about us
Our Psychologists utilise evidence-based therapeutic interventions that include:
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
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Psychodynamic Therapy
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Behaviour Therapy
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Play Therapy
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Emotion Focused Therapy
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Solution Focused Therapy
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Positive Psychology
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Psychoeducation
Dr Samantha Ward BPsy.Sci M.Psych PhD MAPS
Educational and Developmental Psychologist
Founder & Director
Samantha has a particular interest in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Samantha also has extensive experience across a range of presenting concerns including anxiety disorders, behavioural difficulties, depression, developmental disorders, specific learning disorders, ADHD, family breakdown (separation/divorce) and/or conflict, and social and friendship difficulties.
Samantha adopts a strength based approach in her interventions and when appropriate, utilises a multi-disciplinary approach by forming positive collaborative partnerships with parents, school personnel, paediatricians, general practitioners, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists and by implementing a range of therapeutic supports and interventions within multiple settings including the home, school and community.
Samantha completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science from the University of Queensland, completed a Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology from Queensland University of Technology, and completed her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Queensland University of Technology.
Research
Samantha's PhD, entitled “Improving Autism Detection: The Role of Practitioner Reported Influences and a Combined Parent-Clinician Informant Screening Instrument”, examined practitioner reported factors that may impact the timing of ASD diagnostic evaluations and continued the development of an early screening measure to detect children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Publications
Ward, S.L., & Gilmore, L. (2010). The Autistic Behavioural Indicators Instrument (ABII): Development and instrument utility in discriminating autistic disorder from speech and language impairment and typical development. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 28-42. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2009.07.003
Ward, S.L., Sullivan, K. A., & Gilmore, L. (2016). Practitioner perceptions of the assessment and diagnosis of autism in Australia. Australian Psychologist, 51, 272-279. doi:10.1111/ap.12211
Ward, S.L., Sullivan, K.A., & Gilmore, L. (2016). Agreement between a brief autism observational instrument and established ASD measures. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 33, 127-138, doi:10.1017/edp.2016.1
Ward, S.L., Sullivan, K.A., & Gilmore, L. (2017). Adapting the Autistic Behavioural Indicators Instrument (ABII) as a parent questionnaire (ABII-PQ). Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 42:4, 385-390. doi: 10.3109/13668250.2016.1252037
Ward, S.L., Sullivan, K.A., & Gilmore, L. (2018). Combining parent and clinician ratings of behavioural indicators of autism spectrum disorder improves diagnostic classification. Early Child Development and Care, 188:6, 748-758, DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2016.1235567
Dr Emily Hines Bsc (Psych) (Hons) D.Psych (Clinical) MAPS
Clinical Psychologist
Emily has a particular interest in the assessment and intervention of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and trauma survivors across the lifespan.
Emily also has clinical expertise in adjustment disorders, eating disorders, developmental disorders, and relationship difficulties.
Emily predominantly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and places a strong emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as an agent of change. She utilises clinical assessment interviews and standardised self-report assessment measures to provide DSM-5 diagnoses, and monitor treatment gains across the course of therapy.
Emily is qualified to conduct a range of assessments including cognitive, learning, adaptive behaviour and ADHD assessments for children, adolescents and adults.
Emily received her Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) from Queensland University of Technology and obtained her Honours undergraduate degree from the University of Queensland.
Anne Christensen BPsy.Sci MPsych (Ed & Dev, Clinical)
Educational and Developmental Psychologist
Anne Christensen is an AHPRA-registered educational and developmental psychologist with a Master’s Degree in clinical and educational psychology (from Denmark).
Anne has 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families across government, hospital, community, and private sectors.
Anne adopts a client-centered and holistic approach to intervention, assessment, and therapy and has experience working across the mental health spectrum with complex trauma, anxiety, depression, complex behavioural presentations, attachment, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD)/neurodiverse (ND), intellectual disability, anger, grief and loss, safety planning and care for clients struggling with suicidal thoughts and/or self-harming behaviour, and family systems under severe stress.
Anne draws from evidence-based frameworks from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) mindfulness, solution-focused and narrative therapy but prefers to set the framework with the client to ensure that it is tailored to the individual client and their need.
As an educational and developmental psychologist she has extensive experience with psychometric assessments and ensuring that her clients are comfortable and have a good experience before, during, and when receiving feedback around their assessments.