michelle wharton

Michelle is a psychologist, turned surfie, turned surfie-psychologist. She’s now surfing a little, and working a little more, in private practice in Adelaide, South Australia.

Michelle is trained in scientifically-proven techniques to help people live a better and happier life.

Psychologist

Michelle is a registered clinical and forensic psychologist who has been practicing in Australia since 2008. She has worked with adults, adolescents, couples, and children in private practice in Adelaide, South Australia. She has spent a significant proportion of her career working with adults and adolescents involved in the criminal justice system; in Australia, New Zealand, and in the United Kingdom. Throughout her career Michelle has been committed to assisting people to identify and regulate difficult thoughts and emotions, and to make lasting behavioural changes through identifying both old 'road blocks' and new life paths.

Trained in cognitive-behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (referred to as ‘ACT’), hypnosis, dialectical behaviour therapy, schema therapy, and transactional analysis, amongst others, she has used a combination of these approaches to assist people with problems including anger and aggression, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction, personality disorders, relationship problems, child behavioural difficulties, and obsessive and compulsive behaviours. More recently Michelle has been using the TEAM CBT model and is now a Level 2 certified therapist, the only Level 2 therapist in Australia. TEAM CBT incorporates scientifically-proven CBT strategies within a structured framework of delivery that embraces and honours our ambivalence about change, and enhances recovery from life challenges such as depression, anxiety, anger, and stress.

Surfie

In 2013, Michelle decided to take a career break from her work in Australia to focus on some of her other life passions - surf, travel, and languages. In preparation for her travels she undertook the surf-instructor training course in Australia and after completing this she went on to teach people of all ages how to surf on the beautiful beaches of South Australia, Portugal, and Costa Rica.

These days, when not working you can find her surfing, touring in her van, travelling, learning languages, hanging out with her dog, and getting stuck into home DIY tasks.

Surfie Psychologist

Finding daily inspiration and regular moments of mindfulness in these settings inspired Michelle to combine her interests - to teach emotion regulation and values-based living while engaging in ‘mindful’ activities such as learning to surf and yoga. In doing so, Michelle has also found a way to live a life guided by many of her own values – caring, teaching, adventure, creativity, engagement, forgiveness, friendliness, gratitude, and self-care.

In the post-COVID world, Michelle finds grounding in local travel, and connecting with family and friends, nature, and her crazy kelpie.