With over 25 years of experience in mental health, family therapy and trauma recovery, Dee brings both professional expertise and genuine compassion to her work. She is passionate about helping individuals, couples, children and families navigate life’s challenges, strengthen their relationships and rediscover hope.
Dee’s approach is shaped not only by her extensive clinical training but also by her own lived experience as a trauma survivor. She understands that healing is rarely a straightforward journey, and that finding the courage to seek support can sometimes be the hardest step. This personal understanding has deepened her empathy and reinforced her belief that, with the right support, meaningful change is possible.
Dee believes that our past experiences may shape us, but they do not have to define who we become.
Throughout her career, Dee has worked across public mental health services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), family services, Aboriginal communities, employee assistance programs and private practice. She has also taught, mentored and provided clinical supervision to other mental health professionals.
Dee holds a Master of Family Therapy and is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Her extensive training includes Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and a range of attachment-based and trauma-informed approaches.
IFS, or Parts work, is particularly central to Dee’s practice. She believes that beneath anxiety, anger, withdrawal, perfectionism and other protective behaviours, there is often a part of us that has been trying very hard to keep us safe. Rather than judging or trying to eliminate these responses, Dee helps clients approach themselves with curiosity, understanding and compassion.
Dee’s work with couples and families focuses on understanding the emotional experiences beneath conflict, improving communication, repairing attachment injuries and rebuilding trust. She has a particular interest in supporting families navigating separation, parenting difficulties, estrangement and complex relationship dynamics.
Above all, Dee believes that the therapeutic relationship is at the heart of meaningful change. Her style is warm, down-to-earth, collaborative and non-judgemental. She wants clients to feel genuinely heard, respected and safe enough to explore the parts of themselves they may have spent years hiding or struggling to understand.
The most rewarding part of Dee’s work is witnessing hope return. There is something incredibly moving about sitting with someone who feels overwhelmed, disconnected or hopeless and watching them gradually rediscover their confidence, resilience and sense of self.
Dee’s aim is not simply to help people manage their difficulties, but to support them in developing a deeper understanding of themselves, building healthier relationships and creating lasting change.