Clinical Team
Heather
Heather is an experienced Psychologist with AHPRA endorsement in Clinical and Counselling Psychology, and has been registered as a Psychologist since 1995. Her experience since registration includes working for the Department of Defence – Navy (both as a civilian and a uniformed member), in Community Health, working within local Medical Centres with GPs, and in her own private practice. Prior to commencing studies in Psychology in 1989, Heather worked in Human Resources for 7 years. This experience was a driving force in her decision to become a Psychologist. Becoming a parent at an older age has given her a deeper insight into human behaviour, and while challenging at times, she believes it has made her a more compassionate and reflective therapist.
Heather values authenticity and connection, self-development, self-awareness, and growth. She uses a person-centred approach to create safe, respectful, and non-judgemental relationships with the people she works with. Heather encourages her clients to be curious, to explore their concerns and difficulties, to find meaning, to recognise their strengths and skills, and uses a range of treatment modalities to tailor her approach to meet each client’s individual needs.
Heather uses an integrative strengths-based approach, believing there is no ‘one size fits all’, and incorporates a range of evidence-based therapies in her work. These include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution Focussed Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, trauma informed body-centred approaches (Somatic Experiencing and polyvagal theory), mindfulness and meditative practices, and attachment-based perspectives. She is also trained in Eriksonian and Clinical Hypnosis. She works with younger adults, with those of us trying-to-be adults, and the young at heart.
Heather’s strong relational style and collaborative approach to therapy enables her to work comfortably with a range of people and a variety of mental health issues and concerns. She is experienced in working with a range of mental health issues and her particular areas of interest include grief and loss, post-traumatic stress, attachment trauma and disruptions, the impact of military service and separation from the military, psychopharmacology and alternative treatments, neurobiology and neuropsychology, and developing grit and resilience.
Heather owns, operates and is the Principal Psychologist at Sound Psychology. She is a member of Australian Association of Psychologists Inc, Association of Counselling Psychologists, and Complex Trauma WA (COTWA).
When she’s not at work, Heather enjoys whatever quiet time she can get, reading, good food, and several different creative hobbies. She is trying to be better at being physically active and with the encouragement of 2 energetic golden retrievers she may be able to achieve that soon!
Sanri
Sanri is a Clinical Psychologist with over 30-years of experience in the field of mental health. She graduated in 1990 with a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology. Sanri is a Psychology Board-Approved Supervisor, offering supervision to mental health clinicians and provisionally registered psychologists. Her professional memberships include the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and COTWA (Complex Trauma WA).
Her experience working for the South African National Defence Force, as well as in Adult Mental health in New Zealand and private practice and community settings in Australia has equipped her well to offer a wealth of expertise. Sanri believes that there is no one-size-fits-all in therapy and uses a collaborative approach in which clients can feel safe, comfortable, supported, and heard.
Sanri draws from evidence based psychological therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Schema Therapy, tailoring her approach to best meet each client’s needs. Her trauma recovery approach is a strength-based, trauma treatment model that includes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic (body-centered) psychology, mindfulness-based therapies, and relational psychotherapy. Sanri is also trained in Clinical and Eriksonian hypnosis.
Sanri’s key interest areas are Complex Trauma, PTSD, Mood disorders (Depression, Bipolar Disorder). Anxiety Disorders, Personality Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, Workplace stress and injuries, Chronic Pain, Grief and Loss and emotional/social difficulties across the lifespan. She mainly works with adults and late adolescents.
Sanri is a keen runner, practices yoga and loves the outdoors, camping, hiking, kayaking and stand-up-paddle boarding. In her free time Sanri loves to paint and garden.
Appointments with Sanri is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Chris
Chris completed his qualifications in Psychology in 2020, with a graduate diploma in Psychology to augment his previous Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2018) and his Bachelor’s in Psychology and Counselling (2017). Chris has most recently supported those on Centrelink Benefits gather suitable means to return to work with a focus on continuous and self-sustained wellbeing in both professional and personal endeavours.
Chris takes an integrated, person-centred and flexible approach to therapy; understanding and appreciating the varied and individual circumstances that may bring someone to therapy. Chris is passionate about the client-therapist relationship, and strives to create a supportive, caring, comfortable, and judgement free space for clients to feel empowered and hopeful about their own individual journeys. Chris receives clients as they are, at a pace and structure that best suits them, and finds great satisfaction in helping clients discover their own inherent strengths and abilities.
Chris draws upon a wide range of therapies in his work. These include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance Behaviour Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, emotion-focused approaches, motivational interviewing, mindfulness practices, and holistic somatic experiences. Chris has experience with those across the lifespan and welcomes anyone who would seek personal betterment and support.
Chris is passionate to work with those across a range of mental health and personal issues and holds a particular interest in relationships and family issues, anxiety and mood disorders (depression), complex trauma and stress disorders (PTSD, adjustment disorders), alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and general life challenges and resilience skill building.
In his spare time, Chris can often be seen shamefully geeking out over the latest pop-culture trends, getting sucked into other worlds in his extensive video game and film collections (normally accompanied by his Oodie and bed socks), and hitting the gym to justify his extravagant passion for food.
Veronica
Veronica completed her Bachelor of Psychology in 2015 before entering the community mental health space where she remained for six years. Here she came to appreciate that we all need a little support from time-to-time, no matter where we come from or who we are. In the last two years, Veronica provided psychological support to people experiencing acute mental health challenges in a residential setting.
Veronica is an energetic and approachable person who brings light and humour into the therapy room. She is a humanist at heart and believes given the opportunity, like any household pot plant, we all have the capacity survive, grow and thrive.
Veronica takes an eclectic approach to therapy allowing her to be truly-person centred, holistic and appreciative of the unique backgrounds, experiences, circumstances and strengths each client brings to therapy. She draws from evidence-based techniques including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindful-based strategies, and Schema-informed therapy.
Veronica is particularly passionate about working with depression and trauma experiences. She believes no matter what life has thrown at us we should never underestimate our ability to surprise ourselves.
When given the chance, Veronica loves to dance whether in a classical studio or, unabashedly, in her living room. Some other things Veronica could not live without are music and chocolate, and of course, good conversation.
Administrative Team
Jessica, Rhiannon & Lea-Anne
Lea-Anne and Rhiannon are the amazing administrators that will greet you when you arrive at Sound Psychology. They bring with them their own unique experiences and knowledge in education and business along with a passion and drive to care for others. They will welcome you into the practice with a smile and are able to help you with any questions or concerns you might have.
Helping to keep our practice running smoothly and to ensure our business continues to align with current industry policies, is our practice manager Jessica. With over 20 years working in administrative roles within finance, allied health and aged care, Jess brings this knowledge as well as a strong systems-based background to her role and is keen on utlising new technology to ensure better access to care.
Our Story
Heather started her career in Psychology in 1993 as a very new Psychologist working with the Navy at HMAS STIRLING, Western Australia. She was able to have a number of amazing experiences over the next 7 years and to meet a wide range of incredible people. This experience helped her develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence in helping people to manage the challenges they faced in their work, their relationships, and their lives, and provided a strong foundation for her career as a psychologist.
She commenced a Master’s degree in Psychology, studying part-time. In 2000 she moved interstate with her 2 young children and worked in a community health service in Victoria. This experience broadened her perspective in working in a team of allied health professionals to provide services and support to people in a community setting.
A return to Western Australia in 2003 (with another baby!) saw return to work part-time in Medical Centres in Safety Bay and Port Kennedy. This allowed her to gain experience and knowledge in working with doctor’s, the Medicare system, and in meeting the mental health needs of her local community.
With her children now at school and the Master’s degree completed, Heather started a private practice in 2006, working as a sole practitioner in a rented one-room office in Safety Bay. This allowed her to balance family and working life – something she values greatly for herself, the Sound Psychology team, and her clients.
After about 10 years juggling private practice on her own and with ever increasing working hours, Heather knew she had to expand the business in order to help more people. She found a run-down office space in a great location, and after renovations, Sound Psychological Health Care in Safety Bay was open for business in January 2016. She reached out to other experienced psychologists who had a similar passion and vision for mental health and Sanri Blom joined the practice nearly 4 years ago. Sanri brings the same commitment and drive to providing quality mental health services to the Rockingham community.
Sound Psychological Health Care became Sound Psychology in 2021 as part of our commitment to continual growth and development as psychologists and as a practice. In 2022 we are continuing to explore other ways we connect with clients and members of our community to support their mental health.
Our mission genuine is to connect with our clients in a genuine way, encouraging them to grow, and supporting them to thrive in their relationships with others, in their lives, their work, and their communities.
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We are honoured to be on the ancestral lands of the Nyoongar people: the traditional custodians of this land. We pay our respects to the Whadjuk and Binjareb Nyoongar people whose land we live and work from, and pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging.