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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, and Young People. We offer evidence-based treatment for a range of anxiety and mood (depression) disorders. We also have extensive experience assisting people who have experienced trauma. 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. Data from the ABS National Health Survey identifies that poor mental health is the number one chronic health condition for Australians*. 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 - National Health Survey 2022
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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 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, an accredited EMDR Consultant and Therapist, an accredited Schema Therapist, and a licensed Circle of Security Parent Educator. He has experience across a range of treatment settings including Child Protection, Community Adult Mental Health, and Private Practice. While Romney works with clients of all ages and clinical presentations, his key skill set is in working with complex trauma.
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In working with adults, Romney draws on a range of treatment approaches including EMDR, Schema Therapy, ACT, and Positive Psychology. 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'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. Romney’s professional affiliations and memberships include: Australian Psychological Society (APS), EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA), International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA), and the Association of Contextual and Behavioural Sciences (ACBS). Romney is also a member of Rural Health West, an organisation that is focused on delivering better health outcomes to communities in rural Western Australia.
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.
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 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...
Understanding relationship dynamics and changing long standing patterns of relating to each other can make a big difference in relationship satisfaction....
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...
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 ....
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Therapy is an evidence-based intervention for the treatment of trauma, and a number of other conditions, and is endorsed by the World Health Organization...
Contact
Please Note: We are sorry to let you know that Romney is currently at full capacity and not taking new clients at this time. It is likely to be several months before spaces for new clients become available again. ​
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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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