Get to know our team
Our practitioners use evidence-based practices so that we can effectively work with you to support your authentic life
Dr Claire Ryan - Psychologist
Helping individuals, families and organisations to improve their lives is deeply meaningful and rewarding work for me - I’m so grateful that I get to do this for a living. I am a registered psychologist with a diverse experience and skillset, and I lead the business direction of Authentic Lives Psychology.
Conducting applied research and delivering interventions to change organisational culture and systems to make the workplace a safer place has been my focus working in the private sector, including health care, mining, and Australia’s largest integrated energy company. My PhD research investigated mechanisms to increase proactive coping, psychological capital (hope, resilience, self-efficacy, and optimism) and the link with performance. I applied this knowledge to help students use more effective coping techniques to improve their experience and outcomes at university.
More recently, I worked in a senior role within the Australian charity space to deliver program strategy and organisational development, evaluations, research, and advocacy. I led an organisational wide consultation which created the initial framework for yourtown’s youth participation strategy. My evaluation of the NRL’s State of Mind program in grassroots clubs helped the NRL secure ongoing state funding. I also published Australia’s first evaluation of an Indigenous Participation Plan within the construction industry, which led to a co-design project with two First Nations micro-businesses (and ongoing relationship).
Living an authentic life for me means approaching life with a genuine and trusting spirit. In business, it means using practices that are empirical and effective. I come to Authentic Lives Psychology having experienced the benefits of applying psychological principles within my own life. Our team at Authentic Lives Psychology bring a richness of expertise, practice and insights - But what I like best is that I believe they jump to curiosity rather than judgement. Most importantly, we seek to help our clients experience improved quality of life.
Peter Nash - Behavioural Specialist
If you’re coming to Authentic Lives Psychology, I imagine it’s because there is something challenging in your life right now: It may be the behaviour of a loved one, or you yourself may feel like you are on ‘Struggle Street’ and want help creating a better life for yourself. My expertise is in helping people with disabilities and their families to live rich, full, and meaningful lives. At Authentic Lives Psychology, I help clients and their families to achieve their goals, finding a life that feels balanced and purposeful.
My clinical training includes higher education and postgraduate qualifications in learning disability nursing, and applied behavioural psychology specializing in challenging behaviours (Institute for Applied Behavioural Analysis [IABA], USA; Tizard Centre, University of Kent, UK; University of Greenwich, UK).
In my early career I managed services within the NHS in the UK - I was responsible for leading community residential and specialist treatment and assessment services for adults who could exhibit highly complex and challenging behaviour. Within Australia I have led and been part of clinical teams that have provided highly specialized community and forensic services, in both hands on, consulting, and management roles. With a colleague, I developed an evidence based strategic model for monitoring and driving the implementation of Positive Behaviour Support Plans - In recognition of this work I was awarded the 2010 Ministers Award for Excellence and the Innovation (Services Provided to Clients) award and 2011 Staff Excellence award. My work to reform restrictive practices has seen me advocate and present my work to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Public Guardian, and direct service providers.
If you’d like to get a feel for how I have approached working with some of my previous clients, have a read of our Çase Studies section.
My role at Authentic Lives Psychology also sees me leading our Men’s Mental Health services, and for this I am drawing both from my clinical training but also my lived experience. Years ago I went through a period of my life were I was struggling with my mental health and I ended up making some poor choices, as I guess some of us do when we are struggling and don’t know how to ask for help. It took me several years to come to terms with what happened and take the positive steps necessary to move forward with my life. Australian men accounted for 2,348 deaths by suicide in 2017 (ABS, 2018), and 70% of people with a mental illness do not seek professional help (Thornicroft, Lancet, 2007). Masculine norms such as stoicism, self-reliance, and avoidant coping strategies are barriers to help seeking, and I learned this all too much the hard way.
Our Men’s Health Services include psychological counselling (either delivered by our psychologists or myself), men’s retreats, and group support workshops and programs. We help men to build the skills they need to communicate more effectively and cope with stress and unpleasant emotions in proactive ways. Most importantly, we strive to normalize male help seeking. Authentic Lives Psychology is a corporate donator to the Movember Project.
I have learned that living an authentic life is not without its challenges and times of suffering, but about choosing to ‘be on mission’ within your life. I bring this ethos into our work at Authentic Lives Psychology.
Thornicroft G. Most people with mental illness are not treated. Lancet. 2007; 370(9590): 807–808.
Karla Norris - Psychologist
My interests in the field of Psychology started in the early years of high school. I was fortunate to participate in work experience with a Teacher’s Aide, working with children in a Special Education Unit on the Central Coast of NSW. This experience sparked my curiosity into the unique journeys we each take as we move through our lives. Since then I have followed this interest to establish a career working with people and their families from all walks of life.
I have experience working with individuals at all stages in their lives and have been blessed to work across both private and public sectors to assist my clients in moving towards their goals. I am particularly passionate about early intervention and as such enjoy working with children, adolescents and their families. In my work I am committed to providing a safe, warm and non-judgmental environment to assist my clients and their families in making the changes they aspire to while managing their everyday lives more effectively. I value each client with their own unique strengths, values and challenges, allowing for a flexible and individualised approach.
I am trained in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy for couples (EFT-C) as well as a variety of creative therapies. I am also a registered Circle of Security Parent Educator.
I have experience working with a vast array of mental health challenges including but not limited to:
Emotional difficulties such as anxiety, depression and emotional dysregulation

Behavioural difficulties 

Suicidality and self-harming behaviours 

Social and relationship difficulties including attachment

Attentional issues

Trauma 

Parent support 

Neia Campos - Social Worker and Behavioural Specialist
I am a registered Social Worker with a passion for supporting some of the most stigmatized, disadvantaged or misunderstood people in our community.
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In my work, I use Positive Behaviour Support frameworks to help me understand participants' needs and get to the meaning behind challenging behaviours.
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My expertise includes disability support, drug and alcohol counseling, and general counselling. I am a kind and passionate practitioner, and a great listener (and coffee drinker!).
At Authentic Lives Psychology, we support our evidence informed practices with empathy and insight.
