BPsych BArts (Psych) GradDip Management Practice MAPS
Psychologist
Gretchen De Martin is a dedicated Psychologist with a passion for assisting individuals impacted by trauma, anxiety, and supporting senior adults through life transitions. Genuine in nature, Gretchen creates a secure space to ensure you feel heard, and her calm character allows clients to feel safe.
Taking an optimistic and inclusive approach, Gretchen is passionate about the inclusion of all individuals, older adults, and children with disabilities and their siblings in society. Working with people at different stages in their life, Gretchen shows a real dedication to learning about you, your challenges and your life experience, whilst showing respect and appreciation for you as an individual. She values the time with her clients to connect and work as a team, enabling you to feel empowered and live a meaningful life.
Since a teenager, Gretchen was driven to become a Psychologist as a result of seeing the impact mental health issues had on those around her. It was at this young age Gretchen made her decision to devote her life to helping people live the best life they can. Her broad and trusted expertise includes working with clients who are impacted by trauma, vulnerable to social isolation or exclusion, guiding them to find ways to become more engaged with what is important to them within their life and community setting.
As a Psychologist at Creating Change, Gretchen combines a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) with a Bachelor of Psychology degrees, and a Graduate Diploma in Management Practice. Gretchen incorporates Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy and Exposure Therapy into her sessions, and has undergone training in understanding Dementia.
For 5 years, Gretchen worked in case management which included liaising with mental health workers, housing and homelessness, employers, academics and other community and government organisations, to streamline client servicing and effect change for social impact. Over the years she has also taken on managerial and leadership roles within Disability Employment and Personal Support Services and for Break Thru; an organisation offering mental health, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Disability Employment and youth services.
Gretchen has a real passion for supporting clients impacted by trauma, furthering her training in “Treating PTSD and Complex Trauma”. A registered Griffiths III user (a developmental assessment tool for children aged 0 to 6 years), Gretchen supports families to understand and achieve goals for their child. Here experience extends to working with adults impacted by PTSD and Complex PTSD, children experiencing anxiety, adults experiencing relationship, work or health stressors, understanding and processing grief & loss, and supporting older adults through life’s changes.
In addition to supporting parents & children with behavioural challenges and the associated impact of this on siblings, Gretchen has a passion for helping trauma impacted clients find safety within themselves. She also supports older adults experiencing anxiety, depression, mood disorders, stress disorders, grief & loss, parenting stress and adjustment, as well as supporting women with life’s stressors.
Outside of work Gretchen enjoys being in the outdoors at the beach or in the bush, bike riding and reading.
Gretchen is a devoted therapist at our practice. She is available for appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays.
"Live life as if nobody is watching, and express yourself as if everybody is listening - Nelson Mandela"