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Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

In this blog, we will explore the global prevalence of ASD as well as a specific focus on recent statistics in Australia.

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Worldwide

How Common is Autism Globally? Globally, the prevalence of diagnosed ASD worldwide has increased, due to increased awareness and research. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States estimates that approximately 1 in 54 children has ASD (1).

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Australia

Turning our attention to Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that in 2020, around 205,200 Australians were identified as having ASD (2). These figures provide a quantitative glimpse into the prevalence of ASD in the Australian population, emphasizing the importance of accurate and up-to-date statistical data. However, we know that there is a prominent history where ASD was not recognised in individuals, due to barriers related to accessing care and limited knowledge and understanding of ASD. This has been likely to contribute to a range of adults with undiagnosed ASD, who have learnt to mask their symptoms and experience. Therefore, the current statistics are likely not representative of the true prevalence. This demonstrates the importance of ongoing research into ASD, as well as accurate social understanding of ASD, as this allows for early identification, and allows individuals to understand themselves and their internal world better, in a way that is more accepting of their diversity. For those seeking further information on how autism is diagnosed and the steps involved in obtaining an assessment, our autism assessments page provides comprehensive details and guidance. This is important to also limit the potential for comorbid disorders such as anxiety and depression to develop.

Research and awareness of ASD is continuing to grow worldwide. As such, this is represented in ongoing statistics of ASD. However, it is important to note that these statistics may still be under-representative of the prevalence, due to challenges such as access to care and access to assessment, limited mental health literacy and masking behaviours.

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Blackburn VIC 3130

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Public Holiday Closure Notice

Laburnum Psychology will be closed on Monday 27 January 2025. The Practice will reopen on Tuesday 28 January 2025 at 9.00am.

Thank you for your understanding.

In the event of a crisis or emergency, please call 000 or lifeline 13 11 14

Alicia Fisher

Alicia works with clients across the lifespan. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience assisting her clients to feel comfortable and supported to embrace their individual differences and create a fulfilling and meaningful future. She is passionate about working with neurodiversity (i.e., autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety (inclusive of obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobias), trauma and eating disorders. Alicia prides herself on providing individually tailored therapy whilst ensuring warmth, compassion and empathy. She draws upon a wide variety of evidence-based approaches, inclusive of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT and CBT-E), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), schema therapy, exposure therapy and mindfulness. Alicia is also experienced in conducting cognitive, educational and diagnostic assessments (including ASD and ADHD). She ensures the assessments and recommendations are tailored to the individual.

Alicia’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Neurodiversity (i.e., ASD and ADHD)
  • Child, adolescent and adult psychology
  • Eating disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Parenting support
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Cognitive, educational and diagnostic assessments

Simone Ray

Simone is an Advanced Certified Individual Schema Therapist with the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST). She completed her schema therapy training through the Schema Therapy Institutes of New Jersey and New York City, with Wendy Behary and Dr Jeffrey Young.

Simone is a warm and empathic psychologist, who prioritises creating a safe, non-judgemental and supportive therapeutic environment. She works collaboratively with her clients, to identify their core emotional needs and effective strategies for therapeutic change. Simone has clinical experience in corrections, community mental health (headspace and drug and alcohol) as well as schools. She has a deep passion for working with clients who have experienced trauma, dissociation and personality difficulties.

Simone is a board approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia. She offers primary and secondary supervision to psychologists (provisional and registered) and clinical psychology registrars.

Simone’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Trauma
  • Dissociative disorders
  • Personality disorders
  • Social anxiety
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Fears of abandonment or rejection
  • Shame, self-criticism or low self-esteem
  • People pleasing/approval seeking
  • Perfectionism
  • Emotional detachment
  • Identity confusion
  • Relationship difficulties

Mili Vukalo

Mili holds a Master of Clinical Psychology. She has experience working across a range of settings, including educational institutions (secondary and tertiary) as well as geriatric settings (working with adults aged 65+). Mili brings a strong sense of peace and calmness to her work, as well as her strengths in compassion.  She has an excellent capacity to help clients feel safe and at ease in exploring challenging areas of their lives.

Mili’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Trauma
  • Grief and loss
  • Academic difficulty
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Interpersonal difficulties
  • Self-esteem challenges

Latha Iyer

Latha has completed a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology.  She approaches her work with a strong sense of compassion and a desire to understand the uniqueness of each individual client and the situations they face.  Latha utilizes a strong blend of interpersonal skills, empathy and technical ability.  Latha’s warm and personable manner helps her clients to feel at ease in their sessions with her.

Key Interest Areas

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Life transition and adjustment
  • Self esteem & confidence issues
  • Adolescent mental health
  • Adjustment issues
  • Trauma

Fina Triany

Fina is a Clinical Psychologist who brings a depth of experience working across a very broad range of life issues and clinical presentations.  Fina is fluent in both English and Indonesian.  Fina always aims to work collaboratively with clients, drawing on their own unique strengths and capacities to achieve change, and find greater peace and contentment in their lives.

Key Interest Areas:

  • Trauma (including childhood trauma)
  • Migration issues
  • Depression / Post Natal Depression
  • Emotional dysregulation
  • Loneliness
  • Anger / low frustration tolerance
  • Relationship / marital discord
  • Body image issues
  • Parenting
  • Grief and loss

Elizabeth Charalambakis

Elizabeth works with adults from the age of eighteen with a range of mental health issues. Elizabeth particularly enjoys working alongside people seeking to make changes in their lives consistent with their values, needs, preferences, and life stage. Operating within a framework of psychological safety, acceptance, understanding and empathy, Elizabeth is committed to working collaboratively with clients towards an improvement in satisfaction and meaning in life, whatever that may look like for each individual.

 

Elizabeth incorporates acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with behavioural and compassion-focused approaches.

 

Elizabeth’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Phobias
  • Relationship issues
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Larissa King

Larissa has twenty-four years counselling experience and has been with Laburnum Psychology for over ten years. She brings a breadth of experience to her clinical work. She works with individuals aged thirteen and above. Larissa’s approach is to develop a safe, warm and trusting relationship and to use an eclectic range of evidence-based psychological approaches matched to each individual’s needs. Her therapy approaches include schema therapy, trauma-informed therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, as well as relationship counselling. Larissa has worked in a range of counselling settings including Gambler’s Help, youth sexual assault counselling and generalist counselling.

 

Larissa’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Workplace bullying
  • Postnatal depression
  • Eating disorders
  • Problem gambling
  • Relationship challenges
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Grief and loss
  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Trauma

Kylie Allen

Kylie is a registered clinical psychologist and board approved supervisor with over twenty-five years of experience.  Kylie approaches therapy with a strong focus on empathy, understanding and compassion.  She aims to assist her clients to build greater insight and understanding of themselves, and work with this to achieve long-term, lasting change.  Kylie helps her clients to achieve a stronger and more conscious sense of self, so they can live with greater alignment to their core values and life goals.  She works with a wide variety of people to help them understand the impacts of early life experiences, be that trauma or deprivation, or more subtle influences.  Kylie will work with you to address and change whatever it is that brings you to therapy, and to find your way to a greater overall sense of peace, wellbeing and satisfaction in your life.

Kylie’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Trauma
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Shame, low self-worth and self-criticism
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Mental health in menopause
  • Perinatal mental health
  • Parenting difficulties (Tuning into Teens facilitator)

Tim McCorriston

Tim is a registered clinical and counselling psychologist and one of the Practice Principals at Laburnum Psychology.  Tim has over twenty years experience as a psychologist, working primarily with clients, as well as supervising other psychologists. Tim places high value on creating a comfortable environment for people to explore change.  Tim assists people to become conscious of their patterns, identify their change goals, and find practical and relatable ways to intentionally work toward these goals.  Tim has an interest in the neurology of change.  He assists people to understand, from a neurological perspective, the ways that they can intentionally drive and practice their own change processes.  From this base, Tim works with his clients to better understand themselves, manage difficult situations, and improve sense of peace, wellbeing and contentment in their lives.

Tim’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • OCD
  • Intrusive thoughts
  • Social anxiety
  • Generalised anxiety
  • Self-acceptance & self worth
  • Problem gambling
  • Life adjustment
  • Grief & loss
  • Elderly people & life stage adjustment

Dr Carissa Kuswanto

Carissa holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and has published a number of research publications in international peer-reviewed journals. Having achieved a high degree of academic training and clinical research, she now focusses her efforts upon applying these learnings in her work as a psychologist. As a psychologist, Carissa values empathy, authenticity, curiosity and compassion. Carissa has worked with a variety of clients across the lifespan at different settings, such as hospitals, aged care residences, universities and community settings. Having lived in Canada, Singapore and Indonesia, Carissa appreciates the diversity of religions, gender identities and sexual orientations, and cultural backgrounds. In addition to creating a safe therapeutic space, Carissa aims to individually tailor and blend evidence-based therapy approaches for each unique individual. Carissa works across all age ranges, which include older adults, adults and adolescents. Carissa also speaks fluent Bahasa Indonesia.

Special Interest Areas:

  • Depression and anxiety
  • Chronic pain and illnesses
  • Cross-cultural and migration issues
  • Grief, loss and bereavement
  • Drug & alcohol, gambling addictions

Dr. Josie Sinni

Josie is a highly experienced member of the Laburnum Psychology team, bringing fourteen years of experience to her work.  Josie holds a Doctoral degree in Clinical Neuropsychology and has worked both as a neuropsychologist and a generalist psychologist. In her generalist work, Josie works with clients who experience anxiety disorders, mood disorders, stress, adjustment issues, and low self-confidence.  Josie values building strong rapport with her clients and will work with you to identify meaningful goals and work toward building positive change in your life.  Josie is conscientious to base her interventions in evidence-based therapeutic frameworks, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Key Interest Areas

  • Mood disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Stress management
  • Life adjustment
  • Self esteem
  • Self confidence
  • Intervention post brain injury

Hilary Austin

Hilary is a highly experienced Psychotherapist and Mental Health Social Worker. She has worked in acute mental health, educational and community settings.

Hilary has a depth of experience working with adults & adolescents facing acute and complex mental health difficulties.  She has a keen interest in psychoanalysis and approaches this with deep value of helping in pragmatic and sensible ways.  Hilary will work closely with you to identify your goals for change, and to navigate the path. Hilary brings warmth and pragmatism to her work, which is of immense value in helping her clients to feel comfortable and understood.

Key Interest Areas

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Grief
  • Life meaning & purpose
  • Mental health and substance use
  • Psychoanalytic theory
  • Mindfulness
  • Strengths based counselling

Lisa Jones

Lisa specializes in working with children and young people, aged four to early twenties. She holds a Master of Education and Developmental Psychology degree and is a board-approved supervisor. She brings considerable expertise in children’s education and development, having worked across many settings, including multidisciplinary teams, private practice, primary schools, community health, outreach, and early intervention environments.

Lisa is experienced in individual and group therapy with children. She approaches her work with a strong value base for assisting children in their development. She works conscientiously to identify early intervention opportunities that assist children onto the best possible developmental pathway. She brings warmth and compassion to her work to create a safe and fun environment where children can feel at ease as they engage in the therapeutic processes. She draws on a range of modalities and principles, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), person-centered counselling, emotion coaching, social learning, play therapy, family therapy, schema therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Lisa also provides developmental, cognitive and educational assessments for children and adolescents.

Lisa acknowledges the importance of supporting parents and families to understand and navigate the needs of the child. Lisa works holistically with families, carers, school staff, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure a systemic approach to supporting the child.

Lisa’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Behavioural challenges (e.g. tantrums, non-compliance, anger management, managing meltdowns)
  • Parenting and family relationships
  • Attachment challenges
  • Social skills development
  • Play skills
  • Learning and educational needs
  • Trauma
  • Separated families
  • Life transitions and adjustments

Rob Cole

Rob is an experienced psychologist, with a Masters in Counselling Psychology and over twenty years experience as a counsellor. Rob brings a breadth of knowledge and insight to his work, and works with adults who may present with a broad range of mental health issues.

Rob is motivated to help his clients achieve their potential drawing on evidence-based therapy approaches appropriate for each unique client. Rob holds strong values around collaborative therapy, drawing on clients’ unique strengths. He supports equity and diversity, and is well able to build strong empathic therapeutic processes. He will work with you to identify your own goals and directions for counselling, creating a safe environment to explore possibilities for change.

Key Interest Areas:

  • Life changes
  • Trauma
  • Grief and loss
  • Stress management
  • Academic difficulty
  • Depression
  • Anxiety

Dr Mateja Popovic

Mateja is a registered psychologist and a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). She completed a Professional Doctorate in Clinical and Forensic Psychology and has worked in community mental health and forensic settings.

Mateja focuses on working in a collaborative and non-judgmental way to create a safe space for clients to share their stories and develop goals that they would like to work toward in therapy.  She draws upon a range of interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), schema therapy, mindfulness-based therapies, interpersonal therapy, and solution-focused therapy.

Mateja’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Stress reduction
  • Family challenges
  • Interpersonal and relationship challenges
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Goal setting and motivation

Dr. Sarah Khor

Sarah is a registered psychologist with clinical endorsement, having completed a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology. She works with adults across the lifespan of diverse backgrounds to identify change goals and negotiate the best pathways toward a greater sense of peace in your life.

Sarah blends a strong sense of compassion and empathy, together with a strong value on evidence-based interventions. She will work collaboratively to tailor her interventions to achieve her clients’ therapeutic goals utilising a range of therapy techniques, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), schema therapy and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. 

Sarah’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Parenting support
  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Men’s mental health
  • Adult mental health
  • Trauma
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Cross-cultural issues
  • Self-esteem challenges

Holiday Closure Notice

Laburnum Psychology will be closed on the following dates:

Wednesday 25 December 2024 – Public Holiday
Thursday 26 December 2024 – Public Holiday
Friday 27 December 2024 – Practice Closed
Monday 30 December 2024 – Practice Closed
Tuesday 31 December 2024 – Practice Closed
Wednesday 1 January 2025 – Public Holiday

The Practice will reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025 with limited appointments available at our Main Street office only. We will return to normal business hours starting Monday 6 January 2025, with Main Street, Connect, and Blackburn Clinic all open.

Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

In the event of a crisis or emergency, please call 000 or lifeline 13 11 14

Cameron Walsh

Cameron brings empathy, compassion and composure to his work in psychology. He holds a Master of Professional Psychology. Cameron possesses a strong work ethic and a commitment to working in collaboration with his clients. Cameron values open-mindedness and brings great warmth to his work. He is committed to meeting people where they are at and working together to identify goals and effective strategies for change.

Cameron’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Neurodiversity
  • Emotion regulation
  • Stress management
  • Trauma
  • Performance anxiety and stress management, especially in sport
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Life transitions and adjustments

Melbourne Cup Public Holiday Closure

Laburnum Psychology will be closed on Tuesday 5 November 2024 for the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday. The Practice will reopen on Wednesday 6 November 2024 at 9.00am.

Thank you for your understanding.

In the event of a crisis or emergency, please call 000 or lifeline 13 11 14

Grand Final Public Holiday Closure

Laburnum Psychology will be closed on Friday 27 September 2024 for the Grand Final Public Holiday. The Practice will reopen on Monday 30 September 2024 at 9.00am.

Thank you for your understanding.

In the event of a crisis or emergency, please call 000 or lifeline 13 11 14

Natasha Stocco

Natasha is a well-established psychologist, who brings a depth of experience to her work.  She predominantly works with children from the age of eight to late adolescence / early adulthood.  Natasha’s passion is supporting individuals to better understand their strengths, and to find ways to communicate and navigate aspects of their life that may be challenging.  Natasha holds strong values around neuro-affirming psychology, and enabling her clients to access individualised support and care.

 

Natasha holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honours and Master’s Degree in Psychology. She also holds endorsement as a Board Approved Supervisor.  She has a strong interest in psychological assessment (cognitive, adaptive behaviour, social/emotional, academic) as these enable a greater understanding of each child’s/young person’s learning profile and support needs. With this as context, Natasha works to build communication between the young person and their support networks (e.g., family, school, vocation) to develop their self-confidence and the young person’s ability to advocate for what they need. Outside of psychological assessment, Natasha also works one on one with her clients to identify and implement change goals to support key areas in their life such as supporting self-confidence, self-compassion and self-advocacy.

 

One of Natasha’s greatest strengths is her capacity to engage her clients into a safe and meaningful process. She brings great warmth and compassion to her work, and meets her clients where they are at.

 

Natasha’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Child Psychology
  • Psychological Assessment
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Learning Difficulties
  • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
  • Neurodivergence
  • Neuro-affirmative Psychology
  • Helping to assess and understand underlying learning, cognitive and/or academic difficulties
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Developing self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Building social communication skills
  • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Jasmine Randone

Jasmine is dedicated to creating a warm and safe environment for all her clients. She ensures to always meet her clients with empathy, to foster a person-to-person connection. She works collaboratively to understand her clients, meet them where they are at, and work together to meet their needs in therapy.

Jasmine is qualified with a Master of Clinical Psychology. Before this, she completed a Bachelor of Psychology and Criminology and Honours in Psychology.  Jasmine draws on a range of evidence-based interventions, ensuring that all her work is tailored to her client’s needs, and stage of therapy. Her main therapy modalities include schema therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Jasmine works with adolescents and young adults. She has experience across community and youth mental health services, university mental health clinics and forensic settings.

Jasmine’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Trauma, including complex trauma
  • Personality disorders
  • Interpersonal difficulties
  • Adolescent mental health
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Stress
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Depression

Donna Pasco

Donna brings a depth of experience to her counselling role, specializing in family therapy, relationship counselling and parenting. She provides her services to individuals of all ages. She has worked extensively with children and adolescents, which further informs her works with parents. She has worked across a range of settings, including schools and a variety of community organisations, both in Australia and abroad. Donna works with a broad range of family constellations, in addition to her work with couples, individuals and group work. Donna is trained in Gottman method couples therapy, emotion focused therapy (EFT), shame informed therapy and trauma informed therapy.

Donna brings energy and passion to her role and is committed to creating a safe environment for people to work on family and relationship challenges. Her work with families is invaluable and she has assisted many families on their journey to finding greater peace, connectedness and harmony.

Donna’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Stress management
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression
  • Neurodivergence
  • Mediation and conflict management
  • Narcissistic behaviors and gaslighting
  • Separation and divorce
  • School refusal
  • Child and adolescent wellbeing
  • Grief and loss
  • Trauma
  • Bullying and friendship issues
  • Student welfare
  • Sexuality

Maggie Treppo

Maggie brings great passion to her work in psychology. She brings experience from previous work in a not-for-profit community and the family violence sector. Maggie holds a strong desire to help others overcome personal barriers that undermine wellbeing or prevent them from living a life that they value.

Maggie brings a strong client-centered philosophy to her work, placing great emphasis upon her counselling relationships. She brings a friendly, kind and non-judgmental nature to her work, and possesses a natural capacity for empathy. Maggie values strong and trusting counselling relationships, such that her clients can feel comfortable working in a safe, open and collaborative manner.

Having completed many years of formal training, Maggie strongly values the scientist-practitioner approach to treatment planning and intervention. She is committed to continuous learning and equipping herself with strategies and techniques to inform her work.

Maggie’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Parenting support
  • Perinatal mental health
  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Stress
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Psychological assessments

Elaine Mong

Having worked with children, adults, and families, Elaine brings experience from a range of settings. She holds a Master of Criminology degree along with extensive training in psychology, honing her capacity to be thorough and meticulous. She brings great warmth and sincerity to her work, in turn fostering a safe and non-judgmental space for her clients to feel at ease.

Elaine values person-centered and holistic approaches. She is passionate about empowering her clients and enjoys working collaboratively to promote positive change. Being multilingual (conversational Cantonese and Mandarin) further enables her to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds. While tailoring treatment to meet her clients’ individual needs, she is committed to incorporating evidence-based strategies including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), play therapy and mindfulness-based therapy.

In addition to working with children, adolescents, and parents, Elaine is also experienced in offering therapeutic services to adults. She provides support around a range of mental health issues and is also available to administer cognitive and educational assessments.

Elaine’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression
  • Grief and loss
  • Stress
  • Trauma
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Emotional dysregulation
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Parenting support
  • Behavioural challenges
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Relationship challenges

Madeleine Newmarch

Madeleine is known for bringing a strong sense of warmth and compassion to her work. She is passionate about creating a safe space for her clients to explore their experiences. She will work collaboratively with you to help you identify your goals, and the steps you can take to find peace and to thrive.

Madeleine utilises a client centered approach, drawing from a range of evidence-based interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Madeliene’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Depression
  • Perinatal mental health
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Pregnancy support counselling (MBS item number 4001)
  • Parenting difficulties (Tuning into Kids facilitator)
  • Self-esteem challenges
  • Domestic abuse
  • Trauma
  • Sleep disorders
  • Grief and loss
  • Life transition and adjustments
  • Neurodiversity
    • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
    • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – adult

Paulene Acluba

Paulene is a highly motivate provisional psychologist who aims to provide exceptional care, drawing on Solution Focussed Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. She works collaboratively with her clients to formulate a treatment plan, tailoring strategies for the unique needs of each individual.

Having completed a Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) overseas, Paulene has worked with a range of client groups. She brings experience from private practice, NDIS, and WorkCover settings. She has experience in the provision of assessment, diagnosis and delivery of therapy.

Paulene approaches her work with warmth and compassion, and will work together with you to find the best pathways forward.

Key Interest Areas

  • Major Depression
  • Social Anxiety
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Self Esteem
  • Life adjustments & Migration Issues
  • Stress Management & Goal Setting
  • Trauma

Brenda Wong

Brenda holds a Bachelor of Psychology from The University of York in the United Kingdom, and a Master of Clinical Psychology from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Prior to joining the Laburnum Psychology team, Brenda accumulated invaluable experience at the child and adolescent psychiatry department of Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong, where she provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care as well as community services.

Brenda possesses a strong passion for working with adolescents and young adults. She values the opportunity to support the mental health of young people through the provision of high-quality evidence-based interventions. Most particularly, Brenda values the opportunity to work with young people before negative patterns become further entrenched. This greatly assists in setting young people up for a more positive and fulfilling future.

Brenda works collaboratively with her clients and where appropriate, will work in tandem with parents. Brenda brings warmth and compassion to her work and seeks to create a safe and nurturing environment.

Brenda’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Life transitions and adjustments
  • Self-esteem challenges

Dr. Jen Trimpey

Dr. Jen Trimpey joins the Laburnum Psychology team bringing a breadth of experience as a seasoned clinician, researcher and presenter. Jen underwent her training in psychology at The University of San Francisco and the University of Colorado, followed by a doctoral internship at Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio where she honed her clinical skills.

Over the early years of her career Jen worked as a therapist in the field of HIV prevention in the LGBTQI+ community in San Francisco. More recently she has worked in New York City focusing on psychological assessment and working with individuals who experience developmental disabilities.

She possesses a strong passion for psychological assessment, and the ways that this can inform and support people who are seeking to understand themselves or their children better.

Jen approaches her work with a strong sense of compassion, warmth and empathy. She holds strong values around respect and equity, most particularly when it comes to the work she has done for marginalized groups and individuals. She approaches her work with kindness and will work collaboratively with you as you find your best pathway forward.

Jen’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessment
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment
  • Educational assessments
  • Cognitive assessments

Roohi Ahmad

Roohi brings a depth of experience to her role as a couples’ therapist at Laburnum Psychology. Beyond her Master of Arts, she is trained in Gottman method couples therapy, family therapy, emotion focused couples therapy (EFT) and emotion focused individual therapy (EFIT). Roohi draws on her clinical trauma training to ensure a trauma informed counselling process.

Roohi is a warm and compassionate individual who brings care and empathy to her work. She draws on her own experiences of life and combines this with a person-centered approach. This greatly assists her clients to feel understood and heard as they venture through counselling.

Roohi brings extensive knowledge of interpersonal and relational communication patterns and underlying emotional needs. She works to support her clients identify underlying self-defeating thoughts and behaviours and help them to successfully resolve intricate interpersonal issues

Roohi’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Addictions within relationships
  • Relational trauma
  • Culturally diverse clients
  • Trust and communication issues
  • Building intimacy and desire
  • Supporting couples to heal from attachment injuries
  • Interpersonal conflicts
  • Infidelity/betrayal
  • Women’s mental health issues
  • Attachment issues

Tim Harmer

Tim implements a practical approach into his work and seeks to meet clients where they are at, so as to navigate their challenges and offer ways to solve complex issues collaboratively. Tim puts emphasis on empowering clients to see their worth and take control of the challenges they are facing.

Tim draws upon multifaceted and evidenced-based approaches to meet clients’ needs including dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), solution focused therapy, schema therapy, and trauma informed therapeutic approaches. Tim offers an understanding and empathetic voice in his work and enjoys working with clients to build their sense of mastery.

Tim has experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and across the lifespan. Prior to his work in psychology, Tim worked in the forensic field with individuals exiting the justice system. Furthermore, Tim has a background in elite level sport and the stress and challenges that come with this. Tim offers a lived experience perspective into navigating these challenges alongside balancing the demands of everyday life.

Tim has particular interest and experience working within a dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) framework and runs the DBT programs offered at Laburnum Psychology. This includes individual DBT for complex issues associated with emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness.

Tim’s areas of expertise and interest include:

  • Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
  • Relationship and communication issues
  • Self-esteem and self-worth challenges, particularly in young males
  • Performance anxiety and stress management
  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Life transitions and adjustments

Susanna Sibillin

Susanna brings a depth of experience to her work at Laburnum Psychology. She has worked in counselling roles for twenty five years, across the disciplines of psychology and social work. Susanna brings experience from a breadth of settings, including private practice, hospitals, community health, the mental health network, alcohol and drug addiction network, family violence network, and courts.

Susanna engages in both short and longer-term therapy, such as CBT, psychodynamic, and DBT. She brings a person-centered approach to her work, reflecting the importance of the counselling relationship. Susanna values collaborative work, in an environment where her clients feel safe and supported to explore the issues they bring into therapy.

Key Interest Areas

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Grief and loss
  • Life adjustment
  • Addiction

Sivan Hadas

Sivan is a Clinical Psychologist who brings vast and varied experience to her work.  She has a high level of professional experience and expertise.  Sivan builds very strong rapport with her clients.  She works with integrity and authenticity, and creates a very secure and calming space in which to conduct her sessions.  Sivan possesses great strengths in case conceptualization and formulation.  She works with adults and adolescents, and is fluent in English and Hebrew.

Key Interest Areas

  • Trauma
  • Addiction
  • Adolescence
  • Eating disorders
  • Behavioural difficulties
  • Working with families
  • Trauma
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Stress management
  • Transgender
  • LGBTIQA+
  • Vulnerable and marginalized communities