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 About Dr Janet Maxwell

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I deeply enjoy learning about how a person has come to be who they are, learning of their unique history and present, their experiences, thinking styles, struggles, values and preferences.  I bring to therapy a broad range of knowledge and skills developed over 17 years working in clinical psychology across public, private and research settings.

 

Working collaboratively with clients to identify and address areas of need, I always recognise a client as the expert in their own experience.  My approach acknowledges the need for both acceptance and change, providing encouragement when values driven change is hard, offering strategies and support to reduce distress, and supporting clients to live confidently and authentically.  I particularly enjoy supporting Autistic and ADHDer adults, recognising the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent brains in a neurotypically dominant world. 

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Professional background

​I developed a love of private practice psychology in 2005 as a registrar on the “Clinical Psychology in General Practice Rooms Project” an Australian Psychological Society (APS) and Monash University Initiative, which paved the way for Medicare reforms in psychology.  I went on to complete my Doctoral Internship at St. Vincent's Mental Health Acute Inpatient Service and have worked in a number of public mental health settings including Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC),  Continuing Care, and Community Mental Health.

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In 2009/2010 I worked in the UK as a Research Associate at The University of Manchester and as a Research Therapist at the National Health Service (NHS) on a trial of a new therapy aimed at preventing suicide in individuals suffering from psychosis.  This role involved providing 1:1 therapy to participants, delivering skills training workshops to NHS clinicians across Manchester and to national conference delegates. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to co-author a book on the Prevention of Suicide in Psychosis. 

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Since returning to Melbourne, I have been working in private practice settings providing assessment and psychological therapy for a broad range of mental health challenges.  Though trained as a clinical psychologist to diagnose and treat mental health conditions, I am very mindful of the limitations of a medical model.  My approach focuses on understanding psychological distress within the unique context of a client’s social, family, and cultural history and on providing affirming and evidence-based therapy. 

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Areas of Interest

  • Trauma

  • Attention Regulation

  • Emotion Regulation

  • ADHD & Autism

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Life Transitions

  • Suicide Prevention

  • Supervision (AHPRA board approved)

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Approach

My approach to therapy is neurodiversity affirming, collaborative, compassionate and flexible. I draw upon a number of therapeutic modalities, depending upon a client’s needs and preferences. These include:​

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Schema Therapy

  • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Mindfulness Training

 

Education

  • Doctor of Clinical Psychology, La Trobe University (2008)

  • Bachelor of Behavioural Science (with Honours), La Trobe University (2004)

 

Registration & Membership

  • Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with Clinical Psychology Endorsement

  • Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists

  • Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS)

  • Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.(AAPi)

  • Medicare Clinical Psychology Provider

  • ​Board Approved Supervisor (AHPRA)

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