Jessica Rice

Jessica is an experienced AHPRA registered Clinical Psychologist, and a South African registered Clinical Psychologist. She has a demonstrated history of working in psychiatric and neurological public and private mental health care sectors in South Africa, as well as in private practice in Australia. Jessica ran her own private practice in Johannesburg for 5 years, before immigrating to Australia.

Jessica is a strong healthcare services professional with Bachelor of Science Degree (cum laude), a Bachelor of Science with Honours Degree in Psychology (cum laude), a Master of Arts Degree in Neuropsychology, as well as a Master of Science Degree in Psychology, all from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She has also completed various certificates through the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME) and the American College of Disability Medicine (ACDM), these include:

• The American Medical Association (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (6thEdition); and
• Advanced Case Studies Based on the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (6th Edition).

Jessica is skilled in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Enhanced-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (e-CBT for eating disorders), Psychodynamic theory, Supportive Therapy, Group Therapy, Psychoeducation, Mindfulness, Individual therapy with adolescents and adults, and Neuropsychological rehabilitation and assessment. She has worked with acute and severe mental illness, and neuropsychological pathologies; Jessica has experience in working with a wide variety of presentations, including mood and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, neurological conditions, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She also has experience in facilitating groups, specialising in emotional regulation, stress, and anger management.

Jessica has completed Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Level One (Introductory) Training, which is sufficient for comfortable and efficient use of this therapy with a wide range clients and situations. The focus of EMDR treatment is the resolution of emotional distress arising from traumatic incidents. In addition to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it is also being used as a treatment for disorders where earlier emotionally-traumatic experiences are aetiologically related to the individual’s current distress. Hence, it can be used as a component in the treatment of phobias, panic attacks, depression, substance abuse, complicated grief, and personality disorder, along with other conditions. Since 2013, the World Health Organisation has endorsed EMDR as evidence-based treatment for PTSD.

Jessica’s special areas of interest are:

• Developmental and complex trauma,
• Neuropsychological-related pathologies, and assessment and rehabilitation, and

Jessica is a passionate therapist, working with a wide range of presentations, and she seeks to work collaboratively with clients to achieve their therapeutic goals.

Minimum age: 14 years old