Dr Gemma Gladstone
Endorsed Clinical Psychologist
BA (Hons)
GradDip (Psychotherapy); Cert (Clin Hypnosis)
Ph.D.
Member: Australian Psychological Society (APS)
Member: APS Clinical College
Member: International Society of Schema Therapy
Advanced Certified Schema Therapist, Trainer and Supervisor (ISST)
I have been working as a psychologist in the field of mental health for 24 years. In 2001 I commenced my own private practice while continuing to work in research. In 2008, my colleague Justine Corry and I established the Good Mood Clinic in Bondi Junction, Sydney – a clinic dedicated to the practice of Schema Therapy.
Due to our shared values and clinical experience, we had a joint mission to build a practice which focused on understanding and changing psychological vulnerabilities and not just providing short-term symptom relief. Together we aimed to spread the word about schema therapy and to recruit like-minded therapists.
Earlier on in my career I worked in clinical research and formerly held the position of Senior Research Fellow at the Black Dog Institute, UNSW. During that time I was involved in several large scale research projects examining the nature of depressive disorders including their causes, risk factors, characteristics and outcomes. I completed my PhD within the School of Psychiatry, faculty of medicine at UNSW. During my time in that organisation I conducted over 500 clinical research interviews with people referred for recurrent or chronic mood disorders. Collectively, those experiences gave me a rich and fairly unique insight into the nature of depression and an invaluable understanding of the role of psychological vulnerabilities (ie, schemas).
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In addition to that experience, my time in private practice over the last 18 years has meant that I have worked with hundreds of clients in the community seeking help for all manner of psychological and relationship issues. I have had the great fortune to learn from them and gain a deep appreciation for why and how people develop emotional conditions like depression and for what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to interventions!
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My experience has highlighted for me why it is so important to be an informed integrative therapist – someone who draws from a variety of effective methods. After using experiential interventions in the treatment of complex trauma, personality disorders, complicated grief and recurrent depression for many years, I decided to expand my use of schema therapy by completing my advanced certification in Schema Therapy. This is a therapy I am passionate about because I know how well it works and how beneficial it can be for understanding complex issues, resolving long-term patterns and tackling persistent emotional disorders like chronic depression.
I’ve also worked in various clinical settings outside of private practice including facilitating Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) groups and inpatient/outpatient mental health programs. I have also consulted in business as a coaching psychologist assisting managers better understand their own personality styles (ie, schemas) and how they affect the people around them.
As an experienced trainer and educator I have conducted numerous workshops for psychologists and therapists (sexual abuse; schema therapy; personality disorders) since 2005 and have worked in adult education. Lastly, I have a strong professional and personal interest in Buddhist psychotherapy, mindfulness and self-compassion practices and I incorporate these where possible, encouraging my clients to practice meditation and develop self-compassion in daily life. In my experience there is a big overlap between Buddhist psychology and schema therapy – as they both aim for better psychological integration and psychological/spiritual growth.
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“I take a non-judgemental and respectful stance in my clinical practice and
treat each person I work with as a unique individual with an important life story”.
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I have a continued, ongoing strong commitment to my own professional and personal development. I believe it is essential for a mental health professional to take an active role in their own continued growth and learning. I regularly attend extra/complimentary training in the area of schema therapy and related topics as well as clinical supervision and reflective practice. I’m a strong believer in the idea that we should never stop learning and never lose our curiosity for life.
Right now I share my work time between running special interest schema therapy workshops, providing supervision to other therapists, and seeing individua clients for schema therapy.
I see mostly individual adult clients but will see couples for schema therapy when my case-load permits it. I am also interested in helping parents develop healthier ways to parent their young children from a schema therapy and emotion coaching perspective.
My specialty areas
- Depression – including chronic and recurrent depression
- Abandonment issues. Healing from early abandonment traumas
- Complicated grief – including adults with a history of childhood loss
- Grief and loss experiences and life transitions
- Adult survivors of childhood abuse & neglect
- Healing from the effects of narcissistic parenting
- Relationship issues and recurring unhealthy relationship patterns
- Borderline & other personality issues
- Post-rehab schema therapy for alcohol, drug and other addictions
- Food issues and problematic eating (ie, emotional or comfort eating)
- Emotion coaching & parenting with young children
- Stress management, meditation & mindfulness training
