I am a registered mental health nurse with very long and broad experience in adult mental health, community mental health, child and adolescent mental health, family work and child protection. I have a particular interest in trauma informed care and the effects of trauma on people’s mental health . 

I have worked in psychiatric hospitals, acute care mental health teams in the community, on a team specialising in the care of people who are mentally ill and homeless and a specialist unit for mothers with a mental illness. I have also worked for the Department of Communities and Justice in child protection and early intervention and with young people in foster care with high needs and mental health diagnoses. 

My experience has shown me that while medication and therapy are effective tools for many clients to treat mental illness, other interventions such as social support, stress reduction, relaxation, mindfulness, nutrition  and exercise all play an important part in maintaining stability .