
Dr Annaleise Robertson is an experienced clinical psychologist who specialises in systemic and psychodynamic frameworks for working with young people, their families, and the clinicians/teams that support them. Annaleise typically provides family therapy for eating disorders, including FBT and Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT-AN) as done by Ivan Eisler and the Maudsley team. This approach, combined with applying systemic or psychodynamic frameworks, are useful additions for therapists who are new to or familiar with FBT, or for complex cases which feel stuck due to other individual or systemic issues. Annaleise prioritises formulation driven therapy and strives to help clinicians develop treatment plans which balance best research evidence, therapist experience and patient preference. Annaleise has worked in a full-time clinical role at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead since 2012, with extensive experience in both inpatient, outpatient and group therapy. She spent the past two years (2019-2021) living in London to undertake further study in these approaches at the Tavistock and Portman Institute and to work at the Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders. Annaleise has provided regular training, consultation, supervision and workshops in eating disorders since 2013, including for the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC), The University of Sydney and has also developed a brief DBT-based family therapy adjunct.
Consultation Modality:
- Family therapy for eating disorders (FT-AN) as a useful addition for clinicians new to or already using FBT (child and adolescent cases)
- Systemic and psychodynamic frameworks to explore current cases which can apply to other modalities (e.g. FBT, CBT-E etc.). This framework encourages reflection on personal and systemic influences relating to the clinical material, as well as focusing on the therapeutic or working alliance.
The specific needs of each group can be determined once we commence, but generally the best learning opportunities come from having one person present a case which we can then explore collaboratively by developing the formulation and applying systemic and/or psychodynamic frameworks as part of evidence informed treatment. The aim is to be open to new ways of thinking about cases using a variation of the ‘weaving thoughts’ method. We can also make time for skills or education as requested. I have been described as having a thoughtful, respectful and approachable style.
Availability: Day/time: Mondays. Consultation frequency is flexible although I generally find regular supervision works best on a fortnightly or monthly basis.
Watch this short Q&A session with Dr Annaleise Robertson who talks about what to expect if you join her online consultation group: