Ascending Psychology has a team of passionate and experienced Psychologists in Murwillumbah and via telehealth to meet the needs of our clients and the community. Explore our page and find the right Psychologist for you. Otherwise, our friendly reception team can make recommendations based on availability and experience.

Sarah Campbell Director

Sarah Campbell

Director, Senior Clinical Psychologist

Sarah is a Clinical Psychologist passionate about the treatment of complex and chronic conditions. Having spent over a decade working in forensic contexts, she serves as an expert witness to the courts, preparing reports to assist in complex decision making. She is also a board approved supervisor.

Outside of private practice, Sarah has worked in forensic mental health, custody settings, offshore processing centers, and in remote indigenous contexts. She therefore relies on various different modalities and theories to meet the cultural, emotional, social and spiritual needs of her clients. She is passionate about holding space for people to curiously reflect on their experiences and the strategies they have relied upon to cope with the joys, disappointments, tragedies and successes in life. More recently, Sarah has become a registered Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator. This program allows her to hold space for caregivers to embark on a journey of self-reflection as they navigate this powerful and challenging role.

Available: Not currently taking new therapy clients. Accepting referrals for medico-legal assessments

Dr. Sierra van Wyk

Senior Clinical Psychologist

Dr Sierra van Wyk is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in public and private settings. Sierra draws from multiple approaches in her treatment including psychodynamic, attachment and relational work. She also integrates practical strategies as necessary, drawing on CBT and mindfulness-based approaches.

Sierra’s treatment approach is focused on providing an emotionally supportive space for people to reflect on their own experiences and develop a deeper understanding of the patterns that are causing them to feel stuck within their lives. Through self-knowledge, clients will develop an increased capacity to identify their own experiences, care for themselves in a more adaptive way and develop new ways to engage with themselves and the world around them. This treatment approach can be adapted to best suit the needs of the individual. In addition to 1:1 therapy, Sierra also co-facilitates process group therapy.

Available: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Dr. Christopher Zurawic

Senior Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Christopher Zurawic, Psy.D., CGP, is a senior clinical psychologist with a deep-rooted passion for facilitating personal growth and psychological resilience. With a comprehensive background spanning over two decades, Dr. Zurawic draws from psychodynamic, ACT, and humanistic therapy approaches, empowering clients to navigate life’s complexities with greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
Grounded in his extensive training, including a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a rich tapestry of clinical positions across diverse settings, Dr. Zurawic brings a unique blend of empathy, expertise, and evidence-based practices to his therapeutic engagements. His commitment to lifelong learning is evidenced by his continual pursuit of professional development, ensuring that his practice remains at the forefront of psychological advancements.
Dr. Zurawic’s therapeutic philosophy is anchored in the belief that each individual possesses an innate capacity for self-discovery and healing. Through a collaborative and tailored approach, he strives to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their innermost thoughts and feelings, uncovering the underlying patterns that influence their behaviors and relationships. His work is characterized by a deep commitment to understanding the unique story of each client, fostering an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
Beyond individual therapy, Dr. Zurawic is a Certified Group Psychotherapist by the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and is adept at leading process-oriented therapy groups that offer a dynamic space for interpersonal learning and growth. His multifaceted approach integrates existential and dynamic elements, enriching the therapeutic process with a profound exploration of meaning, choice, and change.
Dr. Zurawic’s dedication to his profession extends beyond clinical practice. He is an active contributor to the field, offering workshops and seminars that enrich other therapists’ understanding and application of therapeutic processes. His leadership and innovation in therapy, combined with a genuine compassion for his clients, make Dr. Zurawic a trusted ally in the journey toward psychological well-being.

Process group therapy with Christopher is about finding acceptance and belonging, and experiencing how to create deep, meaningful relationships that last.  Process group therapy is where you go when you’re ready to find your place in the world.

Psychotherapy literally means “to attend to the soul”. Christopher draws from the areas of therapeutic care that have the human being at their core, including person-centered, existential and contemporary relational dynamic theories.  Christopher does not see psychotherapy as a process where he is a mechanic and you are a machine. The foundation of his work is a commitment to supporting you to affirm your existence within the beautiful tragedy called life.

Christopher holds a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology, a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology, and a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the United States. Christopher is a Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), recognized by the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists.  Christopher is also a board approved clinical supervisor by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA).

Available: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Brigid Blanckenberg

Clinical Psychologist

Brigid is a warm, collaborative and non-judgmental psychologist who is passionate about empowering her clients to connect with values and to pursue purposeful lives.

She draws on a range of evidence based therapeutic modalities including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy, DBT skills and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to support her clients to explore life difficulties. As a former yoga teacher and long-term meditator, Brigid is also particularly interested in using mindfulness-based approaches to deepen awareness of the mind, while strengthening self-compassion and acceptance.

Brigid has experience working with adults and adolescents experiencing anxiety, mood disorders, work stress, complex personality, relationship issues, low self esteem, trauma, identity and body image concerns. She is also experienced working with members of the LGBTIQ+ community.

Brigid has a Master of Clinical Psychology from the University of Melbourne and has completed research in mindful parenting and positive psychology. In addition to her clinical psychology training, Brigid has a professional background in law and secondary education, which has allowed her to work around the world in a range of private, government, NGO and community settings. These experiences allow Brigid to build authentic therapeutic relationships and to collaboratively develop therapeutic approaches to suit diverse client needs.

In her spare time Brigid loves getting her hands dirty as a ceramicist, taking long walks with her dog and getting into nature as often as she can.

Available: Tuesday & Thursday

Cassandra Burford

Clinical Psychologist

Cassandra was raised in the Northern Rivers and is offering Telehealth Appointments. She works predominantly with adults, and can also provide couples therapy, and parenting interventions.

Cassandra enjoys supporting people experiencing anxiety and mood disorders, substance use issues, grief and loss, interpersonal difficulties, challenges managing emotional distress, and those adjusting to change. She has a special interest in supporting older adults, and people experiencing physical health issues such as Cancer and blood disorders.

As a Psychologist, Cassandra has previously worked in settings designed to support people experiencing substance use issues and acute mental health distress. She has facilitated group therapy programs including mindfulness, distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills. Most recently, Cassandra has worked across medical and surgical wards in a public hospital setting, helping people cope and adjust to illness, injury and treatment.

Drawing on the therapeutic frameworks of CBT, DBT and ACT, Cassandra provides a variety of skills and strategies to assist clients with their challenges. She also has a interest in the Psychodynamic Psychotherapy framework, aimed at understanding unconscious emotional processes and relational patterns. She has also completed Level 1 Gottman therapy training.

Available: Wed, Thurs, Fri. Available via Telehealth. Afterhours Appointments Available.

Susanne Lohmann

Clinical Psychologist Registrar

Susanne has experience working with people of all ages including children, adolescents and older adults. She enjoys working with individuals, couples and families in individual and group therapy settings. She is experienced in assisting clients with a wide range of challenges including anxiety, depression, PTSD, complex PTSD and personality disorders, as well as issues that arise in relationships, parenting or career related roles.

Susanne uses an integrative and strength-based approach to therapy and draws on a variety of evidence-based therapeutic modalities to meet her clients’ individual needs and to assist them to achieve their goals and potential, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), mindfulness based therapies, somatic and attachment informed approaches, systemic therapies and trauma focused therapies, particularly schema therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

Most importantly, Susanne is open-minded and provides a warm, safe, inclusive and welcoming space for her clients so that they can explore any issues and can achieve their therapeutic goals in a safe and encouraging environment.

Susanne is in the final stages of her Clinical Psychology PhD at the University of Melbourne. Her PhD investigates the mental health impacts of intimate partner violence, particularly the complex trauma impacts of psychological abuse and coercive control. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Association and the EMDR Association of Australia and regularly attends trainings and conferences to improve her therapeutic skills and to stay up to date with the latest developments and treatments approaches.

Susanne is a long-term Northern Rivers resident. Originally from Germany, she has lived several years in India and Indonesia. During her clinical psychology training she spent five months in Alice Springs providing culturally informed psychological care for First Nations women and adolescents. Living and working in different cultures has equipped Susanne with the cultural sensitivity to provide culturally informed psychological support for clients from different cultural backgrounds.

Available: Tuesday & Wednesday

Angela Jones

General Psychologist

Angela works with the Ascending Psychology team as a generally registered psychologist. While Angela arrived later in life to psychology, she arrives at the clinic with ample life experience, genuine warmth, and an urge to better the world around her by listening and learning with others. Angela offers an emotionally safe space to just be, and by drawing on the structure and practical strategies provided by a range of therapeutic approaches to ensure sessions address the unique needs of each person. Given Angela’s prior experience working with those harmed by violence, her approach to therapy is trauma-informed and trauma-based.

Angela welcomes clients from across the lifespan presenting with a broad array of life’s difficulties and adversities including anxiety and depression, grief and bereavement, those subjected to family violence, trauma, forced adoption, suicidality and more. Angela is also available to complete assessments for those wishing to better understand their cognitive or neurodivergent profiles.

Prior to psychology, Angela forged a working life in law at community legal centres, as a facilitator of youth justice conferences, and as a university educator. Outside of work, she is likely to be found in her garden, cycling on the beach or paddleboarding.

Available: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Susan Hodgkinson Psychologist

Susan Hodgkinson

Provisional Psychologist

Susan brings her warmth and compassion together to benefit every client. She is a Provisional Psychologist with over 15 years’ experience in the Disability, Community and Child Protection sectors, working across diverse settings including community group home facilities. Susan has strong experience in supporting families, foster carers, and young people to live their best life; to work collaboratively and thrive.

Her therapeutic influences incorporate postgraduate training in mindfulness practices with compassion-focused therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy. Her focus enables exploration of what it means to be human, empowering her clients in their journey towards self-compassion and acceptance.

Susan is informed by her own life experience, developing skill in a strengths-based and person-centred approach. She works to uncover your personal resources to help you connect with ways of living with meaning and fulfillment.

Susan works under the supervision of Clinic Director, Sarah Campbell, and she is an associate member of the Australian Psychological Society.

Available: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Dr. Libby Quinn

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Libby will be joining the Ascending Team in April 2024. Her full bio will be available soon!

Available: Monday & Friday