Athelas Psychiatry
Dr. Megan Richardson
BAppSci MBBS FRANZCP Cert C&A Psychiatry
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Dr Megan Richardson is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with a deep focus on psychotherapy across the lifespan. She works with individuals and families from childhood through early adulthood, offering intensive regular psychotherapy at weekly or fortnightly intervals.
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Please read the Therapy FAQs section for more information
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Her clinical passion lies in supporting late-diagnosed ADHD and autistic people, particularly those navigating identity, masking, developmental and relational trauma. (Please note, she does not operate a clinic focused exclusively on the diagnosis and medical management of ADHD.) Her approach is affirming, strengths-based, and grounded in a commitment to patient agency.
She actively resists the pathologising or othering of neurodivergent people, working in partnership with each patient to honour their lived experience and self-understanding.
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Dr Richardson offers intensive psychotherapy, primarily focusing on Internal Family Systems Therapy. What is IFS?
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She has completed Level 1 IFS training and continues to develop skills in this area. She has also completed Circle of Security Facilitator training, as well as MIGDAS-2 and ADOS-2 (strong preference for MIGDAS-2) training. She has recently completed Schema Therapy training for both adults and children and adolescents. She has also trained in ACT, DBT, CBT, psychodynamic and play therapy.
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She also provides parent-involved therapy and supervision to clinicians working with complex and neurodivergent presentations.
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She believes that consistent, ongoing therapy—ideally on a weekly to fortnightly basis—creates the stability and depth needed for meaningful psychological change. Long-term engagement allows therapy to move beyond symptom management toward deeper emotional integration and growth, particularly for those with relational difficulties or complex trauma.
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While she is an experienced prescriber, Dr Richardson prioritises psychological formulation and aims to rationalise or reduce medication where clinically appropriate. Medication is offered only within the context of an active therapeutic relationship and when needed can be handed over to a GP or alternative psychiatrist.
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Dr Richardson does not provide medico-legal assessments, and her practice is non-admitting. When hospital care or more intensive services are needed, she supports coordinated transitions to appropriate providers.
Education
2001
BAppSci (Medical Imaging)
QUT
After completing her degree at QUT, Dr. Richardson worked as a radiographer in various medical settings, gaining valuable experience in the field of medical imaging.
2010
MBBS
UQ
Dr. Richardson pursued her medical degree at the University of Queensland, where she acquired a diverse range of medical knowledge and skills, ultimately earning her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
2019
FRANZCP
Cert C&A Psychiatry
RANZCP
After completing extensive training and working in the field of psychiatry, Dr. Richardson was awarded fellowship with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry in 2019. She also obtained the Certificate of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, demonstrating her commitment to specialized care for young patients.
Ongoing studies
Continuously dedicated to refining her skills and staying updated with the latest advancements in psychiatry, Dr. Richardson has completed additional training in the assessment and treatment of neurodivergence. She regularly attends conferences and engages in ongoing education to ensure the highest standard of care for her patients.
Specialized Areas of Focus
Mood Disorders
Dr. Richardson provides comprehensive assessment and ongoing support for mood and trauma disorders, offering a combination of therapy, lifestyle support, and medication where necessary.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Specializing in the identification and treatment of OCD, Dr. Richardson supports individuals in managing and overcoming this condition, utilising effective therapy, medication, and personalised support.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Dr Richardson is qualified and in the identification and treatment of ADHD, with years of specialist training and experience. She is experienced in supporting those with ADHD in individual psychotherapy, understanding the important differences in thinking patterns.
She does not accept patients for medication-only treatment of ADHD.
Autism
Dr Megan has a strong clinical focus on working with neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with an autistic neurotype. Her approach is neuro-affirming, respectful, and centred on understanding each person’s lived experience—rejecting pathologising or deficit-based models in favour of collaborative, empowering care.
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She provides specialised therapy for autistic children, adolescents, and adults, including many who have received a late diagnosis or have long experienced feeling misunderstood in conventional clinical settings.
Her work supports exploration of identity, masking, burnout, and the impact of social and sensory environments, using modalities such as Schema Therapy, IFS, and ACT to help build internal safety, self-trust, and emotional resilience.
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For younger patients, Dr Richardson includes parent and family sessions to support understanding of neurodivergence and foster relational safety without relying on behavioural compliance models.
Families are guided in creating validating, responsive environments that respect neurodivergent ways of being.
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Therapy is structured and long-term, with an emphasis on weekly or fortnightly sessions to support meaningful, sustained growth.
The goal is not to “fix” or “normalise” autistic individuals, but to support them in thriving on their own terms, with care that affirms autonomy, difference, and authenticity.
Psychotherapeutic Interventions
In therapy sessions, patients engage in 50-minute appointments focused on depth-oriented, relational work.
Dr Richardson emphasises the importance of regular, consistent therapy—typically weekly or fortnightly—to support emotional growth, insight development, and sustained change.
This intensity allows space to explore underlying patterns, process trauma, and build self-understanding over time.
She also offers dedicated parent support sessions, recognising the central role of family dynamics in a young person’s mental health and development.