MY PHILOSOPHY
"I am truly passionate about this work, I love seeing my clients overcome their challenges and make positive changes and, ultimately, live better, happier lives".
Sarah O'Flaherty - Clinical Psychologist
You may be experiencing anxiousness, fatigue, low mood, or guilt. Or perhaps you are feeling stressed, stuck, or not listened to. Do you feel frustrated and fed up about how you are being treated - at work, at home or at school. Have you noticed your irritability or anger getting harder to control? Have you had enough of how things are and have a sense that your life could be better?
I work with adults and adolescents who have anxiety, are dealing with past or recent trauma, are managing life changes (including grief and loss), or are facing interpersonal challenges. Additionally, because of my corporate background, I am passionate about assisting with career choice, assistance with managing workplace stress, and addressing bullying in the workplace. I also enjoy working with clients from a range of backgrounds and cultures due to my experience working and living in a number of different countries around the world.
My therapeutic style is collaborative, strengths-focused, and geared toward people who are ready for real and meaningful change in their life. While I use many different modalities (see the full list here), I am a strong proponent of schema and EMDR therapy which, in my experience, tends to create meaningful change. However, I will use the modality or mix of modalities that will work best for you.
It takes courage to take action.
So, why not take action now and we can work together to make your life better.
MY QUALIFICATIONS
I received my Masters of Clinical Psychology from Griffith University in 2018. I am a full member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA), the Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy Association (AEDP) of Australia, and an associate member of the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST). I am registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in conjunction with the Psychology Board of Australia and hold an area of practice endorsement in Clinical Psychology. I enjoy being involved in the development of the profession and was a member of the College of Clinical Psychologists QLD Committee for over two years.
I am an EMDR Accredited Practitioner. This means I am a member of EMDRAA and have met additional requirements of supervision and experience.
Additionally, I am a STAP-accredited Supervisor (Psychology Board of Australia approved), and am available to supervise: Clinical Psychology Registrars, Clinical Psychologists, General Psychologists, and other Mental Health Professionals.
Before I became a psychologist I worked for nearly twenty years in the fast-paced world of corporate advertising, including agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi and DDB. For five of those years, I fulfilled a General Manager role, running two different businesses. I understand the challenges of working in high-pressure workplaces and managing people.
During this time I worked all around the world helping organisations and people succeed. Working and living overseas and interacting with people from many different cultures and backgrounds has helped me to understand different perspectives and the wide-ranging views we all have of the world. I like to stay connected to my creative roots and have written three books: Simplify Your Life, Ready For A Career Change and Fresh Start: A Guide To Eliminating Unhealthy Stress.