about
Hi, I’m Emma!
My passion for exercise psychology was born after working as a group exercise instructor. I became intrigued by how my members incorporated movement into their lifestyles, despite the barriers faced, and how mindset underpinned their exercise behaviours and habits. And it’s something I still find extremely interesting – how mindset influences and shapes how we do (or do not) exercise.
This work inspired my journey to become a Sport and Exercise Psychologist, a career whereby I focus on understanding how mindset and movement influence each other. Through In Motion Psychology my aim is to translate exercise psychology knowledge and principles into helping others build a healthy, life-long relationship with exercise.
In Motion Psychology is the collection of my work. A list of my services is available, however my main areas of focus are:
- Exercise psychology – I work with individuals struggling with psychological barriers to exercise, “weekend warriors” looking to mindset strategies to help improve their physical fitness, through to those looking for sport and performance psychology to assist their competitive physical pursuits.
- Working with fitness companies and brands. These companies know mindset is important for their members and can see how it influences their involvement with the fitness product or service. They additionally understand how influential their role is in helping their members form a positive and healthy relationship with movement. I help gym studios and companies in supporting their members with evidenced-backed, science-based psychological methods, but in a way that is easily translatable to the everyday person. My published research explored how group exercise instructors can influence participants social identification with the group, and in turn positively influence attendance and physical effort.
- I have taught health and exercise psychology and counselling at Australian Catholic University since 2021. My students are enrolled in degrees including exercise physiology, exercise and sport science, high performance sport coaching, and high school physical education. I help equip students with an understanding of psychological principles, behaviour change techniques, and Motivational Interviewing skills to in turn assist their own clients and students.
experience
I have experience working in private psychology practices, allied health practices, sporting clubs, research, and teaching. As a psychologist, I support clients experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, drug and alcohol misuse, and life transitions. I have worked with leading bariatric surgeons in Brisbane and online across Australia, supporting their patients with changes in mindset, eating, weight, and movement behaviour change.
I believe this general psychology experience coupled with my training in sport and exercise psychology has created one of In Motion psychology’s core principles – the understanding and appreciation of the intricacies involved in forming a healthy relationship with exercise while concurrently navigating the changing ebb and flow of our lived experience as a whole person.
qualifications
- Master of Applied Psychology (Sport & Exercise), University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Psychology with First Class Honours, University of New England
- Certificate IV in Fitness, Synergy Central
registration
- Endorsed Sport & Exercise Psychologist – Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
therapy approaches
- Motivational Interviewing
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
