Rick Atherton
I’m Rick Atherton, a Clinical Psychologist based in Dee Why on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
I work with adolescents and adults experiencing a range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationship and interpersonal difficulties, emotional regulation, chronic pain, grief and loss, eating-related concerns, and self-harm.
For me, good therapy starts with creating a space where you can talk openly about what’s happening without feeling judged or as though you need to have everything figured out before you arrive. My approach is collaborative and practical. We’ll work together to understand what’s contributing to the difficulties you’re experiencing and identify meaningful ways to move forward.
I recognise that people come to therapy for very different reasons. You may be dealing with a specific problem, feeling overwhelmed by several things at once, noticing patterns that keep repeating in your life or relationships, or simply feeling that something isn’t quite right. You don’t need to know exactly what the problem is before coming to see me — working that out can be part of the process.
Experience and Qualifications
I am a Clinical Psychologist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). I completed my undergraduate psychology degree and Honours training at Monash University, followed by a Master of Clinical Psychology at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Graduate School of Health.
Throughout my clinical career, I have worked with people experiencing a broad range of mental health and life difficulties. My work draws on evidence-based psychological therapies while recognising that treatment needs to be tailored to the individual rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
My aim is to help you develop a clearer understanding of yourself and what is happening in your life, while providing practical strategies and psychological tools that can help create meaningful and lasting change.
If you’re considering seeing a psychologist and would like to find out whether I might be a good fit for you, you’re welcome to get in touch or book an initial appointment.
