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.
Rookaya Akkari BPsy.Sci
General Psychologist
Rookaya is a warm and down to earth psychologist. She is able to build a strong therapeutic alliance and genuine connection with her clients, which puts them at ease and allows them to feel comfortable to express themselves fully. Rookaya has a strong passion for reducing the stigma of mental health and does so throughout her practice. Rookaya’s optimistic, collaborative and strength focused approach to therapy enables her to help guide clients to reach their full potential and live fulfilling lives.
Rookaya is registered with AHPRA as a General Psychologist. Rookaya attended the Western Sydney University and completed a Bachelor of Psychology. Rookaya has 5 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly both in private practice, NDIS and within community settings.
Rookaya has experience with anxiety, depression, trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, coping skills, complex behavioural presentations and their management, ADHD, ASD, Intellectual Disability, and Global Developmental Delay and Psychometric Assessments. She is also experienced working with CALD communities.
Sarah Ekdawi BPscyh (Hons) MPsych (Clinical) MAPS
General Psychologist
Sarah is a Clinical Psychology Registrar with a Master of Clinical Psychology. She has extensive experience working across private practice, hospital settings, and neuropsychology clinics, providing psychological assessments and therapy for children, adolescents, and adults across a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, behavioural disorders, developmental disorders and disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning difficulties and disorders, trauma, grief and loss. Sarah is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Clinical Psychology Association.
Sarah is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative space where clients feel heard and empowered. She takes an evidence-based approach, drawing on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to help clients navigate challenges. With a warm and practical style, Sarah ensures each session is tailored to the individual, guiding them toward meaningful and lasting change.
In addition to her clinical work, Sarah has experience in neuropsychological assessment, conducting cognitive and diagnostic evaluations to support clients in better understanding their strengths and challenges. She has also contributed to innovative psychological research, presenting her findings at international conferences. Her background as a crisis supporter and behavioural therapist further reflects her commitment to mental health and well-being.
Sarah is passionate about helping her clients build resilience, develop self-awareness, and achieve their personal goals. She looks forward to supporting you on your journey to greater well-being.
Anne Overell B Behav Sc (Hons) M P Psych PhD
General Psychologist
Anne Overell is a general psychologist. She has extensive experience working with adults within multidisciplinary public and community mental health teams, extended treatment units and hospital settings. In addition to her clinical work, Anne has experience in psychometric assessments.
Anne’s experience includes working with young adult to older adult clients living with depression, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, disorders of personality organisation, the effects of trauma, including developmental trauma, and chronic pain and somatic symptoms.
Anne works chiefly using an integrative approach within a broadly psychodynamic framework of practice – applying curiosity and collaborative exploration to understand a person’s relationship patterns, affective (thinking and feeling) patterns, and protective processes. In this way she aims to build mutual understanding of the client’s experience of their problem, their strengths, and their desire and capacity for change.
Anne incorporates Motivational Interviewing practice, ACT, Compassion-focused Therapy, mindfulness meditation, DBT and other cognitive-behavioural interventions as appropriate, with a focus on building and internalising a capacity for reflective thinking, cognitive and emotional awareness and acceptance, secure relationships with self and others, and an integrated sense of self.
Anne’s experience in psychometric assessments includes comprehensive cognitive assessments, adaptive behavioural assessments, and structured or semi-structured diagnostic clinical interviews.