Having worked as a Primary School teacher for many years, Christine has pursued her interest in understanding the needs of young people, completing qualifications in Special Education and Psychology. A mother of three children, Christine’s professional experience includes working in primary and secondary schools, in an early intervention centre and as part of a community counselling service. After more than ten years working as a Consultant in the education system across a number of regions throughout Victoria, Christine moved full time into private practice over five years ago, focusing on counselling parents, adolescents and children. Christine specialises in assessing intellectual ability/disability, adaptive behaviour, learning and behavioural difficulties, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Christine has worked with a diverse range of clients with psychological, behavioural, social or emotional difficulties. Presenting issues have been wide ranging and have included:

• Behavioural Problems such as ADHD and ODD and parenting support;
• Education Issues including Dyslexia, Learning Difficulties, School Refusal, Bullying, Giftedness, transition and school readiness;
• Developmental Delay: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intellectual Disability, Children with Down Syndrome, Social Skills training and emotion; regulation;
• Anxiety: Performance Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder; and
• Depression

In support of the work Christine undertakes with individual clients, Christine works closely with parents, families and school personnel. When required, Christine will confer with colleagues, psychiatrists, referring doctors and community agencies to achieve the optimum outcome for her client/s. Christine believes it is important, when assessing young people, to gather as much information as possible, so will often see the child at their school, preschool or childcare centre.

As a Registered Psychologist, Christine has undertaken training that enables her to conduct formal cognitive, behavioural, educational and autism assessments.

Assessments Tools Christine uses include:

• Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale 2^nd Edition (ADOS 2)
• Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI)
• Childhood Autism Rating Scale 2^nd Edition (CARS 2)
• Child Behaviour Checklist
• Conner’s 3^rd Edition
• Neale Analysis of Reading 3^rd Edition
• South Australian Spelling Test
• Social Responsiveness Scale 2^nd Edition
• Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence- 4^th Edition (WPPSI IV)
• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children- 4^th Edition (WISC IV)
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 4^th Edition (WAIS IV)
• Wechsler Individual Achievement Test 2^nd Edition (WIAT II)
• Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale 2^nd Edition

To deliver optimum outcomes for clients from these assessments, detailed reports outlining findings and specific intervention strategies are prepared to meet the needs of the client/s while accounting for the individual’s family circumstances and/or school resources.

Christine highly values the importance of ongoing training to ensure she is abreast of current developments therapies and understandings. To this end, Christine has undertaken professional development within Australia and in the UK. Christine uses a systems approach to counseling in addition to a range of therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Play Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness.

Christine is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS) and endorsed by the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA). Christine has maintained her registration as a Teacher with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), with additional qualification in Special Education and is a member of Learning Difficulties Australia.

Christine is endorsed to provide services covered by Medicare and the Helping Children with Autism scheme (previously (FaHCSIA), Better Start for Children with a Disability and Better Outcomes in Mental Health (ATAPS) through Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network.