Chris is passionate about assisting adults with a range of challenges, including mood difficulties, anxiety, trauma, stress management, burn-out prevention and recovery as well as adjustment issues. He uses a range of evidence-based treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy, Mindfulness based therapies, Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Chris takes an upfront yet compassionate person-centred and supportive approach, tailoring therapy to individual needs and empowering his clients to meet their goals.
Chris has held a strong 18-year career across public and private mental health and hospital services in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory on both executive leadership and clinician levels. He has also been involved in research, advisory panels, media, conference presentations and management consultation. For example, he was invited to be an advisory panel member of the Central Queensland University (CQU) and Sunshine Coast University (SCU) Clinical Psychology Master’s Programs. He participated in the development of the Sunshine Coast headspace and as Clinical Director of the Central Queensland Medicare Local had clinical and management oversight of the Rockhampton headspace.
Having had a decorated 15-year career in the South African Defence Force, retiring as a Lieutenant-Colonel, Chris is passionate about assisting veterans of all ages with a range of difficulties with high prevalence mental health disorders and adjustment difficulties. Chris additionally has a proven record of specialising in working with men of all ages across all walks of life – including medical professions, practical/trade professions and farming communities.
Chris is equipped to support you with addiction difficulties following his experience as CEO of Banyan House, a 35-bed residential dual diagnosis alcohol and other drug recovery centre (Therapeutic Community), during which tenure he was called upon by the Federal Government Ice Taskforce and the NT Government Taskforce to advise on the prevalence, impact and treatment of ice addiction. He was also invited to be a guest lecturer at Charles Darwin University Clinical Master’s Program on co-morbid mental health and alcohol & other drug recovery.
Chris has unique experience in being not only a general psychologist, but also having trained as Industrial/Organisational Psychology with many years of experience as manager, Director and CEO level for major companies across Australia and South Africa as well as international consulting experience. Chris is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Membership of the Australian Fundraising Institute (MFIA) and Affiliate of the Australian Institute of Governance (AAIG). He also holds registration as Trainer for the Situational Leadership Model, Thomas International Systems Training Programme in applying the Personal Profile Analysis and Human Job Analysis in tandem, in respect of Recruitment, Training, Team Building, Promotion and Re-deployment of Personnel in any working environment. Chris is also available for management and organisational consulting.