About Rikki

I completed both my Bachelor of Arts with Honours and Master of Psychology degrees at the University of Western Australia. During my time at UWA I was involved with the Arts Union, PROSH, and in 1996 I edited the PROSH newspaper. After graduating in 2003 I worked at the Hollywood Clinic at Hollywood Private Hospital, and coordinated the Mood Disorders Program as well as working with Vietnam Veterans in the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Program.

In 2004 I joined the Child Development Service, where I was fortunate to work with a wonderful team of clinicians providing treatment services to children with developmental delays and their families. During this time, I developed a broad range of assessment and treatment skills, including cognitive assessment, assessment of autism and ADHD, and treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioural issues, and selective mutism in children.  I had the opportunity to extend my skills by attending some exceptional professional development trainings, including the Circle of Security 10-day training in 2006, which introduced me to attachment theory and influenced my treatment with clients. This approach has been invaluable in assisting parents with their relationships with children, and I completed further training in the Circle of Security DVD program in 2010, which led to running Circle of Security groups with parents. In 2014 I was the lucky recipient of the J.A. Mattinson Scholarship awarded by the PMH Foundation, which allowed me to travel to London to attend the International School for Infancy and the Early Years: Introduction to Infant Mental Health Seminar at the Anna Freud Centre.

In 2008 I began working in private practice, and enjoyed the opportunity to work with adolescents and adults, and expand on my skills in cognitive behavioural therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Schema Therapy. After training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), and using this treatment with a range of traumatic experienced by different clients, I was impressed by the rapid progress that clients were describing with symptoms of trauma. I continue to enjoy learning more about Schema Therapy and EMDR in my ongoing professional development, and applying new research and protocols to my clinical practice.

In 2015 I trained in neurofeedback, a form of biofeedback which works by utilising the natural plasticity of the brain to regulate brainwaves. Having personally experienced life changing benefits of neurofeedback in the areas of peak performance and chronic pain I was keen to learn more about this treatment and apply it clinically. It has now become an important aspect of treatment for many of my clients who have experienced positive outcomes with anxiety, stress, trauma, depressive symptoms, ADHD, and cognitive performance.

I now work exclusively in private practice and look forward to working with new clients to work towards emotional wellness and living life in a valued direction. I enjoy seeing clients across the lifespan, including children and parents, adolescents, and young, middle-aged and elderly adults. I like to consider a client's place on the developmental spectrum and assist them with transitioning to different stages of life. As well as helping younger children as they learn about tricky feelings and how to manage them in the context of family life and school, I enjoy working with adolescents and young adults who may struggle emotionally with the many transitions and changes of this age, as they learn to manage the intensity of their inner world; with adults adjusting to work challenges, relationships, and parenthood; and with older adults transitions with work, adult children, and caring for elderly parents.

I welcome Neurodivergent clients and I am committed to providing an affirming approach, which views neurodiversity as a difference rather than disorder. I welcome LGBTQIA+ clients and I am a fierce ally of this community. I welcome clients of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, and I am committed to developing my own awareness so I can provide culturally sensitive treatment. It is an honour to be able to offer a safe space for individuals to explore their inner world, and to provide assistance in helping them understand the impact of their life experiences on how they think, feel and act. Over the past few years I have developed the capacity to create personalised treatment programs based on the unique needs of the clients, using a blend of evidence based therapeutic interventions, which are informed by my interests in neuroscience, attachment theory, mindfulness, psychoanalysis, developmental and social psychology.

AHPRA registration: PSY0001578759

Founding Member Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA)

Associate Member EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA)

Board Approved Clinical Supervisor

Working with Children Check

 *Please note, Rikki is currently unable to accept referrals from new clients