Ivanhoe

Nishma is a Clinical Psychologist with a range of experience supporting young children, adolescents, adults and families across the public mental health, community and private sectors. She specialises in working with clients who experience depression, anxiety, grief & loss, adjustment issues, family separation, social difficulties, emotional dysregulation, conduct issues and school refusal. She works with clients who present with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), disordered eating, and attachment and trauma-related difficulties. She also supports clients with other complex presentations such as self-harm and suicide ideation. She is adept at working with families where a parent has a mental health condition, drawing on her experience in adult acute psychiatry.  

Nishma has a special interest and expertise in trauma recovery having worked extensively in the not-for-profit sector supporting children, young people and their families who have experienced complex trauma, such as family violence, neglect and sexual abuse. This has included working with children and young people in out-of-home care (including foster and residential care), and those involved in the criminal justice and child protection systems, including young people who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviours.  

Nishma is passionate about working collaboratively with each client to understand what their symptoms or behaviours are communicating. She is committed to finding healthier ways her clients can communicate their needs and feelings. This starts with a thorough clinical assessment, as she works closely with the system around the young client including parents/carers, teachers, support staff, as well as other health professionals (where appropriate). This systemic approach ensures the care team around the child/young person is effective at meeting the needs of the young client. 

Nishma utilises therapies such as Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). Her practice is also influenced by Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment theory, somatic therapies, family-based interventions and interpersonal neurobiology. 

In addition to her clinical training, Nishma is a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist, and has completed training in Eye Movement Densensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Levels 1 & 2 (Child and Adolescent Specialisation).