Derek is a Clinical Relationship Psychotherapist specialising in the Attachment bond between parent and child and the implications for adult relationships - the attachment bond between couples. His Masters research 'Intimate Passionate Marriage' was in the area of Intimacy in Relationships.

His special interest and research paper on attachment relationships consolidated his view that a Systemic approach to the individual, couple and family interlinked with Attachment theory can empower the person to empathically accept their situation and enable lasting change to emerge. Derek believes that a healthier, balanced couple and family can bring so much more to an individual and the couple and the nurturing can be reciprocal and growth enabling. An available and responsive partner creates a holding environment for intimacy to grow securely.

Derek has further studied with Dr. Kent Hoffman (one of the originators of Circle of Security) the advanced subtleties and core sensitivities of the anxiety present in a marriage where circular dissatisfaction has become the pattern. This may be felt as resentment, anger, distrust, sexual frustration, fear and loneliness. The impact on the children is that they have less available and responsive parents.

Derek has helped many couples and parents (and hence children) move from a disorganised unsatisfying relationship to a more stable secure thriving and safe environment where kids thrive.

Derek also facilitates groups with dads and men who struggle to express feelings in their intimate relationships. He facilitated the Men’s Behaviour Change Program at Relationships Australia, set up and runs the Men’s Behaviour Change Program for Anglicare. He ran New Dads groups at Westmead hospital and he developed and facilitates the dad’s group, Parenting in Partnership for the Gidget Foundation Australia.

A native of Ireland, Derek is the seventh son of the seventh and enjoys the struggles and joys of being dad to his four thriving big kids who are continually growing to be fully human and fully alive.