Psychologist
Helen Fitzhardinge
Grad Dip Applied Psychology; MA (Couple & Family Therapy); Grad Cert Autism Studies; Post Registration Master Clinical Psychology (completing)
Areas I work in
Therapeutic modalities I work in
Helen has been practising for many years as an AHPRA-registered psychologist, endorsed in Counselling Psychology. She obtained a Master of Arts in Couple and Family Therapy early in her career, and much of her work has focused on relationships and families, using family systems and attachment theory. She also has extensive experience providing psychological counselling for adults with mental health concerns, trauma, and grief and loss. She welcomes the diversity that clients bring, enjoys working with same sex couples and rainbow families, and has a particular interest and expertise working with autism and neurodiversity, with additional postgraduate training in this area.
Helen has a warm, supportive and pragmatic style, and ensures that her approach matches the needs and personality of each client. A mum herself, Helen enjoys supporting new parents through the transition to parenthood and family life, which can bring many challenges but also deep rewards. She is well-placed to assist with challenges in relationships that arise for couples, their extended families, and also amongst friends and new support networks. She helps parents understand and consider the developing relationship with their child, to support the formation of strong attachments. She enjoys helping new parents establish a new sense of personal identity and competence, without losing themselves in the process.
With a strong interest in neurodiversity, Helen often works with neurodivergent adults to consider how autism and ADHD can impact relationships and other aspects of adult life. The transition to parenthood brings many changes and increased demands for everyone, and may present additional challenges for parents who are neurodivergent. Helen supports neurodivergent parents using a positive and neuro-affirming approach, and adapting therapy as needed. Helen draws on a range of therapeutic models, including narrative therapy, family systems, cognitive-behavioural therapy, schema therapy, emotion-focused therapy and attachment-based therapies.
