Sydney Couple and Family Specialists

Practitioners

Jacqueline McDiarmid - Director, Sydney Couple & Family Specialists

Jacqueline is a Couple and Family Therapist, Lecturer, and Clinical Supervisor with a Masters in Couple and Family Therapy (UNSW). She has a Bachelor degree in Counselling and Human Change, and a Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling. She is a Clinical Member of the Family Therapy Association of Australia and a Clinical Member of PACFA.

Jacqueline has been in private practice for more than 20 years, working successfully with individuals, couples and families. She has extensive experience in couple and family therapy and is considered a specialist in these areas. As one of Sydney’s few highly trained systemic couple and family therapists in private practice, she is often referred challenging cases and is highly sought after.

She has helped couples and families with issues including – but not limited to – complex trauma, affairs, complex mental health issues, eating disorders, adolescent behavioural problems (including self-harm and suicidal ideation), behavioural issues in young children which are impacting parents and families, relationship issues and post-separation work.

Jacqueline works with couples, parents, families with young children, families with teenagers and also adult families. She has a particular interest in working with and supporting parents who are managing a child with behavioural issues or with a diagnosed condition like anxiety, ADHD, ASD and so on. She also works with same-sex couples and families, foster/adopted families and adult families where the work is often more complex.

Alex Ryder - Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Sydney Couple & Family Specialists

Whether you’re a couple in a relationship that’s no longer fulfilling or a teenager who’s frustrated and pushing boundaries beyond the level of safety, my therapeutic approach is fundamentally the same: You’re safe here. I know it’s lonely and frightening, but I’ll listen to you. I will help you understand what is causing your distress – and help you find ways to change it. You’ll be supported, but you’ll be challenged too.

I want you to walk away, knowing you have the skills to deal with the problem at hand. But also having what it takes – as an individual or couple – to change, grow and improve all aspects of your life.

When you come to see me, you can expect a warm and thoughtful exchange, to be genuinely heard in contained space, to get to the heart of the problem, and to receive practical skills to improve your life and your relationship.

Qualifications and Professional Membership

I am a member of the Australian Association of Family Therapy, the Counsellors and Psychotherapist Association of Australia, and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.

I hold a Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy from Jansen Newman Institute Sydney, and a bachelor degree from the University of Sydney.

I have almost a decade worth of clinical experience at Sydney Couple and Family Specialists, at the Jansen Newman Institute, and with Lifeline Australia in crisis intervention and as a trainer.