest in treating complex trauma. She has completed E.M.D.R (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Advanced Therapist Training and is a Full Member of the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) . She continues to engage in ongoing learning and supervision in this area.

Relationship / Marriage Counselling

Juliet has a special interest in working with couples who are experiencing difficulties in their relationship. She helps couples to resolve their problems and differences by improving their ability to be more emotionally aware of each other, and more effective in their approach to problem solving and negotiation.

Juliet has undertaken and continues to engage in advanced training in couples therapy. She is committed to helping couples develop the understanding and skills required to build a healthier relationship. She has clinical membership of the Australian Association of Family Therapy (AAFT)

Family Counselling

Juliet offers specialised Family Counselling to deal with family wide problems, or problems concerning a particular person, but where the problem impacts on the entire family. She helps to: change the way family members interact; improve the functioning of the family as a unit, and improve the functioning of individuals in the family
Juliet has completed a Masters of Mental Health (Family Therapy) and is a Clinical Member of The Australian Association of Family Therapists (AAFT).

On a Personal Note

When she is not busy at work, Juliet enjoys relaxing with family friends or a good book.

BA(Hons) Psychology; MA(Leadership); AAPi, APS, EMDRAA

Eve Gavel

Eve is a registered Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience providing therapy, critical incident responses, policy development and program implementation, and leadership support.

Eve encourages you to become an active participant in the therapeutic process.  She will support you to address challenging problems, providing understanding, resources, and tools to help bring about the changes you seek.

Areas of Practice

Eve is experienced working with adults seeking help relating to:

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Early childhood trauma (Complex PTSD)
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Leadership support and development
• Sleep disorders
• Issues in the workplace

 Areas of special interest and expertise

Trauma Counselling

Eve has expertise in the treatment of anxiety and trauma related disorders, including PTSD, complex trauma, and dissociative experiences. She has undertaken Master Class level training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy, including EMDR 2.0, which she integrates with Ego State therapy and the Flash/Blink Technique, where indicated.

Other therapies used are Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), CBT for Insomnia, Schema Therapy, and Solution Focussed Brief Therapy.

Workplace Performance

Eve has worked in range of organisations including emergency services, mining companies, and in the university sector.  She has a Master of Leadership (Change Management).  She has completed certified training in the NEO Personality Inventory.

On a personal note

Eve enjoys spending time with friends, swimming, gardening, and following politics.

BPsychSci (Hons), DPsych

Dr Katherine Williams

Dr Katherine Williams is registered Clinical Psychologist with over 13 years’ experience working in Government and Indigenous community mental health services before joining Ahead Psychology.

Katherine uses proven psychological approaches that are flexible, compassionate and effective to help people who are struggling to cope with the distress caused by emotional and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and trauma.She focuses on helping her clients understand the root cause of their problems so that lasting changes can be made leading to greater personal wellbeing and satisfaction in life.

Areas of Practice

Katherine works with children, adolescents and adults experiencing a wide range of psychological problems including:

• Depression
• Complex trauma including PTSD
• Anxiety disorders
• Alcohol and other substance misuse
• Perinatal mental health including Post Natal Depression
• Sleep disorders
• Pain and chronic disease management
• Parenting/family relationship problems

Areas of Special Interest and Expertise

Trauma

Katherine has a special interest in working with people who are suffering due to the impact of traumatic life experiences (past or present) on their current life. She is trained in the use of trauma informed therapy approaches and works with you to create a sense of safety where you feel culturally, emotionally, and physically safe. This allows you to learn new coping strategies and ways of living that lead to greater personal empowerment, and healing.

Parenting

Katherine also has an interest in working with parents struggling with family relationships. She uses proven approaches that focus on developing a secure attachment in the relationships between children and their parents/caregivers and practical strategies for managing behavioural and emotional regulation problems in children.

Supervision of Psychologists for Registration

Katherine is an AHPRA Board approved supervisor for psychologists seeking supervision and has STAP accreditation for the following:

• 4+2
• 5+1
• Higher degree (including Masters and Doctorate level)
• Clinical Registrars

On a personal note

In her spare time, Katherine loves spending time with her family and losing herself in a good book!

BApp(Psy).,G.Dip(Psy)., ​MAPPi

Priya Jungic

Priya is a registered psychologist with over 15 years of clinical experience. She is an Accredited EMDR Therapist and a Clinical Hypnotherapist.

Priya works predominantly with young teens and adults and is focused on assisting clients to achieve positive health and behavioural outcomes and resolve their psychological concerns.

She brings warmth, knowledge, intelligence, thoughtfulness and compassion into her therapeutic practice. Her treatment is specifically tailored to individual needs and she draws on her vast training, qualifications and experience to gain excellent results for her clients.

Areas Of Practice

Priya can help clients address a range of presenting issues including:

• Trauma
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Grief, Transition & Life Adjustments
• Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Depression
• Unresolved Childhood Issues
• Sleep issues
• Weight issues
• Substance abuse
• Pain
• Phobias
• Work related issues and workplace bullying

Area of Special Interest and Expertise

Priya’s passion and specialty is treating complex trauma and long-standing mental health issues.
She has completed E.M.D.R (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Advanced Therapist Training and is a Full Accredited Member of EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA)

B Psych (Hons), GradDip Psych, B AppSc (Psych)

Robyn Kirby

Robyn Kirby has over 20 years of diverse experience working in the counselling and psychology field – with individuals, families, large organisations, and small community agencies.

Robyn recognises that we all have struggles from time to time, and she is dedicated to helping you find a solution to achieve the best outcome. Robyn offers a supportive approach to work together with you to find the right path and adjust to changes along the way to achieving your goals, whether in your work place or your life outside of work.

One of Robyn’s key strengths is being able to connect with people, and building strong relationships is one of her main priorities in her work with her clients.

Areas of Practice

Robyn has experience in supporting people to find adaptive coping strategies to manage some of the following concerns:

• Anxiety
• Adjustment to change
• Depression
• Grief and Loss
• Trauma and Critical Incident Stress
• Work related or personal stress
• Anger management
• Sleep disorders
• Relationships and couples counselling
• Parenting strategies
• Leadership coaching

Areas of special interest and expertise

Robyn has a special interest in the management and treatment of stress and trauma related disorders such as PTSD . Through 12 years of working with emergency services, she has developed a strong understanding of the importance of resilience in managing high stress and demanding environments. Robyn helps people to build resilience by teaching them to use a range of coping strategies that help them navigate the stressful challenges they may be facing in life. Robyn also tailors her counselling to focus on each individual’s needs and to make use of their personal strengths to manage stress more effectively.

Robyn is committed to working with couples experiencing relationship stress, and has specialised training in the area of marital counselling. Robyn will work with couples to help them understand their relationship challenges and introduce practical strategies and “tools” to help build a healthier and happier relationship. She has completed Level 1 training in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and is keen to help you understand and successfully manage your personal and family relationships.

Her framework draws upon a variety of strength based therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Leadership Coaching, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused/Brief Intervention, Psychological First Aid, Skills for Psychological Recovery, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and other Mindfulness based practices.

On a personal note

Robyn is an active working Mum who finds great fulfillment in her career and family time. She enjoys outdoor activities, playing sport (especially golf) and reading – and she passionately dislikes ironing!

PGDip Psych MA

Michelle McBride

Michelle McBride is an experienced psychologist with over 20 years in practice.

She has worked with adults from all walks of life and is passionate about helping people overcome the emotional and mental blocks that stop them from living the life they want.

Michelle helps people to develop the self-belief that change is possible. She does this by providing education and practical tools that will help you to make the changes needed to get what you really want in your life.

Areas of Practice

Michelle has worked with people experiencing a range of emotional and mental health problems including:

• Anxiety disorders
• Stress management
• Grief and loss
• Relationship issues
• Parenting strategies
• Adjustment to major life changes
• Workplace Issues

Areas of Special Interest

Michelle has a particular interest in stress management and anxiety disorders and helping you to overcome the negatives effects of this in different areas of your life including personal and family relationships, work performance, and life satisfaction. She is dedicated to helping you increase your capacity to change unhelpful behaviours and habits, no matter where you are in the process right now.

Michelle also offers personal coaching to business owners and professionals to help them make their life, career or business thrive.

Michelle uses evidenced based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Strategies, Brain-Based Therapy, and Compassion Focussed Therapy.

On a personal note

Michelle is a busy working mum, and understands the importance of getting the work/life balance right. In her spare time she tries to squeeze in a yoga class or two, a trip to the beach, and reading the biographies of interesting and inspiring people.