Simone Du Toit

Simone is passionate about working collaboratively with her clients as they self-explore and reach their goals to live a full and authentic life.

 

Simone’s Approach:

Simone is a Clinical Psychologist who is empathetic, warm, and supportive, and views her work with her clients as a shared journey.  She is client-centred and tailors her approach for the individual.  Simone wants her clients to feel safe to explore and comfortable to provide their input. Therefore, she invites client feedback throughout the therapy process to encourage therapist-client collaboration.

Simone provides psychological therapy for older adolescents and adults for a range of presentations, including:

• Anxiety and worry
• Social anxiety
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Health related behaviour and lifestyle changes
• Chronic pain
• Migraines
• Insomnia and sleep difficulties
• Depression
• Relationship difficulties
• Life transitions
• Wellbeing

Simone utilises techniques from the following evidence-based therapeutic modalities:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• ADHD Coaching
• Executive Functioning Coaching (for those who struggle with time management, organisation, etc, but do not have an ADHD diagnosis)
• Schema Therapy
• Metacognitive Therapy for Anxiety
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
• Psychoeducation
• Sleep hygiene
• Relaxation/grounding techniques

Simone’s Experience:

Simone has worked in the mental health field since 2017, with experience as a TMS Clinician (i.e., Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), in adult ADHD assessment and comprehensive assessment report writing, in a hospital pain management clinic, and as a psychological therapist in private practice.  She also dedicated approximately six years to researching and writing about social anxiety disorder for her PhD and other research projects, having several journal articles published in this area.

Prior to working in mental health, Simone completed a law degree and worked in the legal profession for several years before realising that law was not for her.  Because of this experience, Simone understands the mental and emotional toll associated with making big life decisions and changes.

Education and Qualifications:

• Clinical Psychology Registrar Program
• Master of Psychology (Clinical) – Australian Catholic University
• Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology – Western Sydney University
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Psychology – Western Sydney University
• Graduate Diploma in Psychology – Monash University
• Admitted to the Roll of Solicitors – Legal Practitioners Admissions Board
• Bachelor of Laws – University of Western Sydney

Registrations:

• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (PSY0002711243) – General Psychologist with Clinical Endorsement
• Medicare for Mental Health Care Plans

Memberships:

• Australian Association of Psychologists Inc – Member
• Australian Clinical Psychology Association – Associate Member

Publications:

Aberrant cognitive empathy in individuals with elevated social anxiety and regulation with emotional working memory training

Kade, S. A., du Toit, S. A., Danielson, C. T., Schweizer, S., Morrison, A. S., Ong, D. C., Prasad, A., Holder, L. J., Han, J., Torok, M. & Wong, Q. J. J., 2024, In: Cognition and Emotion. 38, 4, p. 605-623. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2024.2314981

 

Can emotional working memory training improve cognitive behavioral therapy outcomes for social anxiety disorder: a pilot study

du Toit, S. A., Schweizer, S., Moustafa, A. A. & Wong, Q. J. J., 2024, In: Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy. 38, 1, p. 33-51. https://doi.org/10.1891/jcp-2022-0013

 

The effect of emotional working memory training on emotional and cognitive outcomes in individuals with elevated social anxiety

du Toit, S. A., Kade, S. A., Danielson, C. T., Schweizer, S., Han, J., Torok, M. & Wong, Q. J. J., 2020, In: Journal of Affective Disorders. 261, p. 76-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.09.085

Simone supports clients from our Sutherland Shire practice.