Our Team

David Baldwin

BA (Hons), Adjunct Fellow University Western Sydney, Fellow APS Clinical College; Fellow APS Counselling College; MAPS

David is one of the Directors at LifeConnect and he has been in private practice as a psychologist for over 30 years. Over this time David has striven to provide a psychology practice that is warm and welcoming and positioned to giving individual care at the high professional standard clients and patients expect. Besides overseeing the running of LifeConnect, David provides Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Psychotherapy for mental health issues including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, as well as personality disorders. David also has training and experience in Corporate Coaching having worked with a number of business innovators and their senior executives. He has worked, using a collaborative approach, on issues such as career development, managing staff, leadership. strategy, communications, conflict resolution and stress management. His main interest is in supporting business leaders understand their core aspirations, values and talents, then articulating a vision, strategy and plan. David enjoys a diverse practice, from treating clinical conditions for people suffering mental health problems; to helping successful business people achieve their goals. During his career David has served on several boards, and was an Honorary Associate and Field Supervisor at Macquarie University for 17 years. He also served as field supervisor and Adjunct Fellow at University Western Sydney Psychology, Master of Clinical Psychology programme.

David works at our North Sydney practice. Consultations are on person or if requested, via Telehealth.

Cheryl Assuage

RN, Dip
Psychotherapy, ANZAP,
AABCAP, IARPP

Director and Psychotherapist with specialised training in Buddhist Psychotherapy, developmental psychology, self-psychology, the conversational model and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). With more than 30 years professional practice, Cheryl is a highly experienced psychotherapist and relationship therapist. She brings a wealth of knowledge to her therapeutic work with individuals and couples. Her therapeutic work spans supporting people struggling with individual suffering, couples with relationship difficulties, and parents facing both parenting and step parenting issues. She is the author of the sucessful Life Map and Couplet Programs.

Cheryl has served on several boards as non-executive director, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation and  treatment programs.

Cheryl’s expertise as a therapist is in developmental psychology and self-psychology focuses on strengthening and affirming the true self. This methodology brings into conscious awareness individual suffering facilitating transformation of unconscious negative thoughts, emotions and behaviours. Self Psychology is an evidenced-based approach with underpinnings in the psychological discipline of Attachment Theory.

Cheryl works at our North Sydney and Byron Bay practice. All consultations are currently provided via Telehealth.

Judith Lehmann

Registered Psychologist
BA (Hons) Psych & Mgmt, M Psych (Org), MAPS Fellow APS Organisational College.

Judith is a registered psychologist with an endorsement in Organisational Psychology. She has been practicing psychology for over 15 years, of which she spent the last spent 10 years working with LifeConnect on a part-time basis. Judith is a warm and compassionate therapist, with a keen, genuine interest and fine sensitivity to the needs of her clients.

Judith helps her clients better understand inherent thinking patters that may have become limiting, unhelpful and disruptive. Addressing anxiety, stress, depression, bullying, life transitions and adjustment issues Judith draws on a range of evidence based therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focussed Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Positive Psychology and Executive Coaching techniques.

Judith is passionate about relationships and works with individuals and couples. She has completed the Gottman Therapist (Level 1) training and works with an approach to couples therapy that includes an assessment of the relationship and integrates research-based interventions to assist couples in achieving a deeper sense of understanding, awareness, empathy, and connectedness within their relationships.

In addition, Judith brings to LifeConnect invaluable corporate experience having worked as a strategic change specialist and management consultant to numerous top tier organisations. Her training and corporate experience allows her to bring depth of knowledge especially to career-related counselling and therapy including:  Assertiveness Training; Anger Management; Bullying; Burnout; Work Life Balance; Career and Vocational Planning; Conflict Resolution; Executive Coaching; Work Related Stress and Meditation.

Judith holds a Bachelor in Psychology & Business and Master in Organisational Psychology. She is fully registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and has an endorsement in Organisational Psychology. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the NSW College of Organisational Psychologists.

Judith works from our North Sydney practice. Consultations are provided in person (Saturday) or through Telehealth (Thursday).

Lonneke van der Laan

Registered Psychologist
BSc Psychology, MSc Child & Adolescent Psychology (The Netherlands)
assoc Maps

Lonneke is a Registered Psychologist who works with adults (18+) . She has experience in working in private practice and within a hospital setting.

Lonneke’s areas of interest include anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, relationships, women’s health, and grief/loss. She has a special interest in adjustment issues. Having moved between continents herself, Lonneke understands the challenges individuals face when going through major life changes.

Lonneke is empathetic, compassionate, and open minded and she provides a safe, reflective, and collaborative therapy space free from judgement. Through short and long-term therapy Lonneke wishes to enable her clients to gain insight and understanding in their concerns, with the aim to empower growth and an increase in overall well-being.

Lonneke’s therapeutic approach is tailored to her clients’ needs and she uses evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Psychodynamic Therapy, and Mindfulness.

Lonneke works from our North Sydney practice. Consultations are provided in person or through Telehealth.

Kirsty Fulton-Boote

Registered Psychologist - Clinical Psychology Registrar

BSC Psychology (Hons), Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Master of Clinical Psychology
MAPS

Kirsty is currently on maternity leave

 Kirsty is a registered psychologist who works with adolescents (15+) and adults. She is currently working towards endorsement in clinical psychology, and has experience working in hospital, forensic, and private practice settings.

Kirsty's areas of interest include depression, anxiety, stress, adjustment issues, anger management, addiction, and trauma.

Kirsty is a warm, compassionate, and empathetic psychologist. She provides a safe therapeutic space and respects each persons individual life journey. She aims to help individuals identify their own strengths and resources, and understand how these may be used to work through and overcome difficulties. Kirsty believes in working collaboratively with clients and places emphasis on achieving sustainable wellbeing outcomes.

Kirsty tailors her approach to each client, and uses evidence based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness.

Kirsty works from our North Sydney practice. Consultations are provided in person or through Telehealth.

Kirsty is currently on maternity leave