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Dr Janine has over 20 years’ experience as a psychologist and over 10 years’ experience as a clinical psychologist. She has a PhD in Psychology, a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, a Professional Diploma in Applied Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Psychology). Dr Janine is internationally trained in the UK and USA and accredited in a broad range of evidence-based and contemporary treatment modalities, including Schema Therapy for children, adolescents and adults, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR).
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She has extensive experience in psycho-educational assessments both locally and internationally.
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​Born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia, in her early professional career Dr Janine worked as a health consultant for KPMG where she specialised in organisational and cultural change. She moved to Sydney in her early thirties where she worked as a senior psychologist and manager of the psychological trauma team for Davidson Trahaire Corpsych before opening The Balmain Practice in 2011. ​Dr Janine expanded her business footprint in her home town Adeliade 2022 with Adelaide Clinical Psychology.
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Dr Janine has a keen interest in psychological trauma,.helping patients to navigate tragic and frightening events and supporting them on their journey to healing and re-embracing life proved inspirational for Dr Janine both professionally and personally. This has resulted in Dr Janine specialising in post-traumatic and acute stress disorders, depression and post-natal depression, adjustment disorders relating to life stages and events, anxiety disorders, grief and loss.
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Dr Janine has lived experience with the psychological, emotional and physical effects of cancer treatment and management as a result of her BCRA1 breast cancer diagnosis. This gives her unique shared insight and empathy when providing therapy to patients experiencing similar life events.
Dr Janine's philosophy about how we can improve ourselves, our relationships and our approach to life is inspired by the 400-year-old Japanese art of kintsugi (golden repair) or kinstsukuri (golden joinery). Kintsugi is a pottery repair method that honors the artefact's unique history by emphasising, not hiding, a break. It means literally, 'to join with gold'. In Zen aesthetics, the broken pieces of an accidentally-smashed pot should be carefully picked up, re-assembled and glued together with a lacquer effect containing a very luxuriant gold powder.
Kintsugi teaches us to make the most of what already is, to highlight the beauty of who we are, flaws and all, rather than leaving us yearning for newer, better, bigger. From a psychological and human experience perspective, it teaches us to build trust and intimacy in our relationships and foster mutual understanding with others.
“Kintsugi teaches us that we are more beautiful for our flaws,
our battle scars, our lessons learned.”
Candice Kumai
