Adults, you look like you’re coping.
You’re still working, still parenting, still showing up.

But inside it feels like:

• constant mental overload

• exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix

• pressure to keep everything together

• anxiety that never fully switches off

You don’t need to be “falling apart” to need support.

Children. Parents, you might be noticing…

• Your child has big emotional reactions that feel hard to manage

• School refusal, anxiety, or social withdrawal

• Constant worry about whether you’re “doing the right thing”

• Exhaustion from trying strategies that don’t stick

You don’t need to have all the answers. That’s our job.

Enquire about booking now.

My approach to psychology

Understanding what the difficulty is underneath…

One of the things I value most in psychological work is looking beyond the behaviour or presenting problem to understand what may be driving it.

This is particularly important when working with children and teenagers.

A child who is having frequent emotional outbursts may not simply be a "difficult" child. A teenager who withdraws may not simply be "unmotivated". A child who refuses school may not simply be "defiant".

Behaviour can communicate distress, anxiety, overwhelm, unmet needs, developmental difficulties or experiences that a child does not yet have the ability to explain.

Therapy provides an opportunity to slow things down, understand what is happening and develop a more helpful way forward.

I aim to create a space where children and adults can feel understood rather than judged, while also working towards meaningful and practical change.

Working with children

Children communicate differently from adults, and psychological therapy needs to reflect this.

Some children are able to sit down and talk about what is happening. Others communicate through play, behaviour, humour, avoidance, drawing or simply by saying, "I don't know."

I therefore tailor therapy to the individual child, taking into account their age, developmental stage, personality, strengths and the difficulties they are experiencing.

My training and experience includes approaches and tools relevant to child psychology, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), DBT, Sand Tray, Cool Kids, OWL Kids and behavioural approaches.

Other children need support upskilling in emotion regulation, social skills or impulse control. This is usually a helpful intervention for children with ADHD, ASD, or classroom difficulties. I work with children, teachers, and parents to find supports that can work at home and within schools to give them daily exposure to exercising these muscles in order to focus on the development on a specific skill.

Working with teenagers

Teenagers are navigating a period of enormous emotional, social and developmental change.

Anxiety, school pressure, friendships, identity, family relationships, emotional regulation, confidence and increasing independence can all become difficult to manage. When teenagers try to individuate away from their parents, as part of their development, this can leave them without a place to talk through the hard stuff and in worst cases parents may hear or see suicidal ideation or self-harm. I work with teenagers to build safety plans, support plans and develop pathways of communication with their parents to support them into adulthood.

For teenagers, developing a genuine therapeutic relationship is particularly important. Therapy needs to feel like a space where they can speak honestly rather than another adult telling them what they should do.

My approach with teenagers (13 to 18 years old) is collaborative and tailored to the individual, while also recognising the important role parents and caregivers can play in supporting change.

Working with adults

Adults can arrive at therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck or unsure about why they are responding to life in a particular way.

Sometimes there is a clear difficulty such as anxiety or depression. At other times, people simply know that the way they are currently coping is no longer working.

I work with adults experiencing concerns including anxiety, depression, stress and overwhelm, relationship and conflict difficulties, life changes and other emotional difficulties. I work with adults to understand their drivers, motivations, values and any unconscious learnings from their past that may be interfering with their goals and daily functioning.

Therapy can provide an opportunity to understand patterns that may have developed over time, consider how past experiences may be influencing the present, and develop different ways of responding.

Areas I work with

I provide psychological support across a range of concerns, including:

• Anxiety and excessive worry

• Emotional regulation difficulties

• Behavioural difficulties

• Child and adolescent psychology

• Teenage mental health

• Depression and low mood

• Parenting challenges, attachment styles

• Family separation and adjustment

• Conflict and relationship difficulties

• Stress, overwhelm, anger issues

• Self-esteem and confidence

Qualifications and professional training

My formal psychology education includes:

• Bachelor of Science — Psychology, Macquarie University

• Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced, Monash University

I have undertaken additional training and professional development in areas including, but not limited to:

• CBT, ACT, DBT

• Sand Tray

• Cool Kids, Peaceful Kids, OWL Kids, Brain Boosters Skill Building

• ABA Therapy

• Complex Trauma

• Schema Therapy

• Jungian Therapy

AHPRA REGISTERED; Number PSY0002429022

Why Rivendell Psychology?

I created Rivendell Psychology because I wanted to provide psychological care that allows enough space to understand the person behind the problem.

Psychological therapy is not one-size-fits-all.

The same behaviour can have very different causes in different people, and an approach that works well for one person may not be right for another.

My aim is to understand the individual, identify the factors contributing to their difficulties and work collaboratively towards change that is meaningful and sustainable.

Psychology in Erina, Central Coast

Rivendell Psychology is located in Erina on the Central Coast of NSW, providing psychological services to children, teenagers and adults from Erina and surrounding Central Coast communities.

Rivendell Psychology

Address: Suite 28, 166A The Entrance Road, Erina NSW 2260

PARKING: parking lot at Service NSW in Erina

ACCESSIBILITY: one flight of stairs

What you can expect

You do not need to know exactly what is wrong before making an appointment.

You also do not need to have the right words to explain what is happening.

The first step is simply understanding what has brought you to psychology, what you have noticed, and what you would like to be different.

From there, we can work together to understand the difficulties more clearly and determine what type of psychological support may be most appropriate.

Whether you are looking for support for yourself, your teenager or your child, choosing a psychologist can feel like a significant decision.

If you would like to discuss whether Rivendell Psychology may be a good fit, you are welcome to get in touch.