Carla Crossman (she/her)
Managing Director
Educational and Developmental Psychologist
MAAPI, MPsych, DipEd
I began Spark for Life Psychology with the aim to help families communicate and engage with each other, and increase their well-being and resilience. I believe in using a strengths-based approach to help people find their Spark through identifying what is important and meaningful to them. I use this Spark to inspire and motivate positive change in their life, while also teaching skills and strategies to help tackle life's challenges.
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By qualification I am an Educational and Developmental Psychologist with extensive experience working with families and children. I worked as a nanny, in early child care, and before and after school programs before working as a disability support worker and programs coordinator. I then completed my masters of Educational and Developmental Psychology and worked as a school psychologist, before working for the WA Disability Services specialising in autism assessment and early intervention. Next I worked at Headspace with individuals aged 12-25 years. Through these roles I gained invaluable learning and also became frustrated by many of the limits and gaps in the services available.
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THERAPY STYLES:
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Attachment Based Therapy
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Thera play
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Play-based therapy
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
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Narrative Therapy
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Psychological Education
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Motivational Interviewing
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Brief Solution Focused Therapy
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Mindfulness
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Positive Psychology
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EXPERTISE & INTEREST:
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Neurodiversity
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Parenting across the lifespan
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Developmental and learning difficulties
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Perinatal period
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School Issues: Stress, Bullying, Organisation, Perfectionism, Goal-setting
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Children, adolescents, young adults, and parents
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Assessment and Diagnosis
More About Carla:
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I have always wanted to work helping others. From a young age I babysat and volunteered in roles coaching sport and assisting in the local supported school. I myself am dyslexic and ADHD; I struggled greatly in my schooling. The teachers would tell my mother “It’s just that she’s not as smart as her older sister.” My mother knew they weren’t right, but was unable to get me the help she was looking for. Over time, I believed and internalised this and ‘knew’ I wasn’t that smart. I would blame myself and feel I wasn’t good enough for things. I struggled with this internal self-doubt long after I was able to read and write effectively. It wasn’t until I engaged in my own therapeutic work that I was able to accept myself for my strengths and differences and truly thrive.
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I am now a mum to two beautiful and energetic young boys (and a dog and a lizard) who have taught me so much about parenting, myself, and psychology. I have learned to let go of all the things society and my training told me were 'the right thing' and instead take on board neuroscience to find what works for my family. We love impromptu dance parties, making massive forts and obstacle courses, reading books, and playing games.
In my free time I love doing yoga, listening to music (and dancing along), gardening, going camping, and playing board games.
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Three words that describe Carla: Bright, quirky and fun
Spirit Animal: Unicorn
Favourite Game: Zombicide
Something people wouldn’t guess about you: I enjoy woodworking, especially making toys! The favourite thing I’ve made is a wooden ball run that my boys love to play with.
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