About Us
Astute EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY CENTRE
Astute Education and Psychology psychologists and staff focus on your wellness and well-being. We are devoted to providing a quality service that respects your dignity and choices. We are all registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority and subscribe to the ethical guidelines of the Psychology Board of Australia. We all hold professional memberships with such agencies as the Australian Psychological Society, Australian Association of Psychologists, the Institute of Private Practising Psychologists association and other professional bodies. We all have Endorsements in an area such as Clinical, Forensic and Counselling Psychology.
Our Staff
Carmel Wauchope MAAPi
Clinical & Counselling Psychologist
Principal psychologist Carmel Wauchope has 20 years’ experience working as a psychologist in Victoria and South Australia. She has Chaired of the Australian Psychological Society SA State Branch, a Member of the Australian Association of Psychologist and holds Endorsements in Clinical and Counselling Psychology. Carmel has completed certificate training in EMDR (Trauma treatment), Schema Therapy, Family Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Equine Facilitated Therapy.
Carmel’s therapeutic and intervention work includes working with individuals and older adolescents on a range of issues including stress, grief, death & dying, trauma, relationship difficulties, anxiety and depression. Carmel’s approach is a compassionate based psychodynamic approach. Her extensive experience along with her own therapy journey has informed her practice to be warm, with insight and when needed, gently challenging.
Parenting 4 young people into adulthood has provided Carmel with understanding of the trials and joys of managing work and life, including the difficult times of illness and death. She gently holds space for what we all encounter on life’s journey.
Robert Elmer MAPS
Clinical & Forensic Qualifications
Robert Elmer is a psychologist with a broad background in working with adults, youth and their families. He initially worked as a counsellor in South Australia and Tasmania using Experiential and Transactional Analysis techniques to assist young people with severe behavioural issues. He has been a practitioner of meditation and Integral Yoga for 30 years after studying and teaching in India and Australia. He is a registered member of the Australian and British Psychological Societies and for the past ten years he has been providing psychological assessments and interventions in both individual and group settings for adults with a variety of presenting issues.
Robert is an experienced practitioner in CBT, Behavioural and Mindfulness techniques and has recently returned from working in Britain as a Chartered Forensic Psychologist developing Mindfulness techniques for psychiatric patients in a private hospital setting. Married, and a father of two very independent adult children, he is also an enthusiastic sailor, trekker, traveller and sometime handyman.
Dr Michael Proeve MAPS
Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
Michael works from the office of Astute Psychology in his own practice, Turas Psychology. He is a clinical and forensic psychologist providing therapy, assessment, and consulting. Michael can be contacted by email – turas.psychology@gmail.com, or on 0422 304 540.
Narges Najafi
Psychologist
Narges also works from the office of Astute Psychology as an independent practitioner. She is a dedicated and compassionate psychologist with over a decade of experience in a variety of environments, including hospitals, private practice, and organisational settings. Her holistic and personalised approach focuses on empowering clients to develop resilience, improve their emotional well-being, and achieve their personal and professional goals.
Narges has extensive experience working with organisational leaders, management, individuals, and couples. She has supported clients with a range of presentations, including depression and anxiety, grief and loss, panic attacks, phobias, PTSD, relationship difficulties, domestic violence, parenting.
Narges specialises in a variety of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-E), Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), Schema Focused Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Motivational Interviewing, Clinical Hypnosis, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
She believes in the importance of creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment. Her empathetic and collaborative style helps clients build on their strengths and develop effective strategies to make meaningful changes in their lives.
Narges accepts referrals through Medicare, NDIS, WorkCover, and privately and can be contacted by email – info@summitpsychologicalservices.com.au, or on 0411 050 470.
Reception Staff
Michael O