Our team of dedicated professionals share the common goal to provide our students with the very best preparation for general registration with PsyBA and their career as a psychologist.
Our staff and supervisors have expert knowledge of the core competencies and attributes required for registration and early career psychologists. We have a genuine belief that, by expanding the competencies and practical experience of psychologists, we make a positive contribution to the mental well-being of the wider community.
We provide personalised attention and support to each of our interns, ensuring that their transition to a career in psychology is a smooth one. In addition to their individual supervisors, interns are encouraged to seek confidential support and advice from any member of our team.
The following are some of our team members.
Chris has been working as a supervisor with the College in excess of 10 years now. He has worked for the Department of Community Services in various roles and in TAFE as a Counsellor. Chris has worked privately since 1991 and continues to operate a generic clinical practice assisting clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues and workcover/insurance-related intervention and medico-legal assessments and report writing. Along the way, Chris has managed an Employee Assistance Program, lectured in the university system as well as TAFE and provided training and consultancy to organisations. In addition, Chris works as an approved counsellor with victims of crime and several agencies.
Chris has enjoyed his supervision and involvement with our College and its provisional psychologists.
“Working with committed and talented intern psychologists is a wonderful way to contribute to our profession and put something back in. It also keeps one fresh and abreast of the latest developments and therapeutic approaches. Over more than 10 years involved at The College of Professional Psychology, I have met many highly professional, ethical, and dedicated psychologists who have humanity and demonstrate high levels of skill and ability. It constantly reaffirms for me that the profession (and the public requiring psychological services) is indeed in very good hands”.
BSc (Psych) (Hons I), MAPS
Emily is a registered psychologist with experience providing targeted counselling and a range of assessments to individuals in private practice, through Medicare’s Focused Psychological Strategies, in career transition programs, community settings, aged care, and in occupational rehabilitation. She has experience working with people across a wide range of age groups and cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Emily is a Board approved supervisor of provisional psychologists, and provides supervision through the College of Professional Psychology. She also facilitates group supervision and some workshops in the College’s professional development program.
Emily is the Intern Support Coordinator at the College, and works closely with both new enrolees and current interns in the registration program on tasks such as job seeking for suitable placements, completing AHPRA paperwork for provisional registration, managing registration and work/life balance, and enhancing the confidence and encouragement of psychology graduates.
“Having completed the program through The College of Professional Psychology as an intern myself some years ago, I experienced first-hand, the benefits of training in a supportive, structured and practical program such as is provided by the fantastic team at the College. I feel fortunate to now return as part of that team, and deeply encouraged to give back to the next generation of psychologists in training. The most satisfying aspect of my role is to witness new graduates – who are excited, nervous, overwhelmed, unsure of themselves – grow and develop into confident and competent professionals who will go on to make a difference in the wider community.
I hope that the diversity, achievements and collegiality present in our College’s community of interns, alumni and staff is both motivating and representative to new graduates of the potential in this rewarding profession.”
Alison has been working clinically as a psychologist for eight years and as a research psychologist for 13 years. She works for an early intervention program with parents and infants at risk of abuse/neglect or where there is a history of parental trauma. Alison also sees clients in private practice.
Alison is passionate about working psychotherapeutically with clients and applying the new evidence on the neurobiology of trauma and its impact on relationships, to her clinical work. Her PhD investigated the ongoing impact of postnatal depression on mothers and their infants.
In addition to roles with Macquarie University and the Institute of Psychiatry, Alison is a supervisor at The College of Professional Psychology, a role she has described as a “wonderful way to be part of the growth and development of new psychologists and be involved in an exciting and vibrant college”.
Director of COPPBA, HDPM, MComm, MAPS
Lawrence has a diverse portfolio career as a psychologist spanning 25 years reflecting his varied interests.
As a corporate psychologist, his expertise is in strategy, leadership development and organisational change processes. He has consulted to leading organisations in Australia and overseas in industries including tertiary education, IT, sport, hospitality and legal services.
Passionate about the potential of alternative dispute resolution techniques, he mediates in conflicts involving workplace performance management issues and cases of alleged discrimination, bullying, harassment and unfair management practices. He is a member of the LEADR Association of Dispute Resolvers.
In his private practice, Lawrence assists clients create sustainable change as they navigate through difficult life challenges and mental health issues using strength and evidence based focussed psychological strategies. He is particularly interested in work-related psychological problems including PTSD, inter-cultural issues, dealing with grief and loss and performance enhancement.
Lawrence is actively engaged in the psychology profession and the community and has held numerous voluntary positions. These include the Sydney branch of the Australian Psychological Society, the Sydney North Shore and Beaches Medicare Local Mental Health Advisory Committee, the NSW Mental Health Association Mental Health Advisory Reference Group, and on the board of Lane Cove and Northside Community Services (formerly Lane Cove Community Aid).
Since 2007, Lawrence has been the Director of the College of Professional Psychology and is committed to ensuring that it provides the most comprehensive and professional psychologist registration program in Australia producing graduates who are highly skilled practising psychologists. In so doing, it brings to life the College vision of making a sustainable positive contribution to the mental health of the wider community.
BA (Psych), BSc. (Nursing) MA (Military Resilience Counseling), EdD (Psychological Trauma, current), MAPS
Maureen is a senior psychologist with over 35 years clinical experience in mental health practice. Dual registered mental health nurse and psychologist. She works with individuals, couples, and families as well as Australian Defence Force members (active or post duty) and their families. She has expertise and training (TF-CBT) in treating anxiety and depression, trauma, complex PTSD and all mental health issues affecting individuals, families and couples.
Maureen has worked with many clients both in clinical settings, public and private hospitals, community settings, and not for profit mental health care facilities. Her clinical training and expertise are in treating all types of psychological trauma, focusing on stress and coping, grief and bereavement, complex PTSD, childhood trauma and relationship difficulties in both young and older people.
Her integrative psychotherapeutic approach uses positive psychology, PCT and TF-CBT. Maureen’s life motto is “Don’t stop until you’re proud”.
BA Hons, Psych Major, Grad Dip (Education), M Applied Psych, MAPS, ANZICA
Amanda has provided counselling to individuals and couples for the past 35 years – initially in Sydney and now in Adelaide. She is an accredited couples counsellor (Relationships Australia) and a member of the Infertility Counsellors Association. As well as working in private practice, she has been a member of various multidisciplinary teams, providing expertise in support services for eating disorders, infertility and cancer.
Amanda is a qualified teacher and has trained thousands of students in counselling skills and related subjects – working at universities, government organisations and private counselling colleges. She has a strong interest in the history of psychotherapy and the way in which different therapeutic approaches have emerged from significant historical events and movements. As a teacher and supervisor, she has a keen focus on skills which maintain a strong therapeutic alliance. Her background in Gestalt therapy also means that she highlights awareness of the process that occurs between the therapist and client, and ways to use this process therapeutically.
DPsych Applied Psychology (Community), MSuicidology, Grad Dip (Community Psychology), BA (Multidisciplinary), MAPS, FCCOM
Lyn O’Grady is an experienced Community Psychologist with a particular interest in the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and families as well as suicidality.
Lyn’s work history has included roles within the education, health and community sectors. She has worked with parents in parenting programs and individually at the community level and in schools for over 20 years. Lyn also worked as a school psychologist in the Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. She currently works part time in private practice as well as with the College.
Following completion of a Master of Suicidology in 2017, Lyn now conducts training, consultation and writing in relation to suicide prevention. She is also the author of a book for parents titled “Keeping our Kids Alive: Parenting a Suicidal Young Person”.
Donn is a generalist psychologist based in the Gold Coast in Queensland. He has more than 15 years experience in counselling and therapy working with individuals (adolescents to older adult), couples and families in the areas of mental health, adolescent issues, relationships and employee assistance programs. This has been across a variety of settings including working in community mental health, NGOs and the private sector. He utilises common evidence-based interventions when assisting clients (e.g. traditional CBT) and has received training in specialised areas such as DBT and Gottman Couples Therapy. He is a STAP-trained and accredited supervisor (Qld) for higher education and the 4+2 pathway under the current AHPRA scheme. He considers each supervision session an excellent opportunity for continued growth and learning for both supervisor and intern.
B.A (Hons), LLB, M Clin Psych, MBA, Dip. Grad. Research, PhD, MAPS, FCCLP, MACPA, GAICD
Lil is the Principal Clinical Psychologist and Director of Psychology, Sydney Local Health District. Lil has over 30 years’ experience in law and clinical psychology. She has worked clinically in the areas of sexual violence and mental health. Lil is particularly interested in the relationship between the legal and mental health systems as well as the impact of trauma work on professionals.
Her research has been in the areas of vicarious trauma, root cause analysis, professional identity and professional roles as well as the role of allied health in public mental health services. Lil developed the Vicarious Trauma Scale (VTS), a brief screening instrument for VT. Lil is a reviewer on Traumatology, The Journal of Patient Safety, International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, Australasian Psychiatry and sits on the CRGH Human Research Ethics Committee as well as the NSW Psychology Board. Lil is a clinical associate with the Departments of Psychology at USyd, UoW, ACU, MQ, WSU, lecturer at UNSW and casual academic with The Australian Institute of Health Service Management (AIHSM) UTAS.
B App Sc (Psych) M Psych (Counselling), Postgrad Dip (Counselling)
Mary-Anne is a Counselling Psychologist who possesses a passion for working with both individuals and couples. She was employed for many years in both government and non-government agencies prior to establishing her private practice.
Having worked predominantly in the alcohol and drug and mental health fields, Mary-Anne is flexible in her approach and happy to work with people on a short, medium or long term basis. Mary-Anne enjoys watching people resolve their difficulties and move towards a more positive future. Trained in a range of modalities, Mary-Anne is able to tailor her approach to the individual needs of each client. She believes in supporting and empowering people to make positive long term changes.