Psychology And Wellbeing Services

PAWS Psychology And Wellbeing Services

Working with children, young people and parents in a supportive and tranquil environment

Robyn works with children, teens, young people and parents to support their mental health and improve wellbeing. Robyn has a warm, empathic and collaborative style.

Her approach incorporates psychological, evidence-based practices whilst incorporating a playful style with children and a mentoring and coaching style with teens and young adults.

She works with two gorgeous and gentle groodle dogs who are trained as therapy dogs

Robyn has a passion for supporting young people and parents with neurodiverse presentations. She can help to identify and utilise strengths when providing emotional support, in addition to recommending practical tools and strategies for challenges.

Challenges may include; confidence, anxiety, low mood, family changes, social skills, organizational planning or other issues presenting barriers or impacting upon wellbeing.

B.B.Sc., Grad.Dip.Ed.Psych, MAPS, Associate Member of Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) , Member Australian Association of Psychologists INC (AAPi)

Robyn also has an organisational psychology background of over 20 years. She is a skilled trainer, facilitator and presenter with experience in learning and development. Career coaching is another skillset she possesses. This provides a unique combination to support and equip her neurodiverse clients with executive functioning strategies and tools.

ADHD challenges to organisation, planning, memory and emotional regulation may limit people achieving their potential and may also result in lowered wellbeing. Robyn is passionate about both increasing awareness and offering practical and effective support and strategies for ADHD specific challenges, whilst simultaneously utilising the many strengths that neurodiversity can offer.

Qualifications and Professional Background

Robyn is a qualified and registered psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioners Registration of Australia (AHPRA). She's passionate about supporting children, young people and parents with mental health challenges and promoting mental health wellbeing. She's particularly committed to evidence-based practices and ensuring therapy goals are developed mutually with clients and parents and are regularly monitored.

A member of the Australian Psychology Society (APS) as well as an Associate Member of the Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA). In addition to 8 years of specific professional development, that includes tertiary courses and approved work study programs, Robyn has experience working in private practice as well as in primary and secondary schools.

Robyn worked at headspace delivering mental health training to school staff and allied health, as well as delivering parent training sessions to support their teens and young people, this was something Robyn really enjoyed. Robyn also held mental health project roles with headspace, government and counselled staff in organisations who had been retrenched or required vocational assessments or support.

With over twenty years’ experience in organisational psychology and HR gained from one of Australia’s largest corporate organisations, Robyn deliberately transitioned to work educating and supporting children, young people and parents with their mental health and wellbeing. This kind of work is a passion and vocation for her.

What has Influenced and Shaped Robyn

Throughout her life Robyn has experienced a range of significant events that have shaped her and her vocational direction. Her goals have also been guided by evolving personal values and priorities that have been impacted by her life experiences. Losing her younger brother, Mark, aged just 20, who tragically died by suicide, has motivated her to learn and direct her knowledge towards mental health awareness, communication and support for young people, as well as parents.

Having children, developing relationships with parents and also possessing significant experience working in schools has also piqued an interest in understanding more about neurodivergence, especially ADHD.

Delivering practical supports that identify and capitalise on strengths, whilst supporting and equipping people with tools and strategies for individual challenges is her core focus. In regard to ADHD support, her focus, following assessment and diagnosis and communication with other specialists (such as paediatricians or psychiatrists) is to develop or reinforce appropriate scaffolds with practical and teachable tools and strategies. These interventions intentionally support impacted executive functions such as memory, planning and organising. Additional psychoeducation, emotional regulation strategies and reframing of unhelpful thinking resulting from associated poor self-esteem, shame or defensiveness can also be incorporated.

What is the Therapy Approach at PAWS?

Strengths based
Neurodiverse affirming
Play based where appropriate (e.g., children) combined with other relevant therapeutic modalities
Mentoring and Coaching where appropriate (e.g teens/young adults) combined with other relevant therapeutic modalities
Supports based upon psycho-education and evidence-based modalities such as ACT, CBT, Positive Psychology, Schema Therapy
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is offered with therapy dogs who are 2 Groodles

Robyn is committed to using an ethical approach guided by interventions that are evidence based and delivered in a friendly, respectful, compassionate and engaging style. Robyn is able to develop trusting, comfortable and therapeutic relationships with children and people of all ages.

Robyn offers engaging, friendly evidence-based and age-appropriate psychological services for children, young people and parents seeking mental health and wellbeing support. Incorporating playful activities and mentoring approaches depending upon client ages. Therapy dogs can be included as desired.