A safe place to learn and grow
Welcome to Thrive Clinical Psychology and Coaching
MEET ALYSSA
Alyssa approaches her work with professionalism and kindness. First and foremost, she creates a warm, accepting space where you can feel safe to explore challenging issues. Alyssa understands and respects the strength it takes to do psychological work.
With a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and over 15 years of experience and additional training, she is highly skilled in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health. She believes everyone does the best they can with the skills and learning they have. Alyssa sees her role as collaborating with you to develop a personalised approach to address your concerns. Often, this begins with a focus on surviving, and later moves into thriving.
My goal is to work with you to find and grow your strengths to build a rewarding life. I believe a meaningful life is one where you can tolerate life’s discomforts, know who you are and what matters to you, and can live in line with this each day.
ALYSSA’S THERAPEUTIC STYLE
Alyssa works from a place of acceptance and non-judgement
(a non-pathologising approach)
Alyssa works from a place of acceptance and non-judgement (a non-pathologising approach). She sees distress as being an appropriate reaction to someone missing something important in their life, and unhelpful behaviours as their best ability to address their problems with their current skills.
Alyssa’s treatment philosophy integrates two main themes of psychology – focusing on the immediate issues that bring a client to therapy, and the historical causes of this distress. She begins with a present focus, helping you to learn skills and process emotions to improve their day-to-day experience. This gives you immediate benefits and relief. Once you experience relief from the initial distress, this creates space to do the deeper work – exploring the past experiences and learnings that lead to the unhelpful patterns creating the distress. This deeper work promotes longer term, more permanent change.
Another strength of Alyssa’s approach is that she is skilled (through training and practice) in cognitive, behavioural, and emotion-based treatment approaches. She can work with you to select the right approach and individual techniques that comprehensively address all the factors causing and maintaining your distress. Research shows that a personalised, evidence-based approach and a strong therapeutic relationship are strong predictors of success.
BIOGRAPHY
A country coastal girl at heart, Alyssa moved to Brisbane (via a study year in France) for university in 2001. After completing a master’s degree in poetry and illness narratives, Alyssa moved into psychology, completing her doctorate in resilience training for individuals with diabetes.
When not working, Alyssa spends time with her husband, son, and animals. She also relaxes with time in nature, gardening, and ceramics, which she finds very mindful activities. Alyssa’s end of day indulgence is tea and chocolate in bed with a good sci fi book!
CAREER HISTORY
Alyssa began working for Qld Health in 2007 in chronic health management while completing her clinical training. During her doctorate, she gained experience in community mental health, hospital and forensic settings, and parenting centres.
Following qualification, she worked in private practice, specialising in couples’ therapy with comorbid trauma and mood disorders, and individual therapy focussed on mood disorders with attachment injuries.
Alyssa also worked for many years at The Prince Charles Hospital in cancer and palliative care, working with poor prognosis and end of life patients; she also provided post-graduate clinical psychology and registrar supervision and professional coaching.
Following her transition to motherhood Alyssa progressed to independent private practice where she works with individual and couples and provides clinical supervision.
QUALIFICATIONS
Alyssa is a clinical psychologist and professional coach,
highly trained in a range of gold-standard,
evidence-based treatment approaches
Her qualifications include:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology (University of Qld)
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ICEEFT-certified EFT Therapist and Supervisor-in-training (Emotionally Focussed Therapy, ICEEFT)
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Advanced training in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Russ Harris)
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Advanced training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy, Therapist Training/Graham Taylor)
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Advanced training in schema therapy (Schema Therapy Australia)
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Diploma of Professional Coaching (Australian Institute of Professional Coaches)
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Board approved supervisor with clinical endorsement (STAP)
ETHICS, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
Alyssa strongly believes in the right of every individual to be their authentic self – in whatever form or expression that may take, with the inclusion of any cultural or gender identity or spiritual practice.
Alyssa is a staunch ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and has completed advanced training in LGBTQIA+ inclusive practice.
Alyssa also respects individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and seeks to understand their unique heritage and adapts her practice to meet these diverse needs.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Thrive Clinical Psychology and Coaching acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Alyssa is aware she has many advantages due to her own cultural and economic privilege.