There are four psychologists who work at Innovate Psychology and Education.  Below is some information about them.

Kirrilie Smout (Director)

Kirrilie is a registered Psychologist, member of the Australian Psychological Society and of the College of Clinical Psychologists. She has a First Class psychology Honours degree and a Masters degree in Clinical psychology, both awarded from Flinders University of SA. She has worked as a psychologist for over fourteen years in many different settings, with a variety of client groups.

Today Kirrilie is the director of Innovate Psychology, and works with people with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and work problems among many others issues. She also conducts seminars on stress management, study skills, motivation, dealing with difficult people, and coping with difficult times.  She has conducted seminars for over 15,000 young people in schools around Australia.  Kirrilie works with people of all ages, but she does have a special interest in working with youth and young adults.

Kirrilie has received a number of awards, including an Australian ambassadorship to the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, an Australian Psychological Prize in 1995 and the South Australian National Speakers Rising Star award in 2000. She is regularly consulted by print, radio and TV media in relation to psychological issues and has numerous articles published in a variety of newspapers and journals

Sonia Harrison

Sonia is a registered Psychologist and a member of the Australian Psychological Society. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Australia, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Sports Psychology and a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Western Sydney. Sonia has also had training in mediation & conflict resolution.

Sonia works with people of all ages and has a special interest in youth and young adults. During her Masters studies Sonia conducted research in the area of emotional intelligence, coping and academic performance, and is currently a member of a multi disciplinary research team developing and implementing treatment for young people with psychostimulant use problems.

Sonia has worked as a psychologist in a variety of specialist settings including people with disabilities, anxiety disorders, depression, post traumatic stress disorder and substance use problems. Amongst other issues Sonia also works with people to address life issues such as relationship and school difficulties, improving confidence and enhancing personal performance. Sonia takes an eclectic approach as a psychologist with an emphasis on mindfulness-based therapy for enhancing psychological health and creating  a rich, full and meaningful life.

Penny Sih

Please note - Penny is currently on maternity leave and will return to seeing clients later in the year.

Penny is a registered Psychologist and a full member of the Australian Psychological Society.  She has a First Class Psychology Honours degree from Flinders University and a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Adelaide. During her studies, Penny was conferred the KPMG Prize for Psychology and published and presented research on psychological outcomes for children in various care arrangements and an evaluation of a parenting program.

Penny has always been passionate about working with young people and their families and has a talent for connecting with young people.  She has worked as a psychologist for five years with children and teenagers in a variety of settings including Children, Youth and Family Services, Community Health and the Department of Education and Children’s Services.  Her role in the Education Department included providing professional development and support for teachers around strategies for working with challenging behaviours and promoting the social and emotional wellbeing of their students. Penny has undertaken extensive professional development on childhood and family issues.  

Penny draws on a range of evidence-based frameworks as a clinical psychologist, including Behavioural Interventions, Family Systems Theory, Parenting Strategies and Attachment Theory. Penny works with children and young people around a variety of issues including anxiety and depression, social and emotional wellbeing, challenging behaviour, school issues and building positive family and other                                                           relationships. 

Matthew Smout

Matthew is a registered Psychologist, a full member of the Australian Psychological Society and the College of Clinical Psychologists.  He has a First Class psychology Honours degree, a Masters degree in Clinical psychology, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree all awarded from Flinders University of SA.  He has worked as a psychologist for eight years in a variety of settings, with a variety of client groups.

Matthew adopts a pragmatic behavioural analytic approach as a clinical psychologist, and has worked in specialist settings with people suffering difficulties with substance use, anxiety, depression, gambling and psychosis among other issues.  Matthew convenes the Adelaide Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Case Discussion Group and has provided training workshops and individual supervision to clinicians in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.  Matthew co-authored an article rated among the "10 most significant for 2002" by the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry and has conducted research into psychological treatments for amphetamine use.

For information about making an appointment with any of our psychologists, please go to Counselling.