I am a registered Clinical Psychologist in Australia. I hold a clinical scope of practice. I have a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology from the University of Zimbabwe (2000) and a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from the same institution (2004). I have worked full-time in the psychology field since my qualification in 2003.
My past work experience includes working in forensic settings overseas, Zimbabwe, the UK and New Zealand (8 years working for the Department of Corrections). In these roles, I gained experience in risk assessment and management, as well as therapeutic intervention for individuals with various types of offending behaviours (Violent, sexual and general offending). I have also worked with both male and female offenders of varying ages, including youth offenders.
I have experience working for an Indigenous peoples’ organisation in New Zealand. Te Whanau Apanui. In this role, cultural responsiveness was fundamental. Alongside Iwileaders, my role was to provide an intervention programme for their at-riskyouth, offering a proactive pathway to reduce offending and community-harmingbehaviours.
I have alsoworked for Oranga Tamariki, the New Zealand equivalent of the Department ofCommunities. I provided quality psychological assessments and treatment for youngpeople with varied living circumstances, including those in residential andfoster care. I also provided parenting assessments and therapeuticinterventions for families reuniting with their children after being in care. Iparticipated in systemic interventions through attendance at multidisciplinaryteam meetings and peer supervision sessions. In this role, I gained experienceand knowledge in supporting young people from families with complex anddysfunctional backgrounds.
I have experiencein community work through non-governmental organisations, having worked for theSalvation Army in New Zealand. In this role, I served as the practice managerfor the following services: Changing Places (a residential parentingprogramme), Social Work, Financial Mentoring, Supervised Contact, PositiveLifestyle Programme, and Child-Play Therapy. My role was aimedat strengthening practice by refocusing staff performance to align withidentified “Best Practice Standards” and the “Model of Care Framework.” Iprovided supervision, practice leadership, coaching, and support to staff intheir professional development. The goalfor the community interventions was to promote improved and sustainableoutcomes for children and their families by identifying relevant supportservices as well as through therapeutic interventions.
I have worked asa contractor on ACC-sensitive claims in New Zealand. In this role, I undertook psychological assessments for survivors ofsexual abuse, as well as providing psychological therapy for survivors ofsexual abuse.
I was approved towork within the Family Court in New Zealand in June 2020. To date, I have conducted and providedapproximately 70 family evaluation assessments for single expert witnessreports. I have also completed psychological assessments to inform relevantfamily interventions. These reports have often focused on family dynamics, riskassessment in families with histories of high conflict, domestic violence,substance abuse, sexual abuse, and care and protection concerns. I have alsoprovided therapy and interventions for families going through the family courtprocess.
I have just joined Mindstate Psychology. I am seeking to continue providing family court-ordered psychological assessments and interventions. I will receive supervision and professional support from Dr Phil Watts, who has 30 years of experience in family court assessments.
I have good interpersonal and communication skills. I am enthusiastic about collaborating with individuals who face various challenges and find great fulfilment in supporting them to achieve stability and cope with everyday life. In my practice, I am thoughtful, reflective and balanced in my approach to both assessments and therapeutic work. My reports are often described as helpful and balanced, as I strive to equip clients with self-awareness and skills that enable them to improve their life situations.
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