I am a Clinical Psychologist and have spent my entire career helping children, teenagers, and families in all areas of mental health and behavioural issues. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, my first placement was with the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, providing valuable experience across the very wide range of problems and issues facing young people.
I now work in my own solo private practice. Prior to COVID, I had three clinics across Adelaide South Australia, seeing parents and children referred by GP’s, Paediatricians and schools, and a lot by word of mouth. In 20 years, I’ve had over 20,000 appointments, talking with parents and children about the very varied behavioural and emotional problems that families face. Some issues are quite mild, and only require one appointment to get back on track – other issues can be far more complex, requiring multiple appointments (Today, most of these issues are covered under the Medicare Mental Health Care Plan). From sibling rivalry to children being violent, ten-year-old children who still have trouble using the toilet (thankfully this is rare, but don’t be too worried if your child is one of them – there’s usually a lot we can do to get things on track) – from children still sleeping in mum or dad’s bed, and very commonly, children who refuse to do as they’re told because ‘they are their own boss’, and “you can’t tell me what to do!”
I regularly see children from all backgrounds – children with single-parents, adopted children, children raised by grandparents, uncles and aunties, children that have lost a parent, and everything in-between. I regularly see children with any or mutiple diagnoses, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and ADD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Sensory & Auditory Processing Issues, just to name a few. I have also worked with the Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court as an Expert Witness. (Please note: I’m happy to provide advice in some situations relating to Family Court matters, however I do not write reports for the Court. Please feel free to contact me to discuss any concerns.
I’m also a parent of two children, now adults, so know first-hand the challenges that parents can face. I now live in a rural town, hence my interest in rural and remote mental health services for young people. Post Covid, I have developed my practice based on providing services via telehealth. This has made accessing support much easier for more people. Telehealth also helps to provide a cost-effective service, which allows patients with a Mental Health Care Plan to be bulk-billed. When surveryed last year (2022), over 90% of Simon’s patients were very satisfied with the telehealth service they received.
Please feel free to contact Simon by Email to discuss any concerns.