Our Team

Dr Natalie Shockley, BSc (Hons) PhD (Clin)

Principal & Clinical Psychologist

Natalie is an experienced clinician, having worked in adult mental health in a variety of inpatient and outpatient areas (psychiatric wards, drug and alcohol outpatient services, custodial facilities) before spending over eight years at a private practice at Capalaba. Natalie then moved to Samford and chose to open her own practice in the tranquil garden setting of the Lifestyle Centre in 2012.

Natalie regularly provides supervision to other clinicians working with dissociative disorders and complex PTSD.

Natalie has a special interest in working with highly traumatised adults who require long-term therapy. She will accept new referrals for adults or older adolescents for complex trauma-related presentations (trauma in child/adulthood, complex PTSD, Dissociative Disorders), as well as complicated bereavement (grief & loss). Natalie also often works with issues of self-harm and substance misuse, as these are common coping mechanisms for people with significant trauma histories.

Dr Claudia A. Petherick, BA (Hons), PhD, MClinPsych

Clinical Psychologist

Claudia is a Clinical Psychologist who previously worked in research for several years in the US and Australia. She believes her research background has contributed to her establishing an evidence-based practice while remaining a warm and compassionate clinician.

Claudia fundamentally believes that therapeutic success largely relies on the client-clinician relationship, which she nurtures by using humour, having unconditional positive regard and genuinely caring for the client. She also adopts various therapeutic approaches and strategies to help clients, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, among others.

Her interests encompass anxiety disorders, gender dysphoria, eating disorders, depression, self-esteem, and substance abuse, among other adult mental health issues.

Izzy Dewhurst, BBehavSc(Psych) and BBehavSc(PsychHons) 

Psychologist

Izzy is interested in working with people of all ages, backgrounds and identities and will apply a mixed approach using aspects of CBT, ACT and narrative therapy with the inclusion of mindfulness. She is compassionate and caring, believing a positive therapeutic relationship is the key to success.

Izzy has a particular interest in working with anxiety, depression, developmental disorders, addictions and individuals of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Isabelle Laurent, BSc, BSc (Hons)

Psychologist

Isabelle works with clients from all age groups, and backgrounds. She uses evidence-based approaches such as ACT and CBT to support clients to work towards their therapeutic goals. Isabelle has a warm and compassionate approach, creating a safe and non-judgemental space where clients can feel heard and understood.

Isabelle has a particular interest in working with anxiety disorders, depression and trauma, and with adolescents and young adults.

Kate Albion, BPsychSc, GradDipProfPsych, MProfPsych

Psychologist

Kate is a registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPi) and the League of Autistic Psychologists and Affirming Colleagues (LOAPAC). She holds a Master of Professional Psychology, is a certified AutPlay Therapy provider, and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Play and Art Therapy.

Kate is deeply passionate about creating a welcoming, inclusive therapeutic environment where neurodiversity is embraced and the uniqueness of every brain is celebrated and nurtured. She views parents as the experts on their children and values them as essential partners in the therapeutic journey. Kate works collaboratively with families to build understanding and appreciation of each child’s strengths and differences, while equipping parents with evidence-based strategies to support their child’s development and wellbeing.

Kate’s warm sense of fun brings playfulness and creativity into the therapy space. Her nurturing nature and gentle, affirming approach help create a safe environment where children feel supported, understood, and empowered to work towards their goals.

Sunica Schreiner, BA, BA Hons (English), BSocSciHons, MSc ClinPsych

Clinical Psychologist

Her practice is integrative and evidence based with psychodynamic therapy and EMDR as guiding modalities. Alongside this, Sunica also enjoys working in a more directive, short-term, problem solving way when it is helpful, often venturing into mentoring or coaching approaches to support clients with specific goals or life transitions.

Sunica has a particular interest in the lasting impacts of trauma and early relational experiences, identity and life transitions, and the broader social and cultural contexts that shape how people come to understand themselves. She also has an interest in the intersection of psychology, embodiment, and women’s health during the pivotal shifts of peri/menopause.

Felicity Jensen (BA (Psych), Masters of Social Work)

Social Worker

Felicity is an enthusiastic and dedicated Social Worker who has spent the majority of her career working with children and families.

Felicity is a compassionate, respectful and empathic practitioner who is accustomed to working with children and families during the most challenging and stressful times in their lives. Her approach is supportive, non-judgemental and strengths focussed. Felicity has a well developed understanding of complicating factors which can impact on family functioning, and at times place children at risk, such as parental substance abuse, mental illness and experiencing family violence.

Vicki Essex

Practice Manager

Our practice manager, Vicki Essex, is warm, friendly and professional, and supports our practitioners and clients at Samford Psychology.

Originally from the UK, Vicki worked as a primary school teaching assistant before moving to Australia. When not in the clinic she walks her two labradoodles, and enjoys swimming and bush walking.

Vicki will help connect you with the right therapist for your needs and will assist you with booking in and changing appointments as needed.

Feel free to call our team on 3289 2992 and have a chat about coming in to see someone as you start on your way to finding a healthier ‘you’.