Jigsaw Neurodiverse Youth

Introducing Dr Rosemary Anderson

Dr Rosemary Anderson is a respected and versatile Consultant Psychiatrist who has been practising child and adolescent psychiatry since 2001. Since 2002, she has focused on the care of neurodiverse patients, with a particular interest in supporting autistic girls, young women, and teenagers navigating ADHD, anxiety, and related challenges.

Her qualifications include:

• MBChB (University of Cape Town)
• FRANZCP (Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists)
• Certificate in Child Psychiatry
• Certificate in Psychotherapy

Dr Anderson’s clinical expertise is matched with her focus on patients’ lived experience, which supports her warm, patient-centred approach. She understands how overwhelming the journey can be, both for patients and their families.

Dr Anderson is known for her genuine curiosity, careful listening, and commitment to seeing each patient as a whole person, not just as a diagnosis. She stays involved beyond the first appointment, often supporting patients through key life transitions, from childhood into university years.

She received her medical degree in Cape Town, South Africa, and completed her psychiatry training in Auckland and Sydney. She holds a fellowship from the RANZCP as well as certificates in advanced training in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy. She is an accredited examiner for the RANZCP. She takes a collaborative approach, working closely with other professionals.

For most of her psychiatry career Rosemary worked at the Rivendell Adolescent Unit, Concord and was the leader of the Yaralla team, specialising in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Consequently, she is very well acquainted with schools, non-government organisations, psychologists, general practitioners, occupational therapists and family therapists in the area.

Rosemary treats children and adolescents between the ages of 6-25 years. She is skilled using both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. She has a special interest in girls with neurodiversity as well as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression and anxiety. She also has an interest in the interface between mental health and educational issues.

She provides a thorough initial assessment, after which a course of action is collaboratively decided upon.

How Jigsaw Came About

Through my many years of practice I have learnt various approaches including medical, psychodynamic, family systems, and cognitive behavioural therapy, to name a few. I have found that the patient and their family hold many of the pieces of the puzzle. Together we meet for an initial assessment that can take up to 3 sessions, to see how we work together. I then share my formulation (usually multilayered) with you/your significant others. It is a highly collaborative approach and one in which we both learn along the way.

Additional pieces may include school, discovering other vocational pathways, or bringing in other professionals to help us. These may include neuropsychologists (for more in-depth testing regarding psychometric or Autism Spectrum diagnostics, attention deficit disorder), psychologists, occupational therapists, family therapists or schools and school counsellors.

I have extensive knowledge of schools in Sydney having visited many of them during my years at Rivendell. I am also familiar with private educational institutions and Schools for special purpose (SSP’S).