TOM BUTTERWORTH, cLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Tom is a Clinical Psychologist with experience in treating a diverse range of issues for children, adolescents and families. Tom brings with him experience from a range of settings, including Child Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) and tertiary-level mental health services. He works with clients with a range of difficulties, including anxiety and worries, depression, self-harm, poor self-esteem, stress, conduct problems, grief and loss, trauma and relationship issues. He is a conscientious professional who strives for positive outcomes for his clients’ wellbeing. Clients have described Tom as a good role model for young people.

Tom’s approach to treatment is based primarily on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and is informed by family systems theory and attachment theory principles. He is a very capable psychologist who tailors interventions to his clients’ needs. He is well skilled in psychometric assessment, including assessment of attentional difficulties (e.g. ADHD), intellectual ability, learning difficulties, and autism spectrum disorder.

Tom is passionate about specialist mental health interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. Tom is a certified practitioner of Westmead Feelings Program (formerly Emotion-Based Social Skills Training, EBSST), an evidenced based program for children with ASD with or without intellectual disability.

An indication of Tom’s passion for working with children with ASD is being the inaugural recipient of the Nikki Fellowship at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. He also received the prestigious Australian Psychological Society (APS) prize for highest academic achievement at the completion of his Honours degree.