Meet Camille Fitzgerald
Registered Psychologist
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I'm a 'neurospicy' Registered Psychologist with AHPRA and a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AaPI). I have been practising for nearly ten years and have experience with individuals across the lifespan. My passion lies in supporting individuals to love and accept the unique person they are, to feel empowered to accomplish whatever their goals and dreams, problem-solve independently, and to lead meaningful lives in line with their own values. I strive to be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ and Indigenous communities and will respect clients from all backgrounds.
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I support people who struggle with anxiety, depression, self-esteem and identity issues, trauma, peri- and post- natal depression and anxiety, parenting difficulties, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and phobias. Whilst in the process of building my home office (coming 2025!), I am currently seeing individuals via Telehealth or in a public park while we walk or sit at a park bench.
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I work collaboratively with my clients and primarily utilise Mindfulness-based Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (MCBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), solution-focused therapy, as well as applying humanistic and Positive Psychology approaches. YOU are the expert in your own life, and I am merely here to help you identify your existing strengths and resiliency, and learn a few extra skills along the way.
About Me.
I always like to share the reasons I became a Psychologist and some of the life experiences I have endured which have contributed to my world-view. My younger sister is Autistic with a high level of support needs which greatly impacted my family functioning. My family immigrated from South America to the United States, where I was born, and my parents were a generation apart. I lost both my parents in my teen-aged years, and moved to Australia on my own as a 17- year-old for a new adventure. My early childhood and teen-aged experiences have given me a tremendous amount of insight and/or lived experience in the worlds of neuro-diverse people, with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or persons of colour) and immigrants, with grief and loss, and life transitions.
From a young age, I was intrigued by our brains and how it made us all so unique from one another, but at the same time, similar in more ways than we know. That is, our Psychology. I didn't have the word for it until high school where an elective was offered for Psychology. After the first class that day in Year 11, I was hooked, and saw no other path for me. After I graduated from University, I focused on Children and Adolescents and worked often with neuro-diverse individuals.
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After becoming a parent and meeting and becoming close to so many people in the LGBTQIA+ community, I became heavily involved with supporting these groups given the mental health outcomes they can experience as a direct result of isolation and/or living in a non-affirming society. I have since worked hard towards establishing myself as an ally to the community and continue to learn and advocate in this space.
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I have five beautiful children, who have each taught me so many lessons, and challenged me to grow. I have an incredible husband who has grown with me through this life we have built together, and without whom I could not do what I love: helping others reach self-acceptance, mental well-being and their life goals.
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I love to read, watch movies & TV shows, play video games and LEGO. I practise mindfulness, cook, and go on little adventures with my tribe to maintain my mental well-being.
Education.
2011-2015:
Bachelor of Psychological Science, with Honours
University of Queensland,
St Lucia
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2015-2018:
Supervised Practice under Change Futures and Lives Lived Well​
I completed my Honours thesis project on environmental Psychology and mindfulness, and it is an area I utilise frequently in my practice.
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I completed my 4+2 internship with these two organisations helping people with anxiety, depression, end-of-life transition (aged care), and alcohol and drug use issues.​
Why Psychology?
Are you struggling with any of the following symptoms?
Psychology can help with:
Depression
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continuous low mood or sadness.
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feeling hopeless and helpless.
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having low self-esteem.
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feeling tearful.
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feeling guilt-ridden.
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feeling irritable and intolerant of others.
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having no motivation or interest in things.
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finding it difficult to make decisions.
Anxiety
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Feeling nervous, restless or tense.
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Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom.
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Having an increased heart rate.
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Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
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Sweating.
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Trembling.
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Feeling weak or tired.
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Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry.
Self-Esteem
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saying negative things and being critical about yourself.
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joking about yourself in a negative way.
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focusing on your negatives and ignoring your achievements.
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blaming yourself when things go wrong.
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thinking other people are better than you.
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thinking you don't deserve to have fun.
Trauma
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panicking when reminded of the trauma.
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being easily upset or angry.
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extreme alertness, also sometimes called 'hypervigilance'
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disturbed sleep or a lack of sleep.
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irritability or aggressive behaviour.
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finding it hard to concentrate – including on simple or everyday tasks.
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being jumpy or easily startled.
Relationships
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Poor communication skills
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Difficulties making and/or keeping friends
- Few, close intimate relationships across lifespan
Stress
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Irritable, angry, impatient or wound up
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Over-burdened or overwhelmed
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Anxious, nervous or afraid
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Like your thoughts are racing and you can't switch off
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Unable to enjoy yourself
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Uninterested in life
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Like you've lost your sense of humour
My
Story
Why Happy Willow Tree?
When I was little, my mother enrolled me into "Indian Maidens", a U.S. based mother-daughter community group, equivalent to Girl / Boy Scouts. There were camping trips, hiking, patches, ceremonies, and activities which were centred around (supposed) Native American practices. One of our first tasks when we joined the 'Hopi tribe" was to choose our "Native American" name.
My mother chose Happy Willow Tree for herself, as she felt that life was full of bittersweet moments, and whilst beautiful, willow trees often look sad as though they carried the weight of the world on their shoulders. Looking back, it was such an apt description of her: a person who always looked for the beauty and light amongst the darkness and saw it in everyone she met. She was and remains to be an inspiration to me, and I miss her dearly.
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* I would like to acknowledge that the YMCA has proactively and rightfully changed the name and activities of this group, as it was detrimental to perpetuating stereotypes of Native American people and did not include Indigenous voices. The spirit of the group remains and is still active today as Adventure Guides.
Acknowledgment of Country
I acknowledge and pay my respects to the Traditional Owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which I live, work and play, the Bullogin people of the Yugambeh language speaking region. I honor the Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognize their enduring connection to Country. I commit to respecting the traditions and cultures that have shaped this land for thousands of years.
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I recognise that sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
