Katie Davis

Director

Clinical Psychologist and Educational & Developmental Psychologist

Katie is the founder and Principal Psychologist at Sprout Psychology Centre. Katie (B.Sc, PG Dip Psych, M Psych (Ed & Dev) is a registered and endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). She completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Newcastle and her post graduate studies at The University of Western Sydney. She is also an Advanced Behaviour Practitioner registered with the National Disability Intervention Scheme (NDIS)

Katie grew up and lives on the Central Coast with her husband, their three children and two cats. She enjoys playing netball, reading (mainly psychological thrillers) and watching movies.

Katie has gained invaluable experience in her >15 years working with children with a variety of disabilities and diagnoses, including children with Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder and other neurological conditions in both the government and private sectors.

She believes it is important to take a holistic, client/ family-centered approach to build therapeutic relationships where she is able to guide and support her client and their families to reach their full potential. Her approach is around setting realistic goals for change that can be achieved within the capacity of the child and family.

Her understanding of psychopathology, formulation and evidence-based treatments allow for an intervention plan to be established efficiently. Katie uses a range of evidence-based therapy including CBT, ACT, behaviour support, play based therapy, brief solutions focused therapy, motivational interviewing, trauma informed therapy as well as Neuro affirming practice (providing support and adaptations to affirm the child’s neurodivergent identity and understanding of the neurotypical world).

Katie enjoys supervising provisional psychologists and guiding them on their journey to being a registered Psychologist. She also provides supervision to registered psychologists and those seeking endorsement as educational and developmental psychologists. Katie reflects on her supervisors throughout her career and their knowledge and skill set and she enjoys being able to share some of her wisdoms with her peers.

Katie has a passion for assessment and diagnosis including IQ, specific learning disorder (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia), behaviour and attention (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder as well as eligibility for para sports. She enjoys the intricacies of assessing neurodiverse girls and has a particular interest and skill set in this area.

                                    Not currently accepting new clients

Psychologist

Paige is a registered psychologist with AHPRA and an NDIS registered proficient behaviour support practitioner. Paige completed her Bachelor of Psychology with first class honors at the University of Newcastle in 2020.
 

Paige has experience across a variety of work environments including working within a large multi-disciplinary organisation, hospital in-patient setting, and private practice. Paige enjoys working closely alongside a range of allied health professionals, understanding the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach.
 

Paige is a bright, bubbly and enthusiastic psychologist who endeavours to deliver individualised interventions. Paige understands that each child has different strengths and aims to incorporate these into Therapy. Paige enjoys all things movement, play and hands on learning to facilitate skill development.
 

Paige has a strong interest in the area of developmental psychology and paediatrics, particularly neurodiversity, including autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. Paige has experience delivering comprehensive and diagnostic assessments for a variety of neurological disorders.
 

Paige works with a variety of presenting issues including anxiety and worry, anger and emotional regulation, behavioural difficulties, social skills, confidence and self-esteem, school refusal and transition to school, changing family dynamics, developmental trauma and parenting guidance.
 

Paige enjoys being busy on the weekends. She loves going camping, playing netball and spending time with her new husband and beloved kitty Mittens.

                                     Not currently accepting new clients

Psychologist

Jimmy is a Psychologist and father of two, who is experienced and passionate about working with children, adolescents, and adults with a range of mental health conditions including Autism, ADHD, Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression. 

Over the last 18 months I have worked exclusively with children, young people and their parents through Sprout Psychology Centre as well as for a large non-for-profit child and adolescent organization. I have particular experience working with individual clients presenting with autism, ADHD and anxiety, working with groups of children in schools - carrying out anxiety and social skills programs and administering diagnostic assessments for ADHD, specific learning disorder, intellectual disorder, anxiety and depression.

I completed formal cognitive behavioral therapy training (CBT) through the Australian Psychological Society, and I am certified to carry out the Cool Kids Anxiety Program, Brick by Brick therapy and the 123 magic parenting programs. I have undergone professional development workshops through the College of Professional Psychology in sleep, psychopharmacology, OCD, diagnosis of psychological disorders and intelligence assessments and have a Bachelor of Psychology from Swinburne University and a Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) from Monash University.

I take a humanistic client-centered approach to my work that takes into consideration the values, experiences, neurodiversity and strengths of a client to support positive development and well-being. I am registered as a practitioner through Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and a registered behaviour support practitioner with the NDIS.

                                             Accepting new clients

Provisional Psychologist

Katie is a provisional psychologist at Sprout Psychology Centre. Katie (B Teach (Primary)(Hons)/BA, Grad Dip Psych, B Psych Science (Hons), M Prof Psych) was a primary school teacher on the Central Coast for more than 10 years before retraining in psychology and is currently completing her Master of Professional Psychology at the University of Newcastle. Katie completed her teacher training and undergraduate psychology studies at the University of Newcastle and UNSW, and is also in the process of becoming a registered behaviour support practitioner with the National Disability Intervention Scheme (NDIS). 

Katie grew up on the Coast and now lives here with her husband and two children. She loves being part of the Central Coast community and is passionate about supporting local children and families. Katie’s teaching experience in both the public and independent school sectors has allowed her to work extensively with children and families navigating a range of behavioural, learning, developmental, social and life challenges. She is committed to creating a compassionate, non-judgemental and supportive space where all children and families can feel safe to explore their emotions and experiences.

Katie implements effective, evidence-based approaches to therapy and collaborates with children and families to develop individualised intervention plans that are best tailored to her clients’ strengths and needs. Katie is dedicated to fostering growth, wellbeing and resilience in her clients, and she has a particular interest in anxiety disorders, grief and loss, mindset, grit and health psychology.

                                             Accepting new clients

Receptionist

Shari McFarlane brings a wealth of experience in healthcare and child-centered settings, making her an invaluable part of our team. As one of our receptionists, Shari handles phone inquiries, email correspondence, administrative tasks, and warmly welcomes everyone with her signature smile. Her exceptional organisational skills and high attention to detail ensure every interaction is seamless and professional.

With a Certificate III in Administration and extensive experience in administrative roles, Shari has honed her skills over the years. For the past decade, she successfully ran a children's entertainment business, highlighting her passion for working with children and creating joyful experiences.

Compassionate, enthusiastic, and always ready to help, Shari is committed to delivering exceptional support and a welcoming environment for all.

Receptionist

Samarah is one of our receptionists at Sprout Psychology Centre and is a full-time student studying a Bachelor of Psychology. In her role she is responsible for the smooth operation of administrative tasks and contributing to the efficient and effective management of daily operations as well as running the Sprout social media. She has previous experience in medical administration and brings a motivated and enthusiastic approach to the role. 

Driven by her commitment to mental health she has completed the two day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), equipping her with the essential skills to support individuals in crisis. Samarah has a passion for promoting well-being and positive outcomes in the community. This is exemplified by her current undertaking of 32 hours of undergraduate student placement. Post graduation, Samarah is eager to follow her passion and pursue a career within the psychology field. 

In her spare time Samarah loves to be active outdoors, at pilates or spending time with her friends, family and two adored cats.