DR.JACQUI TRIFFITT

CLINICAL AND SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST
PhD (Clin.Psych).

Dr. Jacqui Triffitt is a Clinical and Sport Psychologist in private practice in West Hobart, Tasmania. Shes works in a variety of areas including: anxiety management, depression, post-traumatic stress, occupational stress, challenging behavours and intellectual disability. She is the Consultant Sport Psychologist with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport and the Tasmanian Tigers Cricket Team.

Everyone experiences anxiety so it is important that people understand what anxiety is and how it can impact on their well-being. This understanding helps people to identify triggers that lead to them feeling anxious and to develop skills and strategies such as relaxation and challenging their thoughts to manage their anxiety. This approach empowers people and gives them a lifetime"toolbox" that is transferable to a variety of situations that arise throughout their life from which they can choose the best tool for each situation.

Jacqui has developed a programme called Back in the Driver's Seat to help people with a fear of driving. Driving is a skill and activity that most of us take for granted om everyday life. However, for some individuals even the thought of driving and being in 'in the driver's seat' can be terrifying, triggering anxiety symptoms such as: pounding heart, sweating, shakiness, and feeling sick. The Back in the Driver's Seat programme is currently obnly being conudcted in Tasmania but will be available interstate in the near future.

Jacqui has recently published a book called Back in the Driver's Seat, which is based on the programme and provides practical skills and strategies to help people who have a fear of driving to improve their confidence to begin or to return to driving generally or in specific driving situations. It is suitable for people who have never driven, are returning to driving after an accident or would like to improve their confidence to drive in certain situations. The Back in the Driver's Seat website, www.backinthedriversseat.com.au provides information about the programme, how to order the book and is a contact point for people who have read the book or completed the programme.