Welcome to:
Understory Psychology
Beneath the forest canopy lies the understory—a complex layer where growth happens in the shadows, learning and resilience take root, and new life emerges. Just like in nature, our personal growth happens beneath the surface, in the quiet spaces of our inner world. It’s where we start to make sense of our experiences. With the support of a therapeutic relationship, you can move through the understory towards the brightness of the forest canopy with strength, new perspectives, increased capacity and growth.
Whether you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or seeking deeper understanding, Understory Psychology will guide you with curiosity, compassion, and evidence-based support.
Growth starts here. Let’s work together.
Making space for healthy relationships, connection and growth.
Martine is a registered psychologist who completed her Master of Clinical Psychology at La Trobe University. She is currently completing AHPRA’s clinical registrar program,
With Martine’s guidance and support, you don’t have to face the hard stuff alone.
Meet Martine
Martine has extensive experience working with children, teens and adults in various case management roles including out-of-home care, family violence, youth homelessness and parenting programs. More recently, as a psychologist, she has worked at Headspace, in community mental health, and private practice. Clinically, she likes to take a deep dive and is passionate about exploring internal and external influences that shape our behaviour and emotional well-being. By collaborating closely with her clients, she focuses on enhancing capacity and equipping them with practical psychological tools to foster meaningful and lasting change. She will help navigate the complexities of life, uncovering strengths and resources that empower individuals to thrive amidst challenges.
With a history of working in the not-for-profit sector for over 15 years, her therapeutic approach has an attachment-focused and trauma-informed lens that acknowledges the impact of cultural, social, and environmental factors. She is skilled in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing and mindfulness-based strategies.
A Welcoming, Inclusive Approach
Martine is passionate about creating an inclusive, affirming space for all, with a strong commitment to supporting LGBTIQ+ and neurodivergent individuals. As both a psychologist and a parent, she has a special interest in helping adults feel more confident in their various roles and responsibilities and, empowers younger folk to navigate life’s tricky parts with greater self-awareness and resilience.
“Life’s beauty cannot be separated from its fragility”. This uncomfortable yet beautiful idea from psychologist Susan David demonstrates how complex life can be.
In therapy, we can embrace life's challenges and break them down into smaller steps by asking, “What’s the next best step I can take?” This helps us manage the tension between our fears and the opportunities for growth ahead.
It’s ok to get help.
Seeking help is a courageous step, and while courage plays a role, there are often complex factors that influence whether someone chooses to begin therapy.
Most of us know the discomfort of vulnerability and the emotional strain and suffering that comes with life’s challenges. Ways of coping often over-rely on ‘holding it together’ until it becomes ‘too much’. Our individual experiences and thresholds for hanging on are unique to us all. Difficult times can bring self-doubt, self-criticism and questioning whether our problems are too big, or not worthy of help. But it is in these times that we would benefit most from therapy. Fundamentally, we often have unrealistic expectations that we can cope with our emotional and psychological struggles alone. Martine aims to equip her clients with the necessary knowledge, skills and tools to navigate life’s steep learning curves.
Humility teaches us that learning, adapting, and asking for help are strengths, not weaknesses.
Martine’s approach is based on building healthy relationships, starting with self, and those you love and ultimately extending to how you engage with the world. The work is about growth, connection, and embracing change. She provides a safe, compassionate space while you discover strengths, build healthy self-beliefs and expectations, and recognise what matters. You will learn how to communicate your needs and reshape unhelpful patterns into workable coping strategies.