Clinical Psychologist

Complex Trauma & Dissociative Disorders

Jocelyn’s approach to resolving Complex Trauma combines DBT, Schema Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) and Advanced Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Complex or Relationship Trauma includes childhood physical and sexual abuse and neglect and exposure to domestic violence. The body’s memories of danger, supercharged by the amygdala (the fear centre), may make it difficult to think calmly. Trauma-informed therapy with a bottom-up approach includes somatic or body-focused therapies which explore automatic survival responses (fight-flight) and associated dysregulated feelings and sensations in a safe environment.

Bottom-up approaches include diaphragmatic breathing, affect bridge to a positive memory, and imaginal hypnotic techniques. Once feelings of safety have been established then top down cognitive approaches associated with thinking, speaking, emotional awareness and self-regulation can be integrated with bottom up approaches to build coping resources including skills in distress management. This is followed by reprocessing of traumatic memories using advanced EMDR to embed the memory in the past and install a positive view of self.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) & Alcohol Dependency

Binge eating and Alcohol Dependency are used to escape emotional distress. Jocelyn combines DBT & IFS to manage distress effectively.

Binge Eating and Alcohol Dependency are triggered by emotional distress particularly relationship or attachment distress. Jocelyn combines DBT and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) to reduce defensiveness to distress, build coping plans for trigger situations, build your distress management skills and allow you to step into Wise Mind using Mindfulness Meditation to manage distress effectively.

Jocelyn is experienced with Medicare Eating Disorder Plans (EDP) for Binge Eating Disorder and prefers to partner with a dietician.

Compulsive Disorders including OCD, Trichotillomania (hair pulling) & Excoriation Disorder (skin picking)

Compulsive Disorders are brain-based behaviours triggered by stress. Jocelyn teaches you to use your mind to control your brain and reduce your reactivity to stress.

Compulsive Disorders including OCD (checking, cleaning, contamination, perfectionism & hoarding), Trichotillomania and Excoriation Disorder are brain-based, inherited disorders that are triggered by stress. Jocelyn teaches you reduce stress, practice Mindfulness Meditation to use your mind to control your brain (Exposure and Response Prevention) and build your distress management skills to manage stress without compulsive behaviours.

Jocelyn has a particular interest in helping you to recover from perfectionism which can present as a stand-alone symptom of OCD. Perfectionism perpetuates anxiety, depression, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, eating disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder and Performance Anxiety (including Erectile Dysfunction).

Depression & Anxiety Disorders & Mood Disorders

The brain has amazing neuroplasticity that can be activated to resolve anxiety & depression and reduce vulnerability to mood disorders.

Depression and anxiety disorders (Including Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder) are perpetuated by automatic, unhelpful thinking such as worrying and catastrophizing, excessive self-criticism and negative schemas such as feeling worthless. A combination of CBT, DBT and Schema Therapy enables clients to build new neurological programs in manual, mindful mode using the brain’s amazing neuroplasticity. This reprogramming builds on helpful thoughts, positive views of self and effective distress management skills and problem solving behaviours. Positive reprogramming may be enhanced by use of clinical hypnosis and imaginal experiences in Schema Therapy.

Mood Disorders such as Cyclothymia or Bipolar Disorder are brain-based conditions that are exacerbated by triggers such as overload. Clients are taught to reduce cyclothymic or bipolar episodes though assertive boundary setting to reduce overload, increased self-caring and mindfulness meditation to enhance awareness of emerging episodes and implement corrective action to restore wellbeing.

Grief & Loss

Jocelyn understands how deeply we attach to others – and how much we grieve loss.

Jocelyn combines Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) with Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) to support you through the five stages of grief, as described by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance of the situation & moving forward

Unresolved loss may be caused by divorce or the death or disappearance of a parent during childhood and adolescence. The remaining parent may not be able to meet the emotional needs of the grieving children. The grief work may be complicated by ambivalent feelings towards the parent or partner who has died or by emotional avoidance with traumatic loss. Imaginal techniques from Schema Therapy and Clinical Hypnosis can also help resolve loss.

It is also normal to experience grief following a disabling injury or a diagnosis of a chronic illness such as MS. Jocelyn can support you to grieve for your old way of life and in order to adjust to the new way of life (including the new way of life living with the Covid19 virus).

Chronic Pain

Jocelyn combines CBT with DBT and Clinical Hypnosis to manage chronic pain effectively

Jocelyn worked on a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team for 3 years and works effectively with Chronic Pain. CBT reduces pain catastrophizing and fear of pain. Clinical Hypnosis can reduce chronic pain through imaginal techniques such visualizing and shrinking the pain. Jocelyn teaches you mindfulness meditation including cognitive defusion techniques to separate yourself from your pain. DBT provides skills to reduce tension and inflammation caused by fear of pain including relaxation and distress management skills.