Western Australia (WA)

Craig Harms

Psychologist

Dr Craig Harms PhD is registered as an endorsed Clinical Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Craig has experience working with adults in mental health settings (government and private), helping them to manage problems associated with mood (e.g., low mood associated with depression) and anxiety disorders (e.g., coping with panic attacks and generalized worry) as well as complex psychological concerns.

Craig’s current work as a Clinical Psychologist is mainly influenced by Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, and therapeutic approaches linked with the understanding of emotions. Craig has previously worked at the Western Australian Institute of Sport and currently lectures in the School of Arts and Humanities, Psychology and Criminology at Edith Cowan University.

Craig has also worked with children and their parents on developmental concerns, as well as counseling adolescents when he worked for a number of years as a school teacher.

Julia Butt

Psychologist

With over 10 years working within elite Julia works with clients to support their wellbeing and mental health within sport and in their broader life and culture.

Julia is a Clinical Psychologist with more than 15 years' experience working in mental health and wellbeing. Julia has worked across a range of sectors including corrections, mental health, drug and alcohol, private practise, Aboriginal health and research. Julia has 10 years' experience in elite sport and considerable cross-cultural experience.

Using her experiences from the major football codes in Australia (AFL and soccer) and other sports including cricket and golf Julia provides a safe and supportive environment to explore mental health and improve wellbeing. She has experience working with current and former athletes around managing the challenges of elite sport and developing balance across the different domains of life and wellbeing. Julia has experience in working with stress, anxiety, depression, life changes, identity, and addictive behaviours. Julia draws from a variety of psychological models in a culturally safe way including acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, schema therapy and narrative therapy.

Kartikey Agarwal

Psychiatrist

20 years’ experience in several specialties of clinical Psychiatry.

Worked in Psychiatry since 2001. Has been involved in many research projects. Consultant Psychiatrist in Perth WA since 2011. Has worked as the Clinical lead of many teams including early intervention in psychosis (EIP), adult community mental health, acute inpatient psychiatric services, consultation liaison, youth services, drug and alcohol services, hospital in the home(HITH). Been in private practice since 2014 at Hollywood hospital and Perth Clinic. Currently director of acute services at Perth Clinic. Over the last 4-5 years he worked with elite athletes in a coordinated manner with sports physicians and clinical psychologists with expertise in sports psychology. Extensive knowledge and experience in clinical psychiatry and psychopharmacology with special interest in sports psychiatry.

Kim Mercer

Psychologist

20 years professional experience in clinical and sporting arenas.

Kim is a Clinical Psychologist with more than twenty years’ experience in both clinical and sport settings. She has worked in correctional facilities and inpatient psychiatric units in Australia, the UK and the USA.  She was the Team Psychologist for the Fremantle Dockers AFL Club for ten years although now works exclusively in private practice, where she continues to consult to the AFL Players’ Association providing support for both current and past AFL and AFLW players. She has been a part of the AIS MHRN since its inception.

Kim aims to develop genuine and meaningful connections with her clients. She has a thorough understanding of elite sporting environments and the complex pressures that athletes face, but also works with non-athlete clients.  She is experienced with issues more specific to sport including anxiety relating to performance and selection, adjustment to injury and return to play, transition into and out of an elite environment and pain management. She is also skilled in working with clinical presentations including anxiety and depression, sleep disorders, trauma, eating disorders and substance use.  From a therapeutic perspective she utilises a variety of evidence-based approaches including cognitive-behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness and mindfulness-based CBT, brief solution focused therapy, as well as clinical and sports hypnosis. She has a keen interest in neuroscience and utilizes a brain-based approach in her practice.

Her clinic is very centrally located in West Perth and is wheelchair accessible.

“A designated Mental Health Referral Network of skilled and experienced psychologists is imperative for ensuring the highest level of psychological support and care for elite athletes and I am privileged to be a part of that group”.

Kim Maserow

Psychologist

Experienced therapist specialising in eating disorders, mood disorders and sexual health.

Kim works as a clinical psychologist in full-time private practice where she sees a variety of clinical presentations, many of whom are elite athletes requiring an understanding approach to their unique issues. She utilises many different treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, and Schema Therapy. Special interests include eating disorders – she was the co-director of an Eating Disorder Inpatient and Day Outpatient Unit for many years, helping patients with both restrictive and binge eating patterns. Sexual health, anxiety and depression are other areas of interest, working closely with medical colleagues. She is centrally located in Perth and her clinic is fully accessible for wheelchairs. She employs Skype, Zoom and telephone consults as appropriate.

I was delighted to be invited to join the Mental Health Referral Network which facilitates the connection between athlete and psychological therapist.

Nadia Bridge

Psychologist

I am a Clinical Psychologist who has extensive experience working in specialist government mental health settings (including Eating Disorders, Youth Mental Health, Paediatric Chronic Pain) and private practice. I am passionate about working with adults who are struggling with their mental health, or with current or past difficult experiences in their lives. I enjoy working with clients to help them gain a deeper understanding about themselves (their current thoughts, feelings and behaviours) in the context of their life history. I strive to work from a client centred and trauma informed model of care and provide individual therapy.

I have special interest and experience in the treatment of anxiety disorders, trauma and eating disorders. I enjoy working with athletes and people in sport. My therapeutic approaches are informed by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) & Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM for Anorexia Nervosa).

I have a deep respect for all my clients. I aim to provide a safe, collaborative and compassionate space, in which we can develop a therapeutic relationship, explore your concerns, and help to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, while also working towards your individual goals, utilising the best therapeutic approach to meet your needs.

Sharon Ridley

Psychologist

Sharon Ridley has a Masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Western Australia and has 15 years of experience working in both private and government settings. She has previously worked at the West Australian Institute for Sport, and currently works in private practice in Perth, with some invitational lecturing and professional supervision to keep her balanced. She has been part of the AIS MHRN since 2021 and also enjoys consulting with the AFL Players Association and the WACA.

Her areas of interest include: eating disorders and body image disturbance, all manner of anxiety (excessive worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, OCD), depression, grief/loss, trauma and relationship difficulties. Sharon is trained in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Schema Therapy, and EMDR.  She is comfortable working with older adolescents (16+), adults, and couples.

Sharon is passionate about delivering evidence-based treatment in a warm, supportive and collaborative environment. She will help you gain insight and understanding of your problem and teach you practical skills to manage your thoughts, feelings and behaviours to achieve relief from your symptoms, improve quality of life and prevent relapse.

Simone Allen

Dietitian

Advanced Sports Dietitian with 20 years’ experience working with a wide range of athletes with a special interest in endurance sports and aesthetic sports.

Simone currently runs a sports nutrition private practice and works with several sporting groups including being the Sports Dietitian for West Coast Eagles, Wesley College LTAD program and WA Ballet. Simone is also lecturing in Exercise and Sports Nutrition at Curtin Uni.

In previous years has worked at WAIS with swimming, athletics, diving, synchronised swimming and gymnastics. Simone was a Rhythmic Gymnastics Coach for 15 years, travelling annually with the WA State team, and appreciates the importance of realistic and appropriate advice.

Currently training as a triathlete and looking forward to racing in Ironman 70.3 in Busselton in Dec 2021 and World Champs for Ironman 70.3 in Dec 2022.

The AIS Mental Health Network provides an opportunity for athletes to work with Sports Dietitians who are able to provide practical and realistic advice specific to their sport, with an understanding of what their sport demands.

Susan Byrne

Psychologist

Dr Susan Byrne is a Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years of experience in research and clinical practice. Her main area of expertise is in the field of eating disorders, however, she is experienced in providing evidence-based treatments for a wide range of clinical conditions and she has a long history of working with elite athletes. Sue has a Master of Psychology (Clinical) and a PhD from the University of Western Australia (UWA) and a Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford University.  Until recently Sue was a senior academic (Associate Professor) at UWA, School of Psychological Science.

Currently, Sue is a Senior Research Scientist at the North Metropolitan Mental Health Service, an Honorary Research Fellow and a Professional Practice Fellow at UWA and an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Curtin University.  Sue is involved in consultation, supervision, research and training with eating disorder services in both the public and private sectors.  She treats individuals with eating disorders and other mental health conditions in private practice using the most up-to-date evidence-informed treatments.  Sue also continues to lead national and international research projects which aim to identify the causes of, and new treatments for, the whole range of eating disorders and co-occurring conditions.