About Dr Sarah Pearse
Qualifications
Dr Sarah Pearse is a registered psychologist who has been providing psychological assessment and treatment to young people and adults since 2002.
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Family Studies), a Doctor of Psychology (Forensic), and a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology.
Sarah is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS) and is registered under the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to practice as a psychologist within Australia. Sarah is a member of AusPATH (Australian Professional Association for Trans Health).
Professional Experience
Dr Sarah Pearse started her professional career with three years working at the Children’s Protection Society providing assessment and treatment to children and young people aged 3 to 17 years who were victims of sexual abuse, children aged 3 to 10 years with unhealthy sexualised behaviour and parents/caregivers of adolescents with sexually abusive behaviour.
Following this Sarah worked for almost 10 years as a psychologist at Victoria Police and 1 year at the Australian Federal Police providing a wide range of psychological services to police members and their families. This included psychological assessment of members in high risk areas of policing, psychological treatment and supportive counselling, critical incident response, crisis support and suicide intervention, and preventative psychological education and training.
Since 2014, Sarah has worked as a psychologist in private practice in Frankston on the Mornington Peninsula, providing treatment to children, young people and adults on a diverse range of issues. Please see the services pages (for Adults, PTSD and Trauma and Police and first responder) for more detailed information on the services Sarah provides in her private practice.
Approach to Treatment
Dr Sarah Pearse draws on psychological strategies that have been established through scientific research to be successful in treating the psychological conditions that people experience. These strategies are drawn from cognitive-behavioural therapies such as CBT, ACT and trauma-focussed CBT. Sarah also draws on the principles of person-centred, attachment focussed and psychodynamic theories of psychological problems. Sarah is trained in providing EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy) for the treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders.
Sarah has a warm, understanding and respectful approach to all her clients. Sarah works collaboratively with clients to develop strategies that suit the problems, strengths and personality of each individual client, in order to successfully treat their problems, improve their psychological wellbeing and help them to achieve their therapeutic goals.
Sarah believes in the importance of ongoing professional learning and skill development, to ensure she is providing her clients with treatments that work. Indeed, this is a requirement for psychologists to be professionally registered with AHPRA. Sarah participates in regular supervision and skill development sessions with other experienced psychologists and in seminars that provide her with information and skills on the most up-to-date and evidence-based practices in psychology.