Hi, I’m Stef

I am devoted to helping people of all backgrounds, body types, genders, sexualities, neurotypes, and disabilities make sense of their relationship to food and body, and resolve any body image / relationship issues. My purpose is to help you build a life and relationships that feel authentic to you.

Whilst I have a PhD in eating behaviour, I am here to learn about you and your experience. I love to explore what drives us to do the things we do, such that long-term behavioural change is possible.

I am a credentialed psychologist endorsed by the Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED). The ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential is formal recognition of qualifications, knowledge, training, and professional development activities needed to meet minimum standards for the delivery of safe and effective eating disorders treatment.

My Approach

I am best suited to working with those who are wanting to develop a better understanding of themselves. I love helping people connect the dots on past painful experiences and how they have shaped their current emotions, beliefs, and coping mechanisms. I try and achieve this through a warm, fun, and collaborative approach in an environment of safety. 

I take a justice-oriented view on eating disorders and work within a weight inclusive, non-dieting framework. As a clinician, I work hard to bring awareness to the varied oppressions my clients may have experienced that have an impact on how they relate to food, themselves, and others. I recognise the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people experiencing stigma and discrimination, and work hard to acknowledge my own many privileges as I sit in the room with you.

I combine my research expertise with clinical work, utilising evidence-based therapies such as Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness Based Therapy (MBT), Strengths-based approaches, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as well as CBT-Enhanced for Eating Disorders.

Sometimes, you will be joined by Satiate Psychology’s therapy doggos: Bruce and Mukwa.

Qualifications

  • PhD: Examination of Environmental, Affective and Cognitive Drivers of Food Intake - University of Tasmania

  • BPsych (Hons) Deakin University

  • Eating Disorder Credentialed Clinician

  • Member of AAPi

Publications and presentations

Franja, S., Elliston, K. G., & Ferguson, S. G. (2020). Body Mass Index and stimulus control: Results from a real-world study of eating behaviour. Appetite, 104783.

Franja, S., Wahl, D. R., Elliston, K. G., & Ferguson, S. G. (2021). Comfort eating: An observational study of affect in the hours immediately before, and after, snacking. British journal of health psychology.

Franja, S., McCrae, A. E., Jahnel, T., Gearhardt, A. N., & Ferguson, S. G. (2021). Measuring Food-Related Attentional Bias [Original Research]. Frontiers in psychology, 12(4645). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.629115

Franja, S., Elliston, K.G., Matthews, A.J. & Ferguson, S.G [conference presentation, European Health Psychology Society conference, 2019]. Exploring the relationship between attentional bias, stimulus control and BMI.

Franja, S., Elliston, K.G. & Ferguson, S.G [conference presentation, European Health Psychology Society conference, 2019]. Exploring the relationship between stimulus control and BMI in a real-world setting.

Measuring Food-Related Attentional Bias. Oral presentation at the 35th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS) August 23 – August 27, 2021

Comfort eating: An observational study of affect in the hours immediately before, and after, snacking. Oral presentation at the 35th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS) August 23 – August 27, 2021

In-person and Telehealth options available

Satiate Psychology now offers two locations for in-person appointments: Collingwood and BRUNSWICK