Dr Jemma Dessauvagie
Founder | Registered Psychologist | Board Approved Supervisor
PhD, MPsych(Prof),
Works with: Adolescents and Adults
Special Interest Areas:
- Anxiety and Depression
- Relationship Difficulties
- Perinatal and Parenting Support (For mums, dads, and families)
- Neurodiversity
- High-Performance and Athlete Wellbeing
- Identity Stress and Adjustment Concerns
Therapeutic Frameworks:
CBT, ACT, Interpersonal Therapy, DBT, Schema Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.
Board Approved Supervisor:
Jemma is a board-approved supervisor, providing clinical supervision to psychologists and provisional psychologists, with a focus on reflective practice, skill development, and maintaining high standards of care.
A Little About Me
I was an elite athlete in women’s water polo, earning 58 international caps, and competing at World League Super Finals and World Championships. I captained my national league club team and was named in the National All-Star Team twice.
My years in the national team were some of the hardest and best of my life. The highs, lows, physical demands and mental pressures of elite sport that I faced in my own sporting career now serve as the foundation for my clinical insight, helping me identify the subtle barriers that often keep athletes from performing with freedom. Having lived it, I have the shorthand for the athlete experience. I understand what it means to compete under pressure, navigate team dynamics, and face uncertain transitions.
My experiences inspired my PhD research into the mental health and wellbeing of Australian elite and professional athletes. My research highlighted the need to see athletes as whole people beyond their performance, which is the foundation of how I now work with athletes.
Working With Athletes
I continue to be passionate about supporting athletes at all stages, particularly during career transitions and unexpected retirements. Across my career I have worked at the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) in Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement, Performance Psychology, and as Mental Health Coordinator. Currently, I am a psychologist facilitator for Tackle Your Feelings, and I work with athletes from grass roots to professional in my private practice.
Working with everyone from state-level pathways to professional leagues, I partner with athletes to manage the specific mental demands of high-performance sport. Whether you’re dealing with selection anxiety or the grind of injury rehab, my approach is ‘person-first’, looking far beyond the scoreboard. My goal is to help you develop the psychological flexibility to thrive under pressure while ensuring your pursuit of excellence doesn’t come at the expense of the fun and passion that started it all.
My Current Practice
In my practice, I take a strengths-based, integrative approach that prioritises active skill acquisition and the effective use of coping strategies. My goal is to work myself out of a job by equipping you with the practical tools needed to manage your own mood and/or anxieties, and navigate life’s challenges long after our sessions have ended.
Along side JBD Psychology, I also currently have roles as a University Lecturer in Post-Graduate Psychology and as a Psychologist in the Acute Mental Health Wards of a local hospital. This diverse experience means I have experience working with a wide range of populations and concerns.
Speaking and Education
I’m a regular presenter on mental health topics across sporting and academic settings. My presentations cover general mental health and anxiety, with a particular focus on managing anxiety in athletes from the perspectives of athletes, parents and coaches.
I’ve facilitated mental health education programs for football and netball clubs through Tackle Your Feelings, and developed the workshop “The Care Ride Home” for A Stitch in Time, which explores practical resources designed to help parents navigate difficult conversations with their athlete children, on the way home.
My speaking engagements range from major conferences to local sporting clubs, always with the aim of making mental health support accessible and actionable.