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About Brooke AndrewsBSocSci(Psych), BA(Psych, Hons), MPsych(Clin), MAPS(FCCLP), MIAAN(Cert)
Clinical Psychologist & Certified Neuropsychotherapist Hours Wednesday - am, pm, evening Some Saturdays - am Contact Seddon |
Background
Brooke completed a Bachelor of Social Science majoring in psychology at RMIT University in 2008, followed by a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, Honours) degree in 2009 and Master of Psychology (Clinical) degree in 2011 at the University of Ballarat (now Federation University). Whilst completing her training, Brooke volunteered for a number of years at the Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria (ADAVIC), a non-for-profit organisation offering community support for anxiety and depression.
Since completing her studies, Brooke has undertaken further training to become certified as a neuropsychotherapist with the International Association for Applied Neuroscience (IAAN), along with completion of supervisor training to successfully obtain registration as a supervisor with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), Psychology Board of Australia. Brooke is a registered supervisor for all types of psychology training pathways and is dedicated to the teaching and training of psychologists.
Brooke has previously worked in a variety of settings including community mental health, the Royal Children’s Hospital, Federation University student counselling service and the Centre for Biopsychosocial and eHealth Research and Innovation hub (BeRI), also at Federation University.
Brooke successfully maintained part-time employment within the School of Health and Life Sciences at Federation University as a Lecturer in psychology for an 8 year period. In her position as Lecturer, psychology, Brooke was responsible for the teaching, training and supervision (both clinical and research) of provisional psychologists in the Master of Psychology (Clinical) and Master of Professional Psychology programs, along with placement coordination and teaching of various fourth year psychology courses, where she was nominated for multiple teaching awards.
Alongside her Lecturer position, Brooke has worked in private practice in Geelong for a number of years specialising in anxiety, depression, trauma, and personality disorders. Within this practice and whilst completing her training as a neuropsychotherapist, Brooke developed an interest in perinatal mental health, after recognising the importance of early attachment, the developing brain and the many challenges that can arise at times of major life adjustment, such as the perinatal period.
Doctoral studies
Brooke has a passion for further education and is currently completing her PhD candidature part-time at Federation University investigating low-intensity digital mental health (dMH) treatment models for anxiety and depression within an adaptive randomised controlled trial (RCT) design. Within a mixed-methods model, of specific interest in the project is the development of therapeutic relationships within digital mental health, participant and therapist satisfaction with digital mental health interventions, mechanisms of change (such as self-efficacy and motivation), stepped care models of psychological treatment and increasing access to evidence based psychological services in Australia. The overall aim of Brooke’s doctoral research project is to improve our understanding of how to best offer digital mental health (dMH) interventions within the Australian community.
Current Practice
Brooke currently works as a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Seddon and as a research associate for the Centre for Biopsychosocial and eHealth Research and Innovation hub (BeRI) at Federation University. Within the BeRI team, Brooke works on the Million Minds Mission Project, a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant for the development and evaluation of a digital mental health platform to assist children and adolescents with anxiety, depression, sleep and substance abuse issues.
Within her private practice, Brooke focuses specifically on providing assessment and treatment for women and their families within the perinatal period, along with adjustment to early childhood parenting. She assists her clients with antenatal and postnatal anxiety, depression, and/or stress, adjustment difficulties, grief, self-esteem and identity issues that may arise during this vulnerable phase of life. Brooke is particularly passionate about the neuroscience of infant and child brain development and early attachment relationships, the management of high expectations, feelings of self-doubt and perfectionism. Brooke also offers treatment for clinical disorders such as anxiety and mood disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder, along with the provision of clinical supervision.
Approach to Therapy
Brooke works collaboratively with her clients, providing a warm, compassionate and client centred approach to ensure that an individualised treatment plan is developed. Brooke values and nurtures the therapeutic relationship with the aim to create a respectful and safe therapeutic environment, one in which her clients feel empowered and understood.
Brooke specialises in the neurobiological underpinnings of talking therapies and incorporates many evidence based treatment modalities into her practice such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiCBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Schema- Focused Therapy, whilst drawing upon principles of neuropsychotherapy and attachment theory to enhance her client’s outcomes. Brooke enjoys delivering treatment in individual and group formats, and has interests in community education and group programs to enhance mental health wellbeing.
Professional Affiliations
Registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA)
Endorsed by the PsyBA as a specialist in Clinical Psychology
Member of the Australian Psychological Society, Fellow grade of the College of Clinical Psychologists (FCCLP)
Registered supervisor with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Registered supervisor for Clinical Psychology Registrar Program with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Certified member of the International Association for Applied Neuroscience (IAAN)
Member of the Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Treatment Training Research Institute (MiCBT Institute)
Member of the Western Infant and Perinatal Mental Health Network (MHPN)
Member of the APS Perinatal and Infant Psychology Interest Group (PIPIG)
Member of the Perinatal Loss Centre
