Belinda Paterson

BA, GDipPsych, PGDipPsych, MPsych (Clin), MAPS
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

About Me

To raise healthy, vibrant young people, we must comprehensively support those who support them, especially our educators.

A Career Dedicated to Youth Mental Health

My work as a Clinical Psychologist has focused on helping young people thrive, not only through evidence-based individual therapies, but also by strengthening the systems that surround them.

In therapy with young people, the goal is never just to reduce symptoms of distress. It’s to help them re-engage fully in their lives: with their friends, their families, and the activities that bring them meaning. A key focus in my work has always been supporting young people to participate meaningfully in education, because school is not just an academic setting. It’s also where identity is shaped, social connections are built, and futures are formed.

I've worked across the mental health system, from early intervention to complex care, always with a dual focus on individual outcomes and systemic impact.

Where I’ve Worked

I have contributed to diverse roles, including:

• Senior clinician in suicide prevention, coordinating care and strengthening relationships across hospitals, tertiary and primary care

• Supporting the "missing middle" (young people falling between primary and tertiary services) including consultation with schools and services

• Leading digital therapeutic content development to enhance face-to-face youth mental health care

• Single expert witness in the Children’s Court of Victoria, completing assessments that focus on child safety and complex mental health/support needs

• Delivering workshops in schools to support youth mental health.

How Educator Wellbeing Became My Focus

While I’ve long worked alongside teachers to support students, my interest in supporting educators directly came about naturally.

When I opened my private practice, teachers came in.

They came to explore many areas of their lives. Without exception, they were dedicated, high-achieving educators. Over time, I noticed recurring themes, often systemic, linked to their career stage and professional context.

These patterns prompted me to explore the evidence base on teacher wellbeing and the changing landscape of Australian education.

Recent Australian research echoes what I have experienced in my practice:

• Teacher wellbeing cannot be supported in isolation

• Systems, relationships, and lived experience matter

• Wellbeing frameworks are shifting toward teacher-led, collaborative approaches

When educators feel safe, supported, valued, trusted and achieve work/life balance, they build the strong, respectful relationships that power vibrant school communities and help students flourish.

My Current Work

My primary focus remains supporting individuals at my private clinical psychology practice, IN.BALANCE, located in Kew. I am dedicated to supporting young people and adults with a range of concerns, and have a special interest in:

• Anxiety

• Perfectionism

• Mood-related concerns

If you wish to find out more about working with me for individual therapeutic support, you’re welcome to read more about therapy.

What’s Ahead

I am developing Well Taught a small group, three-part professional development program for early career educators. It will focus on improving educator wellbeing to support fulfilling careers and improve educator retention and outcomes for students. It will include:

• Small-group learning programs

• Supported by a closed online community for resources and peer connection

• Drawing on lived experience and teacher-led research to ensure it covers the things that matter most to educators

• Evidence-based knowledge and tools to elevate wellbeing and fulfilling careers

Because when we support educators at every stage of their career, we support every child and young person in their care.