Certified Relationship Psychologist

Over the past 24 years, he has earned himself a reputation for working collaboratively with clients in a friendly, warm, and practical manner. His caring, compassionate, and positive nature, coupled with his overall light-hearted approach make him easy to talk to about any issue. Over the years, he has gained significant experience in assisting individuals and couples living with low self-esteem; anger; anxiety; depression; unproductive communication; infidelity; internet pornography; relationship issues; conflict; same-sex attraction/relationships; and violence.

He is an AHPRA-registered Psychologist and a full Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.; Psychology Board of Australia; Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; and North-West Peer Support Group in Melbourne.

He uses many therapeutic modalities in his eclectic approach.

His motto ‘working towards better mental health’ is underpinned by his belief that one of his key roles is to meet his clients where they are. This allows him to gain an understanding of their situation. He then facilitates their thinking so they can better understand their situation and options, and make their informed decisions about their relationships.

Some of the goals that he sets collaboratively with his clients are psychoeducation, interpersonal skills training, honesty and accountability, reciprocally safe and respectful communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, equality, practicing mutually consistent standards, collaboration, shared responsibility and decision-making, interpersonal trust and support, non-threatening behaviour, intimacy, personal integrity, and mutual transparency, presence, and respect.

Some of the outcomes that clients have reported to him are feeling better about themselves, their partner and their relationship; improved communication; effective conflict resolution; healing from historical emotional hurts; wanting to be in their relationship again; having their ‘spark’ re-ignited; and looking forward to a better future. Based on these reports, in 2020, Julie Hart presented him with the first-ever Hart Centre Award for being “The Associate who consistently received the most positive client feedback, Australia-wide”; a humbling honour that he graciously received on behalf of his clients.

Underpinned by respect, his counselling focus is on providing psychoeducation and skills training, so couples can feel empowered to address and resolve life’s inevitable challenges outside his consulting room. Hence the efficient transition of many of his clients from reparative to preventive counselling.

He feels that people ‘inviting him to be a guest’ in their lives in their time of need, is a privilege for which he is grateful.