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Resilience Matters Clinical Psychology
A modern and relatable approach to therapy
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Resilience Matters Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychological support for first responders, young people, and individuals experiencing eating and feeding concerns.
Resilience Matters Clinical Psychology provides evidence-based psychological assessment and therapy in a confidential and respectful environment. The practice has a clinical focus on supporting emergency service personnel, adolescents and young adults, and individuals experiencing difficulties related to eating, feeding, or body image.
Meet Psychologists Stuart and Phil
At our psychology practice, you will be supported by qualified and compassionate psychologists bringing a unique breadth of experience and humour to therapy.
Mr Stuart Lokhee
Stuart Lokhee is a skilled and empathetic psychologist with over 25 years of experience in law enforcement and the United Nations. Stuart is a strong supporter of Police Officers current and former. As a qualified Paediatric Clinical Psychologist, Stuart is dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and families through evidence-based interventions tailored to their developmental needs.
Dr Phillip Aouad
Dr Phillip Aouad is a psychologist with a specialisation in eating, feeding, and body image disorders. In addition to his clinical work, Dr Phil is a hospital scientist and serves as an Adjunct Professor in clinical psychology research. His integrative approach combines compassion with research-driven strategies to help clients achieve lasting change.
For more about Stuart and Phillip please the “about us” page
Mission: Together, Stuart and Dr Phil are committed to providing a safe, supportive, and confidential environment where you can explore your concerns and work towards resilience, positive mental health and wellbeing.
Scientist Practitioner Psychology
We are scientist practitioners who critically evaluate psychological research, apply it in therapy, and remain engaged in the ongoing development of psychological knowledge.
We take a whole, person centred approach, which means we consider not only symptoms, but also your life context, values, relationships, physical health, work demands, and personal history. Therapy is tailored to you as an individual, rather than applied as a one size fits all model.
This approach allows treatment to be evidence-based, flexible, and responsive, balancing scientific rigour with clinical judgement to support meaningful and sustainable change.
Both Stuart and Phillip are peer reviewed published authors.
Our Areas of Clinical Focus
First Responders
Psychological support for police, ambulance, fire service personnel, and other emergency service workers, as well as partners and family members who may be affected by the demands of frontline roles.
Therapy may focus on concerns such as exposure to critical incidents, cumulative operational stress, sleep difficulties, and adjustment during career transitions.
Young People
Support for adolescents and young adults experiencing emotional, behavioural, or developmental challenges.
Common reasons young people attend include anxiety, low mood, school stress, social difficulties, emotional regulation challenges, and support related to attention and concentration or neurodevelopmental differences.
Eating and Feeding Concerns
Psychological support for individuals experiencing eating, feeding, or body image difficulties.
Therapy may involve exploring the psychological factors influencing eating behaviours, developing healthier coping strategies, and supporting changes that promote overall wellbeing. Where appropriate, care may occur alongside other health professionals such as GPs and dietitians.
Our Approach
Psychological treatment at Resilience Matters Clinical Psychology is collaborative and individualised. Therapy is guided by evidence-based psychological approaches and tailored to each person’s circumstances, goals, and readiness for change.
The aim is to provide a safe, confidential, and professional space where individuals can explore challenges, develop practical coping strategies, and strengthen psychological resilience over time.
We Value Our Referrers
Resilience Matters welcomes enquiries and referrals from Psychologists, GPs, Paediatricians, Psychiatrists, other allied health providers.
Resilience Matters Clinical Psychology
admin@rmclinicalpsychology.com
Phone
+61 452 472 764
Location
RMCP – Suite 1
26/301–313 Stanmore Road
Petersham NSW 2049
Australia
Psychologist for First Responders | Police, Paramedics & Firefighters
Psychological Support for First Responders
With a professional background in law enforcement, Stuart has experience with the operational environments in which many emergency service personnel work. This background informs an understanding of the organisational culture, operational demands, and psychological pressures that can arise in frontline roles.
Therapy aims to provide a respectful and practical space to discuss the psychological impact of emergency service work and to explore strategies that support wellbeing.
Supporting the Mental Health of First Responders
Careers in policing, paramedicine, and firefighting often involve exposure to critical incidents, operational stress, irregular hours, and high levels of responsibility. Over time, these factors can contribute to difficulties affecting sleep, emotional wellbeing, relationships, and day-to-day functioning.
People may seek psychological support for concerns such as:
Exposure to traumatic or distressing operational events
Ongoing stress associated with frontline work
Anger, irritability, hypervigilance, or emotional withdrawal
Sleep disturbance, fatigue, or shift-work related difficulties
Moral distress following challenging operational situations
Burnout, relationship strain, or adjustment during career transition from emergency services
Psychological therapy is collaborative and individualised, with sessions focused on understanding your experiences and developing strategies that support coping, resilience, and wellbeing.
Confidential and Professional Support
Confidentiality is an important part of psychological care. Information discussed in sessions is treated with privacy and respect.
Personal information is not shared with employers, organisations, or third parties without your consent, except in circumstances where disclosure may be required by law or professional obligations. The limits of confidentiality are discussed clearly at the beginning of therapy.
Seeking Support
First responders, emergency service employees, and family members who are seeking psychological support are welcome to make contact.
Two Session Support For Police Applicants
Psychological Support for Police Applicants
Psychological support may include:
Independent psychological assessment tailored to police applicant requirements
Strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and performance pressure
Support in developing resilience, confidence, and emotional regulation skills
Guidance on coping with the demands and expectations of police work
Feedback and recommendations to support psychological readiness for recruitment processes
Support is designed to assist applicants in preparing effectively for the recruitment process, understanding their own strengths and challenges, and developing practical strategies for managing occupational demands.
Confidentiality
All sessions and assessments are strictly confidential. Information is not shared with employers, recruitment agencies, or third parties without your consent, except where required by law. Boundaries and confidentiality are discussed clearly at the outset of support.
How to Access Support
If you are applying to the police force and would like psychological support or an independent assessment, you are welcome to contact Stuart to discuss your needs and arrange a consultation.
Support for Work Psycho-Social Issues & SIRA WorkCover
Chronic Pain and Injury Management
Psychological Support for Work-Related Injury and Pain
Psychological strategies can support adjustment to pain, injury, and changes in functioning. Therapy focuses on helping you understand the interaction between physical injury, emotional wellbeing, and decision-making, and on developing practical strategies to support recovery and coping.
Resilience Matters Clinical Psychology is able to provide services for clients covered by SIRA (State Insurance Regulatory Authority), or can assist in referring clients to other SIRA-qualified professionals including psychologists, physiotherapists, pain specialists, or psychiatrists, when appropriate.
What to Expect in the First Appointment
The first appointment focuses on developing an understanding of your current concerns and the experiences that may be contributing to them.
This session typically includes:
Discussion of your current situation and any challenges you would like to address
A brief overview of relevant personal, occupational, or health history
Clarification of confidentiality and privacy arrangements
Discussion of goals for therapy and possible treatment approaches
Many first responders might value a straightforward and practical approach, and sessions aim to be collaborative, respectful, and paced according to comfort level.
The initial session is an opportunity to determine whether psychological support feels helpful and appropriate for you at this time.
If you would like further information about psychological support for first responders, please contact Resilience Matters Clinical Psychology via phone or email.
How Psychology Can Help
The following fictional scenarios to show the range of work psychologists can do. Note they do not describe real clients.
Trauma
A police officer experiencing trauma, low mood, and increasing anger sought support from a psychologist outside the police organisation through a GP Mental Health Care Plan. Their goal was to access independent and confidential psychological support separate from the workplace.
Under NSW Police Health Policy, the remaining “gap” fee for sessions was covered, meaning the officer did not incur any out-of-pocket costs for treatment.
This arrangement allowed the member to receive confidential, evidence-based psychological therapy in a private setting, while still accessing available health supports. For many first responders, working with a psychologist outside their organisation can provide a space to speak openly about work experiences, operational stress, and personal wellbeing.
ADHD
A Year 12 student preparing for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) sought support to manage the academic demands of their final school year. The student had a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and was being treated with prescribed stimulant medication under the care of their medical practitioner.
Alongside medical treatment, psychological sessions focused on practical study and executive functioning skills, including planning, time management, scheduling, and organising study tasks. These strategies were designed to help the student structure their workload, maintain focus, and manage the increased pressure associated with HSC examinations.
Psychological support aimed to strengthen study routines, task initiation, and sustained attention, enabling the student to approach their exams with greater confidence and organisation.
Anxiety
A teacher experiencing family stress alongside workplace conflict sought psychological support to better manage the emotional impact of these pressures.
Therapy focused on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approaches. Sessions helped the client identify and manage anxious thoughts, develop skills to “let go” of unhelpful thinking patterns, and build greater psychological flexibility.
Mindfulness-based strategies were also introduced to support emotional regulation, present-moment awareness, and more balanced responses to stress. These skills assisted the client in managing anxiety, improving coping at work, and maintaining wellbeing during a challenging period.
Workplace Psycho-Social Stress
An adult experiencing a workplace injury and chronic pain, while navigating a workers compensation claim, sought psychological support under the NSW State Insurance regulatory framework.
The individual chose to engage with a psychologist independent of their employer, allowing for confidential and impartial psychological care during a complex and often stressful period.
Therapy focused on approaches drawn from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and narrative-based therapy to help the client better understand and manage the relationship between pain, stress, and emotional wellbeing.
Flexible Appointments
Telehealth
Telehealth in Australia has revolutionised psychological services by offering convenient access to mental health professionals through video calls and phone consultations. The increased convenience and accessibility potentially enable more people to receive support.
Evidence suggests that telehealth is an effective form of mental health care (Snoswell, C. et.al.,2023).
In-Person or Telehealth?
For most clients and evidence-based therapies, both telehealth and in-person sessions are effective. It's more about your choice and convenience.
Back in Control
You don’t have to manage alone.
Whether you’re recovering from a difficult job event, navigating workplace conflict, dealing with cumulative stress, or managing the impact of shift work, we collaborate to help you feel more grounded, more capable, and more in control of your path forward.
Moving Forward
If you are unsure which type of appointment is right for you, we can help you explore your options. Reach out with any questions about availability or how we can support your needs.
Contact
If you need help, you can contact your GP, Lifeline, or NSW Mental Health 24/7. If your or someone else’s life is in danger, please contact emergency services on 000.
