About Me

Christopher Beards Psychologist Eating DIsorders

Details:

Christopher Edward Beards

Medicare Provider 5217255X

5217256H

AHPRA PSY0001811074

 

I am a Psychologist from the Sutherland Shire, NSW. I aim to focus on creating and maintaining a safe space for our sessions. Whilst repairing relationships, alleviating emotional concerns and focusing on the therapeutic process to provide a caring, compassionate and goal orientated approach to your mental wellbeing. 

I enjoy working with adolescents, adults and older age individuals. I have a focus on complex and multifaceted presentations as I believe we all experience poorer mental health with the greater adversity we have faced. Each individual in therapy is provided with tailored treatment best fitted to their needs while utilising a different range of therapies. 

I have been privileged to work within the Public Health and Private Health systems, understanding their complexities and working with great health providers in Psychiatry throughout my training. I have a specialist interest in Eating Disorders and I am recognised by ANZAED/Inside Out as an approved provider of this treatment. I have worked with a variety of presentations and predominately have focused on acute mental illness. Since working remotely from 2020, I am predominately a online/telephone and video therapist available to all regions to bridge the gap in mental health care in Australia.

The conditions that I work with include:

  1. Eating Disorders

  2. Mindfulness

  3. Personality Disorders

  4. Sexual Health Issues

  5. Men’s Issues

  6. Depression and Anxiety Management

  7. LGBTQIA+ Issues

  8. Assessment of Mental Illness

My motivation has always been on collaborating and working with my clients to achieve best treatment outcomes but also to make sure the person is heard and focused on their goals in treatment.

Qualifications:

  1. Bachelor of Psychologist (WSU); Post-graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology (Macquarie University)

  2. AHPRA Board Approved Supervisor to Provisional Psychologists

  3. ANZAED Credentialing as an Eating Disorder therapist

  4. ANZMH (Australia and New Zealand Association of Mental Health)

The reasons I do what I do

  • Depression and Anxiety

    One in seven Australians will experience depression in their lifetime. 15% of people are diagnosed with an affective or mood disorder. One quarter of Australian will experience an anxiety condition in their lifetime. (https://www.beyondblue.org.au/media/statistics)

  • Personality Disorders

    4.8 - 6.5% of the Australian full-time workforce has a personality disorder with a personality disorder being predictive of work or personal impairment. This is something we can develop either through survival of traumatic events or in need to survive different environments. (Jackson and Burgess, 2000)

  • Sexual Health Issues

    There is an increasing amount of issues in Australia with the lack of education and management of sexual related conditions. Mismanagement of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Drug use during sex and increased risk taking leading to irreparable harm to self and/or others.

  • Mens Health Issues

    A lack of reporting problems for men is a major factor to us losing friends or family too early. Depression, Anxiety, Sexual Issues, Relationship and more. It’s time to stop rubbing dirt in it and know its okay to feel.

  • Eating Disorders

    4% of the population at any given time is living with an Eating Disorder. This can include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), OSFED. Lifetime prevalence for eating disorders is around 9% of the Australian Population. The statistics for men and women are increasing each day. (Deloitte Access Economics, 2015; NEDC, 2017).

  • LGBTQIA+

    Australia is growing in acceptance each day, however there are still issues faced by our Queer Community needing support. Queer-Trans-Bi-Non Binary phobia is at a peak leading to increased severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and ultimately suicide in our communities.

Services