I am a Senior Clinical Psychologist with a strong interest in working with women and girls to enhance their well-being and empower them to create the life they want. After completing my training as a Clinical Psychologist at Otago University, New Zealand ten years ago, I have worked across a variety of settings, both in the public and private sector in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. This experience includes leadership positions in mental health care including running specialist eating disorders programs within psychiatric settings and providing clinical supervision to health professionals. With over 10 years’ experience working with people who have difficulties with their eating including helping those with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, as well as, pre-bariatric counselling and assessments, I have a very well-developed understanding and competency in addressing the range of eating disorders, body image difficulties and anxiety. In addition to my extensive experience in this area, I have a thorough understanding of and set of skills in assessing and treating anxiety disorders, low mood, trauma, grief and loss and life transitions. I also have an interest in early intervention and psychosis. I am trained in a variety of evidenced based therapeutic approaches including; Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – Enhanced (CBT-E), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) skills, and Mindfulness. I believe in the importance of developing a personalized understanding of each individual, their background and context. This allows us the opportunity to choose the right therapy intervention to best achieve the desired outcome, at a pace that meets everyone’s needs. This approach also allows us to work together in an intentional, goal directed and collaborative manner that is safe, non-judgemental, and compassionate. I provide therapy that is based on research and use my extensive experience as a psychologist to work collaboratively with my clients to achieve better mental health, functioning and wellbeing. Whether it’s short term support with a period of adjustment or longer term more complex psychological interventions, I look forward to assisting you!

Aphrodite Vlahos is a registered Psychologist with a special interest in working with women and girls. Aphrodite has been trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Self Compassion and more. Aphrodite comes to us with experience working with women and girls of all ages including parents of children with Autism and young people who have social emotional communication difficulties. Aphrodite also has a special interest in eating disorders, body dysmorphia, Borderline Personality Disorder and has completed a thesis investigating ‘food addiction’ impulsivity and adult attachment. With years of experience in business leadership and people management, Aphrodite is also interested in empowering women in the professional space to develop the skills necessary for successful careers. Aphrodite offers clients of the Centre well-researched therapy and skills training in a structured approach so they can take away practical strategies and skills to assist in functioning and wellbeing. Modules of therapy and skills training including a 13-week DBT Skills course for individuals.

Throughout my life I have maintained a keen interest in and passion for food and its relationship to health and disease, particularly mental health. My experience in the field of eating disorders is extensive. I have worked and studied at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden at the Mandometer and MandoLean clinics whose eating disorder treatment focuses on behaviour change and normalising eating behaviour. I am also the Senior Dietitian at a private psychiatric hospital in Melbourne and lead the team of dietitians in the eating disorders program and general psychiatry. Generally, I am passionate about supporting people in developing a healthy relationship with food, I also connect strongly with the Health at Every Size philosophy. My aim is to provide a supportive and non-judgemental environment, while providing sensible non-prescriptive advice about food and nutrition. With much confusion in our society about what to eat, the “good” and the “bad” and conflicting views in the media I enjoy debunking the myths and erroneous information that leaves people feeling bewildered and anxious. My principle aim is to help people understand and respond to their natural cues of hunger and fullness, understand their appetite and learn to eat intuitively.

I have been a registered psychologist for 20 years and dedicated many of these years to understanding and treating anxiety (social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder), eating disorders and depression. More broadly, I am interested in the mental health and well-being of women and girls. I also have a special interest in Autism and ADHD. I am trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for anxiety disorders and eating disorders, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), attachment informed psychotherapy, interpersonal therapy, process-experiential psychotherapy, gestalt techniques and utilise feminist frameworks in understanding mental health and well-being.

Lilian is a registered Clinical Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. She has worked in many clinical and forensic settings including private practice, community settings and prisons. She has been in leadership positions in community mental health teams in Singapore and in mental health units in Australia, where she has also provided training and clinical supervision to psychologists and other health professionals. With over 13 years of experience, Lilian ensures that she creates a warm, empathetic and non-judgemental space for clients. She encourages open and honest communication to ensure that clients feel comfortable in sharing their thoughts, feelings, behaviours and any feedback about the process. Lilian has interests in working with anger management and aggression, anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol issues, eating disorders, forensic issues, trauma, and personality disorders. She utilises a client-focused and strengths-based approach to therapy, and draws upon a range of evidenced-based strategies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy- Enhanced (CBT-E), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), EMDR, Schema Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness. Lilian believes that therapy should be a collaborative process and is individualised depending on the client’s presenting concerns. Above all, Lilian is passionate about empowering her clients to facilitate personal growth and improving their mental health. Registered Psychologist - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Board Approved Supervisor (Clinical) - AHPRA Member - Australian Clinical Psychology Association Member - Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED)

I have a strong interest in supporting women and girls to foster a positive self-image through self-compassion and self-awareness. My work centres on recognising and processing trauma, as well treating depression, anxiety, body-image dissatisfaction, grief, and relationship difficulties. I also work with women through the perinatal and postnatal period. In addition to therapeutic work, I conduct clinical assessments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and seek to facilitate empowered and affirming relationships with neurodiversity. My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and strengths-focused. My practice is also informed by examining the interplay between social forces and individual psychology, having observed that women and girls often develop negative ideas about themselves that have their origin in harmful cultural practices, such as the imposition of gender norms. I aim to cultivate a safe environment where unhelpful feelings and patterns of behaviour can be explored and understood. And, when working with girls, I seek to foster a relationship with parents and include them in understanding and implementing the strategies being introduced to support their daughters’ wellbeing. The therapeutic modalities I use are Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Schema Therapy. I also conduct cognitive and academic assessments that can be used in the development of individual learning plans for primary, secondary, and tertiary, educational settings, and/or to develop strategies to implement in the workplace. Areas of focus • Women’s mental health • Perinatal and post-natal anxiety • Perinatal and post-natal depression • Depression • Anxiety • Post-traumatic stress disorder, including in response to coercive control, domestic violence, sexual assault, bullying, and loss. • Body image dissatisfaction • Relationship difficulties – intimate partner and family-based • Grief • Neurodevelopmental assessments • Cognitive assessments • Educational assessments • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) • School refusal https://www.womensmentalhealth.com.au/rachel-purchase