Our Psychologists in Hawthorn
Christine Harding
Principal Psychologist, Author, and Advocate for Social Skills Development
BSocSc (Swinburne), PGradDipPsych (Ballarat), MProfPsyc (ACU)
Christine Harding is the Principal Psychologist and co-director of Hargan Psychology.
Christine’s journey into psychology is profoundly shaped by her personal life experiences, igniting a passion for supporting others.
This dedication drives her commitment to ongoing professional development and advanced training, ensuring she provides her clients with the highest level of evidence-based support.
Christine’s diverse professional background includes roles as a personal trainer, assessment and trainer of apprentice jockeys at Racing Victoria, clinical case manager in the disability sector, and psychologist within juvenile justice and crisis accommodation settings. These experiences have continually shaped her commitment to supporting individuals living their BEST lives. Christine’s focus in sessions is from a strength-based and future-focused perspective.
With a wealth of wisdom and real-life experience, Christine fosters a warm and empathetic therapeutic space, ensuring clients feel heard and supported throughout their journeys. Christine believes in the adage, “It takes a Village to raise a Child,” and applies this philosophy across all life stages, employing a collaborative approach to client support.
Since becoming an AHPRA-registered psychologist, Christine has engaged in extensive professional development, working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families; she is trained in an array of therapeutic approaches, that have enriched her clinical toolbox. Christine’s experience includes addressing relationship difficulties, substance use issues, separation and divorce, forensic risk, and navigating various life challenges. Christine supports clients across the lifespan, including children, teens, adults, couples and families.
As a board-approved supervisor, Christine provides regular individual and group supervision and mentoring to provisional and registered psychologists, as well as allied health professionals; she is also available for secondary consultations across her areas of expertise.
Christine’s internationally published thesis, “It’s Not About Freudian Couches and Personality Changing Drugs” explores the factors that encourage men to seek mental health support. You can access her thesis here.
Throughout her therapeutic journey, Christine has continued to look to research, alongside her anecdotal observations and has created several B.E.S.T. Programs (Building Essential Skills Together). Christine is the proud creator of the B.E.S.T. programs (Building Essential Skills Together). These are evidenced based programs and include BEST Kids, BEST Teens and BEST Parents (online).
Carly Burgess
Psychologist
GradDip (Primary Teaching), BA (Psych, S.O.C), MA in Child and Family Psychology
Since joining Hargan as a psychologist, Carly has enjoyed working with a range of clients and presenting issues including; substance abuse, trauma, disability, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders using a variety of evidence-informed approaches.
As a qualified teacher and holding a Masters in Child and Family Psychology, Carly has years of experience in working with children, adolescents, and their families in both New Zealand and Australia. Carly brings to life our BEST Kids program and works 1:1 with children, adolescents, and their families to treat issues including obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, attention hyperactivity deficit disorder, generalised anxiety, and learning disabilities.
Carly’s passion is to work with children and adults of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds and ethnicities. In her spare time, Carly trains and competes in triathlon and Ironman events throughout Australia. Carly also enjoys travelling and meeting new people.
David Wu
Psychologist
BA Psych Sc (Monash) BA Honours (Southern Cross) MA Social Work (RMIT) MProfPsych (Deakin)
David is a warm and empathetic registered psychologist dedicated to supporting individuals on their path to living their BEST life. Alongside being a qualified social worker, David brings years of experience from working within public mental health services.
David is experienced in working with clients from diverse backgrounds and age groups, including international students, immigrants, refugees, and those receiving support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) .
David is experienced in working with clients presenting with difficulties including depression, anxiety, family and relationship difficulties, trauma, schizophrenia, substance use, addiction, and clients with legal issues. Additionally, David is well-versed in conducting comprehensive cognitive, educational, and personality assessments.
David utilises various evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing. Additionally, David has undergone training in administering Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR).
David employs a holistic and strengths-based approach to both therapy and assessment, with a firm belief that each individual possesses the capacity for growth and healing within them. By harnessing their unique strengths and addressing areas for growth, David helps clients to navigate life’s obstacles and assist them to embark on their journey towards positive change and personal fulfillment.
Arriving in Melbourne in 2003 from Hong Kong, David speaks native-level Cantonese and Mandarin, in addition to fluent English and provide a supportive conduit between Eastern and Western cultures/values.
Outside of work, David enjoys music, sports, and video games, believing in the importance of balance and leisure in maintaining mental well-being.
Frances Stutterd
Psychologist
BA(legal), PGDipPsych, MProfPsych. AssociateMember Australian Psychology Society (APS).
Frances joins Hargan Psychology as a registered psychologist who has worked in both private practice and university mental health settings with a range of clients from all walks of life. Frances has experience working with various mental health presentations including: depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, stress, trauma, grief, PTSD, and ADHD.
Frances has a warm approach and connects with her clients by engendering a safe, non-judgemental space to explore their concerns. Fran is passionate about empowering clients and tailors treatment to help them reach their goals.
In her practice, Frances likes to work collaboratively with clients drawing from many evidence-based modalities such as: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Skills, Mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing.
Lana Gabrielson
Psychologist
BSocSci (Swinburne), GradDipPsych (Deakin)
Lana is a registered psychologist that has experience working with clients across the lifespan; children, adolescents and adults.
Lana applies a person centred, neuro-affirmative approach to her practice. Her particular passion lies in working with neurodivergent children; she has previously engaged with clients as a behaviour support practitioner, supporting children, adolescents and adults with a wide range of presenting difficulties, including those funded by NDIS.
Throughout her work as a Behaviour Support Practitioner and in her work here at Hargan Psychology, Lana has provided support to a range of clients presenting with behavioural difficulties, depression, anxiety and diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Lana implements a number of therapeutic approaches in her work, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Play Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Lana is trained in a number of psychological assessments including cognitive assessment and educational assessments, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder assessments.
In her free time, Lana enjoys spending time in nature, at the beach or hiking and playing video games.
Christopher Leaver
Provisional Psychologist
Christopher is a compassionate provisional psychologist who works with people from all walks of life, offering a safe and supportive space to explore thoughts, feelings and experiences. His approach is grounded in warmth, authenticity and deep respect for each person’s unique journey.
Christopher holds a Master of Professional Psychology, and draws on evidence-based modalities including cognitive-behaviour therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, solution-focused therapy and trauma-informed care. His style is person-centred, collaborative and strengths-focused, tailoring therapy to each individual’s needs.
Christopher supports children, adolescents, adults and couples with concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, neurodivergence and identity exploration. He creates an inclusive space that affirms diversity in all its forms.
Christopher has a strong interest in LGBTQIA+ mental health, men’s and women’s mental health and complex trauma, providing affirming, culturally sensitive and empowering support that fosters resilience, self-understanding and meaningful change.
Whether you are seeking support for a specific challenge or simply want a space to better understand yourself, Christopher’s expertise and genuine care make him a trusted partner in your wellbeing journey.
Olivia Toomey
Provisional Psychologist
Olivia is a provisional psychologist in her final year of her Masters of Clinical Psychology.
Olivia has experience working with children, teenagers, and adults in both public health and multi-disciplinary private practice settings, supporting clients across the lifespan to navigate a variety of diagnoses, complex trauma, and general life experiences.
Olivia has experience conducting cognitive assessments for learning disabilities and neuro developmental disorders; she has significant experience providing person centred and strength-based interventions for neurodivergent clients.
Olivia presents with a warm approach to her therapeutic work to assist clients with the skills and support to Live their BEST Life.
Laetitia Carlile-Purcarea
Provisional Psychologist
Laetitia joins Hargan Psychology on placement from university until the end of the year; she is currently completing her postgraduate training in Clinical Psychology.
Laetitia has experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults in a range of community and support roles, and brings a compassionate, practical, and strengths-based approach to her therapeutic work.
Laetitia is available for reduced fee counselling and assessment, under on-site Board Approved supervision.
Christine Harding
Psychologist
BSocSc (Swinburne), PGradDipPsych (Ballarat), MProfPsyc (ACU)
“I’m human first and a psychologist second.”
Psychology Board Approved Supervisor. Author of B.E.S.T. Kids™, B.E.S.T. Parents™. Member Australian Psychological Society (APS).
Christine’s journey to Principal Psychologist and Director of Hargan Psychology began with parenting her own three children, now adults. Christine became acutely aware of the difficulties associated with parenting during various developmental stages and life’s challenges.
Christine’s former roles as a personal trainer, assessment and trainer of apprentice jockeys at Racing Victoria, Case Manager in the disability sector and a Psychologist in the Juvenile Justice system, have continued to shape her passion for supporting others to LIVE their BEST Life.
Along with a wealth of wisdom and real-life experience, Christine has a warm and empathic nature; she ensures that a safe space is provided for her clients to feel heard and supported in their journey.
Christine is of the adage that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, however, also believes that this is integral for all life stages; hence Christine adapts a collaborative approach to her support.
Christine has engaged in considerable professional development since becoming an AHPRA registered psychologist; her experience extends to providing support to adolescents, adults, couples and families. This has led to Christine being trained in a number of approaches which have added to her clinical ‘toolbox’.
Christine is experienced in supporting clients and families in challenging circumstances, including substance use issues, separation and divorce, forensic risk, and court reports.
As a board approved supervisor, Christine provides regular individual and group supervision and mentoring to provisional psychologists, registered psychologists, and allied health professionals. She is also available for secondary consult in a number of areas of experience.