About Me

Background

Since 2016, I’ve supported school-aged children facing anxiety and health-related challenges. My work with PANS/PANDAS began in early 2018, with my first client experiencing significant improvement following comprehensive medical treatment, including IVIg. Recognising the lack of awareness surrounding these conditions, I began identifying as “PANS/PANDAS aware,” which led to increased referrals.

As of September 2024 (last count!), I had conducted initial assessments for over 70 individuals with PANS or related neuroinflammatory presentations and have provided more than 600 hours of direct clinical care. Alongside this, I continue to dedicate substantial time to research, documentation, and advocacy to improve support for affected families. My current PhD research topic is PANS: Advancing the assessment and psychosocial treatment evidence base for youth.

Approach

My practice is neurodiversity-affirming and client-centred, valuing the individuality and strengths of each child. Interventions are informed by cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) principles and adapted for the fluctuating nature of inflammation-related symptoms during PANS flares.

Sessions focus on building functional capacity, emotional regulation and resilience, while accommodating sensory, cognitive, and energy limitations. I also assist families in advocating for their child’s educational and healthcare needs, providing documentation and feedback to support multidisciplinary care.

I collaborate with your child’s healthcare team where appropriate to support coordinated and informed care. Many families I work with are based regionally or interstate, and I provide sessions via telehealth to ensure accessibility and continuity of care.

Is your child ready to engage?

Age and participation: Ideally, children are 6–7 years or older and able to engage for 20–30 minutes (breaks are fine, and parents may stay). If direct participation is limited, I support parents in implementing strategies and gradually re-engage the child when they are ready.

Trust and safety: Many children with PANS have experienced prolonged misdiagnosis or misunderstanding, which can lead to mistrust or disengagement. I prioritise building trust and working collaboratively with your child to find comfortable ways to participate—both in therapy and in daily life.

Crisis care: If your child experiences a severe flare with symptoms such as psychosis or uncontrollable rages, please seek urgent medical support. I do not provide crisis services.

If you are in crisis, call 000 or visit www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-helplines.

Timing of therapy: If your child has returned to their pre-PANS level of functioning, they may benefit from learning skills to anticipate and manage future flares—provided they are motivated and able to reflect on their experiences. If these experiences are difficult to recall, it may be best to revisit therapy when early signs of a flare reappear, and the relevance is clearer for your child. 

What can I offer?

• Assessment: Comprehensive psychological assessments can be provided upon request to support school accommodations, NDIS planning, and multidisciplinary treatment.

• Psychoeducation: I offer clear, evidence-informed explanations of PANS/PANDAS to assist families, schools, and healthcare providers in understanding the condition and its management.

• Therapy and Support:

  • Ready to engage: Evidence-informed CBT strategies for anxiety, OCD, tics, irritability, emotional overwhelm, depression, ARFID, and PDA-like demand avoidance. We also address the impacts of fluctuating behaviour, learning regression, sensory sensitivities, sleep and urinary issues, and physical symptoms.

  • Partially ready: Focus on self-awareness, regulation, and identifying accommodation needs in everyday life.

  • Parent sessions: NDIS-funded parents may access parent-only sessions aimed at enhancing their child’s functional capacity, consistent with NDIS goals. Under a Mental Health Care Plan, up to two parent-only sessions per calendar year (Jan–Dec) attract a Medicare rebate; subsequent sessions are privately billed.

Please note: I provide psychology sessions, not “Specialist Behaviour Support” services under the NDIS.

Please see Appointments for brief information on prices and completing a 'new client intake form'.

Learn more about PANS/PANDAS

Access handouts and clinical observations

Accredited Program Provider for the Cool Kids program

Brita List is accredited by Macquarie University’s Emotional Health Clinic to use the Cool Kids program*.

Cool Kids is a structured 10 session program run over a minimum of 10 weeks that teaches young people and their parents how to better manage anxiety. The program is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), involves the participation of young people and parents, and focuses on teaching practical skills. Topics covered in the program include:

• Learning about anxiety

• Learning to think realistically

• Facing fears using stepladders

• Parenting an anxious child and

• Learning coping skills such as building confidence, relaxation or problemsolving

The Cool Kids program was developed by Macquarie University and has beenrunning since 1993. The program has undergone continual scientific evaluation and development to include the latest understanding of anxiety and its treatment. It has been translated into a number of languages and today, is used in clinics, schools and hospitals around the world.

I now offer these programs individually, working with child and parent/carer on Wednesdays.

• Cool Kids, designed for children aged 7 to 12 year old (primary school) 1 

• Chilled, designed for teenagers aged 12 to 17 (high school) 1

• Cool Little Kids, an early intervention program targeted at caregivers of three to six year old children who exhibit excessive shyness, separation anxiety and lack of confidence 2

I also offer the following program from Macquarie University, working individually with adolescents on Wednesdays:

• Study Without Stress equips students with knowledge and practical tips on how to approach and overcome the stress associated with heavy workload and exams in the final years of high school. 3

1. Parent/Child or Parent/Teen workbook bundles are $49.95
2. CLK Parent workbook is $24.95
3. SWoS Teen workbook is $24.20