Annelise Rocks is a seasoned professional with a rich, diverse career spanning over 25 years, accumulating a wealth of experience in corporate entrepreneurship, mentoring, corporate trainer, facilitator, presenter and advocate for positive psychology and wellbeing in the workplace. Her lifelong passion for psychology and psychotherapy saw her reorient her career, working particularly with neurodiversity, ADHD, ADD, OCD, ASD and Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) previously known as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia.

Taking a more psychodynamic, person-centred, evidence-based approach, Annelise integrates a wide range of tools, training and theoretical frameworks with individuals, couples, families, parents and adolescents who find themselves struggling with a variety of mental health or life challenges. Annelise’s favoured approaches include, Psychodynamic, Ego State, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy), Systems theory, Narrative, with particular emphasis on a strengths-focussed and trauma- informed scaffolding.

Annelise is the proud mum of three teenage boys, with a deep understanding both personally and professionally of the challenges families face when managing neurodiversity and mental health issues. We are lucky enough to enjoy seeing Annelise with her faithful puppy sidekick ZIGGY working together as an inseparable team within our practice – delivering Zen to all.

Annelise holds a Master of Psychotherapy & Counselling, DPP in Positive Psychology & Wellbeing, Grad. Dip. Marketing, Bachelor of Design (Industrial). Over the past decade, she has been an experienced corporate facilitator, delivering HBDI (Hermann Brain Dominance Index) and Genos Emotional Intelligence programs. Currently, she is furthering her expertise through postgraduate studies at Edith Cowan University, working towards her full psychology registration. Annelise is currently a facilitator for the Resourceful Adolescence Program (RAP-A) and Resourceful Adolescence Program for Parents at NorthPsych, helping adolescents, parents and families manage anxiety and emotional challenges.

Annelise advocates for and empowers individuals, children, adolescents, families, couples facing life transitions and mental health challenges including:

• Corporate, carer, and parental ‘burnout’

• Women in Midlife – rediscovering joy and purpose

• Parent care and parent coach

• School refusal/school anxiety

• ADHD and SLD support

• Carer Fatigue

• Couples therapy

• Anxiety, depression, grief and loss

• Trauma

• Life-balance support for entrepreneurs

Ultimately, Annelise is well Known for her warmth, energy, and quick wit, she brings a dynamic, compassionate approach to her work. Annelise is passionate about lifelong learning and draws on the insights of neuroscience, psychology, psychotherapy, emotional intelligence, anthropology, and corporate know-how to help others unlock their inner resources and thrive.

With a deep belief in the inherent capacity of people to grow, flourish, and find meaning, Annelise is committed to supporting others in their journey toward positive change and personal empowerment.

What’s the difference between … Psychology & Counselling

There are strong similarities between psychologists and registered counsellors. Registered counsellors hold master’s level university qualifications and, like psychologists, are trained in the science of how people think, feel, behave and learn.

Utilising similar approaches and strategies, Psychotherapists and Registered Counsellors key point of difference is they don’t tend to do diagnosis or assessments for mental health issues. However, they are qualified to support people with mild to moderate symptoms of mental health.

Psychologists are required to follow a medical clinical model. While therapeutically Psychotherapists and Registered Counsellors tend to adopt a more person-centred/humanistic approach, helping people tackle problems in a positive strengths-based way by helping to clarify issues, explore options and develop strategies. Registered counsellors are experts in listening and helping people achieve their personal goals.

Both psychologists and registered counsellors are qualified to work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, with individual specialisations honed through continuous professional development criteria. 

All postgraduate placements are hired and supervised personally by clinical psychologist Michael MacDonald MSc (LSE), MA (Lond), MClinPsych (Macq), MBPSS, MAPS. All registered counsellors and psychotherapists at NorthPsych are members of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or PACFA.

Psychotherapists and Registered Counsellors at NorthPsych have provider numbers for rebates with leading Private Health Insurers. NDIS also supports the use of Psychotherapists and Registered Counsellors. Medicare at this stage is not available.