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Welcome
Welcome to South West Clinical Psychology. We are a small psychology practice based in Margaret River, working with Adults, Couples, Families, Children, and Young People. We offer evidence-based treatment for a range of anxiety and mood (depression) disorders. Our focus is on helping people to better understand the challenges that they face, to have clarity on the steps that they can take to move forward, and to have a deeper understanding of themselves along the way.
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If you or someone you care about is struggling with anxiety or depression, it may be helpful to know that mental health problems are very common. In fact, research indicates that nearly half of all Australians will experience a mental health condition at some stage in their lives, and around 20% of Australians will experience a mental health condition in any given year*. Considering this, it makes sense to gain professional advice early on, to minimise any adverse impacts, and to manage these challenges in a proactive way.
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* Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007.
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Approach
Romney’s Approach to therapy:
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There are so many different types of counsellors, therapists and psychologists, that sometimes it is difficult to understand the difference between them. Romney is a Clinical Psychologist, which means that he has completed 8 years of full time mental health education, training, and supervised practice. The Clinical Psychology qualification is considered to be a very high standard of mental health qualification in Australia.
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Romney’s approach to therapy is tailored to each individual client and typically involves a combination of:
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Psychological Education such as understanding anxiety and depression responses in the body and how these can be managed by working towards a healthy balance in life.
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Behavioural Strategies such as graduated exposure (i.e. approaching feared situations in small steps), behavioural activation (putting the good stuff back into life), and opposite action (choosing behaviours that oppose negative emotions).
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Relaxation Strategies including mindfulness, abdominal breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation.
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Cognitive Strategies such as building awareness of negative automatic thoughts and learning different ways to relate to these thoughts (i.e. learning not to believe everything that you think!).
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Developing a deeper understanding of yourself through improving self-awareness and understanding how the early environments that we experience in life have a tendency to shape our later experiences by laying the foundations of how we relate to ourselves and to others.
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Professional Bio
Romney is a Clinical Psychologist with experience across a range of treatment settings including Child Protection, Community Adult Mental Health, and Private Practice. He is experienced in working with a broad range of mood and anxiety disorders including General Anxiety Disorder, Panic, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety, Depression, Recurrent Depressive Disorders, and Bipolar Disorder. He also has experience working with Addictions, Eating Disorders, and Personality Disorders, and has a strong background in working with trauma.
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In working with adults, Romney draws on a range of treatment approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). In working with children and families, he has a strong focus on attachment and child development and draws from a range of attachment based models including the Circle of Security, Dan Hughes’ PLACE model, and the ARC (attachment, regulation, competence) model. Romney also has a specific background in working with complex trauma and is trained in both child and adult Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) protocols.
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Romney's private practice, South West Clinical Psychology, is based in Margaret River and he is also a team member of South West Community Therapy Centre.
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Services
Our services are eligible for Medicare Clinical Psychology rebates and rebates under most health funds. We also provide assessment and treatment in relation to worker’s compensation and motor vehicle accident claims.
Adults
Romney has experience working in adult mental health within the health department (Outpatient Community Mental Health), working with parents and carers within the child protection system, and in private practice...
Young People
Young people face a unique array of challenges that are often not well understood by the adults in their lives. Beneath this complexity is often a common core that revolves around the need for meaningful connection with others...
Couples
Understanding relationship dynamics and changing long standing patterns of relating to each other can make a big difference in relationship satisfaction....
Trauma
Resolution of unprocessed traumatic memories is often an important aspect of psychological treatment. Best practice involves a phase-oriented approach that includes the distinct phases of stabilization and skills building, trauma processing, and integration...
Families & Children
Romney’s approach to working with families and children involves a combination of gaining an understanding the child’s inner world, understanding the family system and dynamics, and strengthening the attachment relationship ....
Outreach
Outside the Box Psychology is the name of our clinical outreach service. This is a specialised service for clients who are unable or unlikely to engage in traditional therapy services. This may include therapy sessions delivered at home or other places in the community...
Contact
Please Note: Romney is currently at full capacity and not taking on new referrals at this time. It is likely to be several months before we can take on any new referrals. We don't offer a waitlist because it is too difficult to predict when space will become available again. Appologies for any inconvenience.​
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ph: 0407985671 fax: 08 6323 0407
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Unit 5/45 Station Road, Margaret River
Please feel free to contact us using the contact form below and we will get back to you shortly.
South West Clinical Psychology
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ABN 27 508 485 708
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Medicare Provider No: 5205352W (Margaret River)
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Medicare Provider No: 5205351H (Busselton)
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Please note: South West Clinical Psychology is not an emergency service. If you require urgent support please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au . For emergency assistance dial 000 or report to the emergency department of your closest hospital.
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