About Dr Sarah Fischer and Behavioural Edge Psychology

About Dr Sarah Fischer 

Dr Sarah Fischer holds a PhD in Psychology and a Master of Psychology (Organisational) from Deakin University. She is registered with AHPRA as a psychologist with endorsement in organisational psychology, one of the nine recognised areas of practice endorsement under the Psychology Board of Australia.

 

Sarah's work concentrates on the intersection of trauma, neurodivergence, and the psychology of demanding professional roles. She has worked with adults across a wide range of high-stakes contexts, including the legal profession (barristers, solicitors, judicial officers), healthcare and emergency services, executive and senior management roles, and other regulated professional settings. She also holds experience with the Victorian WorkCover and TAC schemes

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Her clinical philosophy is empowering and collaborative. Therapy and assessment are framed as joint work between psychologist and client, with the client remaining the expert on their own experience. Sarah brings the clinical framework, the current research, and the time and space to think things through together.

 

Clinical philosophy and approach

The practice operates on three orientations that shape every clinical interaction.

 

• Trauma-informed means recognising that for many adults, the distress they bring to therapy or assessment is connected to past or current experiences of overwhelm, threat, or loss of agency. The clinical work moves at a pace the person can tolerate, with attention to nervous system regulation, safety, and informed consent.

• Neurodiversity-affirming means treating autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD adults as people with a different neurotype, not a disorder to be corrected. Sensory sensitivity, executive function variability, masking, and the cost of masking are understood and accommodated in both therapy and assessment.

• Evidence-based means the clinical work draws on established treatments where the research supports them. These include, but are not limited to cognitive behaviour therapy for anxiety and depression, schema-informed approaches for relational and identity work, trauma-focused therapies for post-traumatic presentations. The exact modality is matched to the person and the presenting concern rather than selected in advance.

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Dr Fischer's research

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• Where do models for change management improvement and implementation meet 

• The effect of employee affective and cognitive trust in leadership on organisational citizenship behaviour and organisational commitment

• A qualitative exploration of trust in the contemporary workplace​

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Dr Sarah Fischer's clinical background?

Dr Sarah Fischer is the Principal Psychologist of Behavioural Edge Psychology. She holds a PhD in Psychology and a Master of Psychology (Organisational) from Deakin University. She is registered with AHPRA as a psychologist with endorsement in organisational psychology, the higher-tier recognition under the Psychology Board of Australia. Her therapeutic work concentrates on complex trauma, adult neurodivergence assessment, workplace psychology, and the specific psychological needs of adults in legal and other high-stakes regulated professional roles. She has worked extensively with the Victorian WorkCover and TAC schemes as a treating psychologist and in medicolegal independent assessment.

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What does AHPRA endorsement in organisational psychology mean?

AHPRA endorsement is a formal recognition by the Psychology Board of Australia that a psychologist has demonstrated advanced competency in a specific area of practice. There are nine recognised endorsement areas, including clinical psychology, counselling psychology, forensic psychology, and organisational psychology. To gain endorsement in organisational psychology, a psychologist must complete an accredited Master's or Doctorate in Organisational Psychology, undertake an additional registrar program of supervised practice (typically two years post-qualification), and meet ongoing continuing professional development requirements. Endorsement in organisational psychology indicates specific expertise in the application of psychology to workplaces, organisational systems, and the psychological factors that affect work performance and wellbeing. It is an additional credential above the baseline registration that every practising psychologist in Australia must hold.

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What types of clients does Behavioural Edge Psychology work with?

The practice works with adults. Common client groups include people from the legal profession (barristers, solicitors, judicial officers, members of regulated profession boards), healthcare and emergency services workers, executives and senior managers, and other adults whose work involves significant responsibility and pressure. The practice also works with adults seeking neurodivergence assessment for ADHD, autism, or combined AuDHD, and with adults navigating the WorkSafe Victoria and TAC schemes following a psychological injury. NDIS participants who are self-managed or plan-managed can access individual therapy and assessment services. The practice does not currently see children or adolescents.

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Where does Dr Fischer see clients?

Behavioural Edge Psychology operates from two consulting locations in Melbourne. The Caulfield South rooms serve clients from the south-eastern bayside suburbs, including Caulfield, Bentleigh, Brighton, Elsternwick, and surrounding areas. The St Kilda rooms serve clients from the inner south, including St Kilda, Elwood, Windsor, Prahran, South Yarra, and the Melbourne CBD. Telehealth appointments are also available across Victoria, delivered through a secure video platform. The same standard of care applies regardless of whether the appointment is in person or via telehealth, and the same funding pathways (Medicare Better Access, WorkSafe, TAC, NDIS, private) apply to both modes.

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How can I book an initial appointment?

The fastest way to book is through the online appointment portal, which is linked from the home page and the individual therapy page. You can also book by phone on 03 8771 4315 or by email to sarah.fischer@behaviouraledgepsychology.com. The first appointment is a structured assessment session of around 50 to 60 minutes, during which we discuss what is happening, your goals, the relevant history, and how the work could proceed. If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, the Medicare rebate applies. If you are accessing WorkSafe Victoria, TAC, or NDIS funding, please have the relevant claim number and case manager or plan manager details ready at the time of booking.​