In addition to her role as CEO of the Emotions Clinic Australia,  Dr Belinda Ratcliffe is a Guest Lecturer in Postgraduate Clinical Psychology (Child & Adolescent) at several universities and provides teaching, supervision and conducts research in Autism, Intellectual Disability and Mental Health. Belinda maintains strong links with the Children’s Hospital at Westmead where she worked for over a decade in the development, evaluation and dissemination of the award winning Westmead Feelings Program (formerly called Emotion-Based Social Skills Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mild Intellectual Disability). Belinda has published her research in peer reviewed journals and regularly presents on developing emotion and social skills and mental health for Autistic individuals at national and international conferences.

Belinda has received multiple awards and prizes in recognition for her work, including the 2018 People’s Choice Award in the Western Sydney University Research Impact Competition for her work in “Preventing Mental Health in Autism”. Belinda was previously awarded the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability (IASSID) MENCAP Early Career Research Scholarship in 2016. Belinda was also awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award and a University of Sydney Merit Award to undertake her PHD research, as well as a scholarship under the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme to undertake a Masters of Clinical Psychology at Charles Sturt University. Belinda completed her Bachelor of Science (Psychology) at the University of Sydney where she received First Class Honours and the prestigious University Medal.

Janeen enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults and has a special interest in autism. She is passionate about early intervention in mental health and has particular interests in anxiety, depression, attachment, and parenting strategies.

Janeen has experience in working in intensive hospital outpatient settings, with families in out-of-home-care, and as a primary school and English as a Second Language teacher. She has also facilitated support groups for parents and carers of children with autism. Janeen is trained in and draws upon a range of modalities including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and tailors therapy to each person’s individual needs. She has undertaken
specialist training with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe in the areas of child psychology, autism and psychometric testing.

Janeen has a calm manner and takes an empathetic and non-judgmental approach to working collaboratively with all patients.

Laura has a special interest in Autism and Intellectual Disability and has undertaken training and extensive individual supervision with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe in this area. Laura provides evidenced based therapy to children, adolescents, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and co occurring mental health concerns. 

Laura is also trained in providing comprehensive autism assessments using the gold standard assessment measures: The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule- 2nd Edition (ADOS-2) and The Autism Diagnostic Interview- Revised (ADI-R). Additionally, Laura is an accredited facilitator of the Westmead Feelings program (WFP) and has extensive experience leading our WFP group program for autistic teens at the Emotions Clinic. Laura is co-author of the ’embracing neurodiversity’ program for Autistic young adults.  Laura strives to build social and emotional skills in children, adolescents & adults to enhance their overall wellbeing. 

Previously, Laura has worked in specialised multidisciplinary intellectual disability and mental health team within NSW Health, as a School Psychologist, based in a High School in South-West Sydney, and in a non-government disability service in Southern Sydney. Indeed, Laura is passionate about research and has published several research articles in peer reviewed journals. Laura continues to collaborate with Western Sydney University, where she also teaches in psychology and assists in providing supervision and training to students on placement at the Emotions Clinic. 

Laura takes a warm, empathetic and non-judgmental approach to working collaboratively with all patients.

Publications

Garrido, S., Dunne, L., Perz, J., Chang, E., & Stevens, CJ. (2020). The use of music in aged care facilities: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Health Psychology. 

Garrido, S., Dunne, L., Stevens, CJ., Chang, E., & Clements-Cortes, A. (2020). Music playlists for people with dementia: Trialling A Guide for Caregivers. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Garrido, S., Cheers, D., Boydell, K., Nguyen, QV., Schuber, E., Dunne, L., & Meade, T. (2019). Young people’s response to six smartphone apps for anxiety and depression: focus group study. JMIR Mental Health.

Garrido, S., Stevens, C.J., Chang, E., Dunne, L., & Perz, J. (2019). Musical Features and Affective Responses to Personalised Playlists in People with Probable Dementia. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias.

Dunne, L., Perich, T., Meade, T. (2018). The relationship between social support and personal recovery in bipolar disorder. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal.

Garrido, S., Stevens, C. J., Chang, E., Dunne, L., & Perz, J. (2018). Music and dementia: Individual differences in response to personalised playlists. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Garrido, S., Dunne, L., Perz, J., Chang, E., & Stevens, C. J. (2018). The use of music in aged care facilities: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Health Psychology.

Garrido, S., Dunne, L., Chang, E., Perz, J., Stevens, C. J., & Haertsch, M. (2017). The Use of Music Playlists for People with Dementia: A Critical Synthesis. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Novembre, G., Knoblich, G., Dunne, L., & Keller, P. E. (2017). Interpersonal synchrony enhanced through 20 Hz phase-coupled dual brain stimulation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.

Talia has a special interest in autism and intellectual disability, and enjoys working with children, adolescents and young adults. Talia has also conducted and published research under Dr Belinda Ratcliffe at Western Sydney University in the area of emotion regulation of children with autism. This research was presented at the Asia Pacific Autism Conference at Singapore in 2019.

In addition to her role at the Emotions Clinic, Talia is a Clinical Psychologist at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Ward at Campbelltown Hospital/ (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) at Liverpool Hospital). This role involves Talia working within a multidisciplinary team (such as psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, occupational therapists) to holistically support young people with complex mental health needs. Talia is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).

Talia has also successfully completed training in The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule- 2nd Edition (ADOS-2) and The Autism Diagnostic Interview- Revised (ADI-R) and provides comprehensive Autism Assessments using these gold standard instruments. In addition, she is co-author of the ’embracing neurodiversity’ group program for autistic young adults.

Talia has previous experience as an online facilitator for the Westmead Feelings Program (WFP): Facilitator Certification Course at the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) Institute, where she assisted the learning of professionals to achieve certification in the WFP course. Talia also has previous experience as a support person in the disability sector.

Talia takes a warm, kind and empathic approach when working with all individuals within a collaborative framework.

Publications

• Burton, T., Ratcliffe, B., Collison, J., Dossetor, D., & Wong, M. (2020). Self-reported emotion regulation in children with autism spectrum disorder, without intellectual disability. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 76 1750-9467. Doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101599.

• Camfield, D.A, Burton, T.K., De Blasio, F.M., Barry, R. J., & Croft, R.J. (2018). ERP components associated with an indirect emotional stop signal task in health and depressed participants. International Journal of Psychophysiology 124 12-25. Doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2017.12.008.

Anne has undertaken Clinical Research with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe in screening and assessment for Autism in Psychosis, after being awarded a grant from South East Sydney Local Health District. She has presented her research in a variety of forums including an invited talk to the Clinical College of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) on Autism and Psychosis.

Anne is an experienced Board Approved Supervisor. She is trained in the ‘Gold Standard’ Diagnostic Instruments in Autism Asessment and Diagnosis (ADOS and ADI-R) and has a special interest in diagnostic assessment of Autism in adults with co-occurring mental ill-health, including Psychosis. She is a certified provider of PEERS  (evidence-based social skills treatment) for young adults with autism spectrum disorder & has completed Level 1 training in Animal Assisted Play Therapy.  

Anne is trained in and draws upon a range of modalities including Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Family Systems Therapy, Narrative Therapy & Metacognitive Insight & Reflection Therapy. She has worked in Hospital & Community settings within Public Mental Health, and was a Research Clinician within a drug and alcohol service.

Anne also has extensive experience in Private Practice working with individuals, couples & families, across the life-span. Her clinical experience is broad and includes depression, anxiety, interpersonal difficulties, trauma, substance use and psychosis. 

Anne has collaborated on research that was published in peer reviewed journals and has also presented research at national and international conferences. 

Publications (selected)

Please note – Dr Anne Devlin, has published under her previous name Anne Comerford.

Ratcliffe, B., Devlin, A., & Morchio, C (2021, Under Review). A Preliminary Investigation of Autism Symptomology, Emotion Recognition and Psychological Mindedness in Adults with Psychotic Disorders in an Australian Public Health Service

Stevenson, J, Meares R & Comerford, A (2003) Diminished Impulsivity in Older Patients with borderline personality disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry 165-166

O’ Connell, Baharamali H, Comerford A, Gordon E, Meares R (2000) Central and Autonomic Dysfunction in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder. International  Journal of Psychophysiology 35: 61-75

Basten CJ & Comerford A. (July 1999) The relationship between maladaptive schema, eating pathology and self pathology. Paper presented at the 22nd National Conference for the Australian Association of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Meares R, Stevenson J, Comerford A. (1999) Psychotherapy with borderline patients: A Comparison between treated and untreated cohorts. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 33: 467-472

Madison has a special interest in autism and early childhood development, and she enjoys working with young people and their families. She has undertaken training in Child Clinical Psychology and conducted clinical research in mental health prevention in Autism under the  supervision of Dr Belinda Ratcliffe. Madison is trained in providing Autism assessments using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2nd Edition (ADOS-2), as well as in providing developmental assessments using the Griffiths Scales of Child Development 3rd Edition (Griffiths III).

In addition to her role at The Emotions Clinic, Madison works as a Clinical Psychology Registrar on the NSW Health Child and Family Psychology Team in South-West Sydney. Here, she provides assessment and therapy for children aged 0-12. As part of this role, she also participates in specialist child development assessment clinics as a member of a multidisciplinary team that includes paediatricians, psychologists, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists. 

Madison takes a warm, collaborative and empathetic approach to her work with young people and their families.

Paige enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults and has a special interest in autism and intellectual disability. She has undertaken specialist training with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe in these areas and in psychometric testing. Paige has also conducted research on improving social and emotional skills in children with autism using the Westmead Feelings Program, as part of her Clinical Research Project co-supervised by Dr Belinda Ratcliffe at Western Sydney University and co-authors at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Paige is an accredited Westmead Feelings Program Facilitator and has successfully completing her training in the Stepping Stones Triple P parenting intervention for parents of children with a disability. 

Paige has experience with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families including at the Macarthur Infant, Child, and Adolescent Mental
Health Services (Macarthur ICAMHS) the Prevention, Early Intervention, and Recovery Service (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
CAMHS-PEIRS), and at the Lizard Centre.  She has skills in providing comprehensive clinical assessments, evidence-based psychological interventions, and psychometric testing for a range of presentations. Paige has a particular interest in supporting autistic young people presenting with phobias. 

Paige takes an empathic, supportive, and collaborative approach to her work and provides a safe and trusting space for her clients. 

Publications

Casacchia, P., Ratcliffe., B., Collison, J., & Wong, M. (under review). Evaluation of the Westmead Feelings Program: Improving Social and Emotional Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Rebecca has a special interest in child & adolescent mental health and enjoys working with families.  She provides a warm, compassionate and accepting therapeutic space and values working collaboratively with children, parents and teachers.

In addition to working at the Emotions Clinic Australia, Rebecca provides individual, group and systemic psychological support at a Prestigious Independent School based in Sydney, where she has supported children, adolescents, parents and teachers from early childhood to late adolescence for almost 20 years. This includes supporting a range of both neurotypical and neurodiverse children & young people (including in Autism, ADHD, learning disorder and giftedness) who are experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties as well as mental ill-health.

Rebecca feels passionate about evidence-based practice and providing best practice and support for a range of presenting issues including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, sexuality, emotional regulation, social skills & friendship issues and behaviours. In her therapy, Rebecca utilises evidence-based interventions with a strong focus on Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), and has undertaken extensive training in these modalities.

Rebecca is an Accredited Provider for the Cool Kids Anxiety Program and the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P).

Rebecca is an AHPRA Board Approved Supervisor, including for Registrars completing their Area of Practice Endorsement in Educational & Developmental Psychology and has undertaken Masterclass training in Group Supervision.

Rebecca has previously worked with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe in a non-government disability services and  has been trained by Dr Belinda Ratcliffe in the Westmead Feelings Program, which she has delivered on an individual basis and in Schools.

Simran has a special interest in Autism and Intellectual Disability and provides evidenced based therapy to children, adolescents, and adults with  co-occurring mental health concerns. She is passionate about early intervention in mental health and has particular interests in behaviour management and parenting strategies for children under 12.

Simran has previously provided support to children and families with Autism and Intellectual Disability as part of her role at a specialised multidisciplinary Clinic. She has also previously worked at the Child Behaviour Research Clinic (CBRC), University of Sydney where she implemented the ‘Early Pathways in Autism’ trial to evaluate a new integrated treatment for young children with autism. Simran has also provided behavioural therapy and positive behaviour support as part of her previous positions at Better Life Care Centre, the Bright Eyes Early Intervention (BEES) and at the Lizard Centre. Simran has been a  crisis support worker for Lifeline since 2018.

Simran is trained in and draws upon a range of modalities including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), and tailors’ therapy to each person’s individual needs. In addition, Simran has undertaken specialist training with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe in the areas of child psychology, autism and psychometric testing.

Simran takes a warm, empathetic and non-judgmental approach to working collaboratively with all patients.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Agarwal, S., Tuninetti, A., Liu, L., Escudero, P., (2019). Neural Sensitivity to Changes in Naturally Produced Speech Sounds: A Comparison of Different Stimuli Presentation Paradigms. In Sasha Calhoun, Paola Escudero, Marija Tabain & Paul Warren (eds.) Proceedings of the 19th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, Melbourne, Australia 2019 (pp. 2119 – 2123).
Canberra, Australia: Australasian Speech Science and Technology Association Inc.