Lynne Clark has a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Melbourne, a Master of Family Therapy degree (Latrobe University) and a Diploma in Dispute Resolution. She is a clinical member of the Australian Association of Family Therapists and is an approved Mental Health worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers. She is also an approved Family Consultant under Regulation 7 of the Family Law Regulations, is a certified mediator by the Family Court of Australia and an approved Child and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with the Attorney-General’s Department. She has undertaken extensive training in family and marital therapy both within Australia and internationally and has been involved in the training and supervision of both psychologists and social workers.

In 1993, Lynne was awarded an Australian Family Therapy Scholarship to study in North America. This permitted her to work and train with therapists of international repute. She studied at universities and institutes in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Milwaukee, Mississippi and Houston.

For her Master’s degree, Lynne researched a relationship education program titled “Respectful Relationships” that she co-authored. The program was proven to have the capacity to influence new meaning in both men and women regarding how to relate more effectively. It is both gender neutral and non-blaming and was rated highly by both the men and women who completed it.

Lynne subsequently authored the book “Separating Respectfully.” The book is based on a program by the same name that she developed and conducted while working with the Family Court of Australia. The program is specifically designed to assist parents who have separated or are in the process of separating. It outlines a preventative framework, based on self-responsibility and respect, to help parents protect their children from the impact of their separation. She has recently completed a Second Edition of the book in which there is specific reference to “Blended” or “Diverse” new family structures to assist parents in understanding how to structure new family combinations in ways that work.

“Separating Respectfully” takes parents through a step by step program about how to protect their children from the emotional fallout of their separation.

The theoretical framework that informs Lynne’s work and writing incorporates the notions of self-responsibility and respect and is solution and future focused. It also incorporates the understanding that individuals have the strength to overcome the emotional difficulties they experience throughout their lives. It facilitates positive outcomes for both parents and children.

Lynne has assisted many hundreds of separating couples to achieve respectful and child focused outcomes, over the past twenty years. She practices in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Victoria.