PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST CHRISTIE LOMAS TO THE BODYMATTERS TEAM!
Christie will commence practice on Monday 11th February – if you would like to book your child/adolescent in for a consultation, or have a confidential chat with Christie about your child’s situation, please contact us on (+61) 02 9908 3833.
NICKNAME: My full name seems to be the name most people use.
QUALIFICATIONS: Master of Psychology (Clinical & Health); Bachelor of Psychology (Honours); Graduate Diploma of Family Therapy; Full Member of Australian Psychological Society.
ACHIEVEMENTS: Completing my degrees in Psychology were major achievements for me, however more recently having my own family, watching my children grow and develop…they are my greatest achievements.
WHY DID YOU PURSUE PSYCHOLOGY? I have always had in interest in human behaviour, why people do the things they do and make the choices they make. I was the one that friends came to talk to about their worries, so to study Psychology was a natural choice for me.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WORK AT BODYMATTERS? I felt a connection with Sarah and Lydia and a real fit with the Health at Every Size ethos held by the BodyMatters team. Also, the work at BodyMatters is a wonderful transition from the work I was doing at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead where I spent a great deal of time primarily focussed on treating Eating Disorders.
MY FAVOURITE QUOTE: I know it’s not so original anymore, but I really like it and more importantly, believe it! “You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, Love like you’ll never be hurt, Sing like there’s nobody listening, And live like it’s heaven on earth.” – William W. Purkey
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS? I will have two adolescent children by then and I really hope that we will have a close relationship and that they will continue to talk to me…even better if it’s about their worries. I also hope that I will be a cool mum.
FAVOURITE SPORTS OR ACTIVITIES: I enjoy a good workout at the gym with friends, it’s definitely more fun if you are having a giggle in between a set of heavy leg squats!
FAVOURITE HOBBIES OR INTERESTS: Boating with my family and friends is certainly one of the things I thoroughly enjoy. Reading is another. There is nothing better than getting stuck into a good book…preferably whilst on a boat!
WHAT IS YOUR SECRET SKILL: I have an amazing recall of faces. I never forget a face, just wish I remembered all the names belonging to the faces.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU: I’m inspired by the sacrifices parents and families as a whole will make for their children to ensure their health and safety. I am also inspired by the commitment of families and individuals to get healthy. I have seen and met many inspirational people.
WHO WERE YOUR CHILDHOOD HEROES: Looking back I had no comic book heroes as such, okay, I did enjoy watching Wonder Woman, I loved her powers and of course her outfit. However the person I most admired and aspired to be like was my mother. She taught me to have a questioning mind and encouraged me, through her support to follow my dreams. She once said at a very pivotal time in my life, “Life is not a dress rehearsal”… It was the best advice I could have received at the time, because the choice I made at that point changed my life!
3 THINGS YOU WOULD TAKE TO A DESERT ISLAND: 1/ Can I count my Husband as a thing? He is wonderful company and very good in survival situations requiring Macgyver-type manoeuvres. 2/ iPad fitted with lifetime batteries and infinite books, movies and music downloaded 3/ Fruit and Vegetable cuttings to grow the most amazing, desert thriving, organic garden
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE INDULGENCE: Easy one…milk chocolate, I love it!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE: Hard one…I have so many I love. I definitely can’t pass up watching “Love Actually”.
FAVOURITE PLACES TO TRAVEL: I love to go to new places all the time, there is so much to see! However, Italy will always be a favourite as this is where my Husband and I married.
IF YOU DIDN’T PURSUE PSYCHOLOGY, WHAT OTHER PROFESSION WOULD YOU PURSUE: Teaching.