As the founder of The Same Mountain and Co-Parenting Companion, I have developed evidence-based frameworks that transform high-conflict family dynamics into workable co-parenting relationships. My approach integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion-Focused Therapy, and ProSocial principles, along with practical strategies drawn from extensive experience in:
- Expert witness testimony in Family Court proceedings
- Court-mandated therapy for families in legal disputes
- Child and adolescent mental health services
- Youth justice system intervention
- Perinatal mental health support
- Working with neurodivergent children and their families
My career includes leadership roles such as Past President of the ANZ Association for Contextual Behavioural Science, Research Associate for Telethon Kids Institute, and Council Member for Collaborative Practice Western Australia. Based in Western Australia, I regularly consult with mental health professionals nationwide on complex separated family cases.
My straightforward, practical approach has earned me a reputation for translating complex clinical challenges into actionable solutions. I integrate real-world experience with current research in my training, helping practitioners work confidently and competently with separated families while maintaining sustainable practice boundaries.
A 1-Day Intensive for Mental Health Professionals
Parental Separation affects a significant proportion of our clients, yet most practitioners receive minimal training in managing these complex family dynamics. This workshop utilises Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) to fill critical knowledge gaps, helping you work more effectively with young people and their families while protecting your time, energy, and professional well-being.
This workshop is ideal for psychologists, social workers, counsellors, psychiatrists, mental health nurses, GPs, and all other mental health professionals working with adults or children affected by separation. It will help clinicians who feel uncertain when separation dynamics emerge in individual therapy, or who are struggling with managing consent issues and parent involvement. Especially if you are worried your therapeutic recommendations might complicate legal matters; you’re unsure when to take on these cases and when to refer; or your between-session workload with these clients is unsustainable.
You'll Leave Knowing
- evidence-based interventions that work in separated family contexts
- how separation impacts child development and attachment
- tools to identify red flags, know which cases to accept and when to refer
- when you need both parents’ consent (and when you don’t)
- how to prevent being triangulated and maintain therapeutic boundaries
- confidence about providing court-appropriate documentation
- methods to structure sessions and manage between-session contact
- how to protect yourself legally while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness