I believe our emotional struggles rarely develop in isolation. They are often shaped by our relationships, life experiences, losses and the ways we learned to cope. Therapy provides a safe place to understand these patterns, reduce suffering and develop new ways of relating to yourself and others.
Hi, I’m Marie and I am a registered Clinical Psychologist and relational psychotherapist based in West End, Brisbane. I became a psychologist after several earlier careers because I'm deeply interested in understanding people. Throughout my career I've been fascinated by why two people can experience similar life events yet be affected in very different ways. I wanted to understand how our relationships, life experiences and coping strategies shape who we become, and more importantly, how people can heal and move forward when life has left them feeling overwhelmed or stuck.
Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure why things continue to feel difficult despite their efforts to manage. You may be experiencing anxiety, strain in your relationships, or a sense that something deeper is not sitting right.
My approach is integrative and relational. This means I work with you to understand not only what is happening in the present, but how earlier experiences and patterns may be shaping how you think, feel, and relate to others. Together, we make sense of these patterns and begin to shift them in a way that feels meaningful and sustainable.
Before becoming a psychologist, I worked in teaching, coaching, and consulting. This background informs the way I work bringing a broad, flexible, and practical perspective to therapy, while still allowing space for deeper reflection and understanding.
Whether you’re facing challenges at work, in your relationships, or with your sense of self, therapy can offer a place to slow things down, think more clearly, and begin to experience the world differently and, over time, to feel more at ease within yourself, a more comfortable way of living in your own skin.
I believe that every person's story makes sense once it is understood in the context of their life experiences and relationships. Rather than asking, "What's wrong with you?", I ask, "What has happened to you, and how have you learned to survive?" Therapy provides a safe, collaborative space to understand these patterns, reduce emotional suffering and create meaningful, lasting change.
Trauma is one of the most misunderstood areas of mental health. Many people believe they should simply "move on", yet trauma affects the brain, nervous system, emotions and relationships in ways that aren't always obvious. I find it incredibly rewarding to help people make sense of reactions that have often confused or frustrated them for years. One of the most powerful moments in therapy is when someone realises, "There's nothing wrong with me, my mind and body have been trying to protect me."
Relationships are where we experience both our greatest joys and our deepest wounds. The way we learn to trust, protect ourselves, communicate and connect often begins long before adulthood. Those early experiences can quietly shape our friendships, intimate relationships, parenting and even our relationship with ourselves. Helping people recognise these patterns with curiosity rather than self-criticism creates opportunities for lasting change, not only in how they relate to others but also in how they understand themselves.
Psychology is constantly evolving, and so are the people who seek therapy. I believe my clients deserve care that reflects both current research and decades of clinical experience. I continue to undertake professional development because I never want to stop asking questions or refining my understanding. Every client teaches me something new, and I see ongoing learning as an essential part of providing thoughtful, evidence-informed and compassionate care.
My previous experience as a management consultant and performance coach deepened my interest in the neurobiology of fear, anger, and anxiety, the underlying forces that shape how we relate to others at work and at home.
I had the opportunity to attend the Australian Institute of Sport, where I explored how neurofeedback and brainwave technologies can enhance performance and emotional regulation. This work included studying the impact of anxiety on brainwave activity and learning how to help individuals shift from high beta brain waves (18–30 Hz), associated with stress and hyperarousal, to calmer alpha waves (8–12 Hz), which promote relaxation, clarity, and focus.
Today, I draw on this integration of neuroscience, performance psychology, and trauma-informed therapy to help clients understand and transform their stress responses fostering resilience, self-awareness, and emotional balance.
