Leonie Hehir is a Registered and Specialist Gastrointestinal Psychologist with expertise in the management of gastrointestinal disorders including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and functional gut disorders of gut–brain interaction. Leonie has worked with The Alfred Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Clinic and been in private practice for over 20 years.

Leonie explains that memory systems, learned responses, values and beliefs influence our sense of agency in being able to cope with life’s challenges. She believes exploring, unlearning and mastering new skills and strategies can enable us to navigate life’s challenges more effectively.

Leonie uses psychoeducation and neuropsychology to understand how the brain works and how it communicates throughout the body. She aims to empower clients to understand why their body is behaving as it is, in order to establish more useful behaviours.

Leonie uses a variety of techniques along with psychoeducation including talking therapies, somatic therapies, biofeedback, visualisation and medical hypnosis. She is trained in eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy and can work with resolving grief and trauma which is trapped in the body.