Meet Narmi

Clinical Psychologist | Board‑Approved Supervisor | Educator & Academic

Narmatha (Narmi) Thillainathan is a highly experienced Clinical Psychologist and Board‑Approved Supervisor based in Sydney. She provides clinical supervision to provisional psychologists, registered psychologists, clinical psychologists and school counsellors across Australia. With over 20 years of experience in both public and private sectors, Narmi brings a grounded, compassionate, and evidence‑based approach to supporting clinicians at every stage of their career.

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Narmi also is an Adjunct and Academic offering her supervision and Academic teaching support at a Masters Clinical Psychology Level. She spends her time supervising groups in Neuropsychology and also therapy (adults/child).

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Narmi has a particular interest in supervision for school counsellors, early‑career psychologists (5+1 pathway, Clinical Psychological registrar), and those working with children, adolescents, and families. She also offers individual or group supervision tailored specifically for school‑based mental health professionals.

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Her extensive background working with schools, neurodivergent young people, and complex family systems allows her to provide rich, practical, and developmentally informed supervision.

A Supervisor Who Values the Supervisory Relationship

Narmi’s own professional identity was shaped by the guidance of clinically accomplished and deeply dedicated supervisors. She views the supervisory relationship as a profound and formative part of becoming a confident, ethical, and reflective psychologist.

This experience inspired her to become a Board‑Approved Supervisor, so she could offer the same level of support, challenge, and professional nourishment to her supervisees.

Her supervision style is warm, thoughtful, and grounded in best‑practice principles. She creates a space where supervisees feel safe to reflect, explore, and grow.

 

Why Choose Narmi for Clinical Supervision

Supportive, reflective, ethical, and growth‑focused supervision

Supervision with Narmi is a collaborative and enriching process designed to help clinicians:

• Build confidence in clinical decision‑making

• Strengthen reflective practice and self‑awareness

• Develop ethical and legally sound approaches to practice

• Navigate complex cases with clarity and support

• Deepen their therapeutic identity and professional voice

• Prevent burnout and maintain wellbeing

Supervision is not therapy, but it is a space where supervisees can reflect on their work, explore challenges, and develop their clinical reasoning. Supervisees remain responsible for their own clinical work, but they are encouraged to bring case material, ethical dilemmas, and professional questions for discussion.

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Narmi often recommends relevant readings, journal articles, and evidence‑based resources to support ongoing learning. Supervision may include discussions around:

• Ethical and legal considerations in psychology

• Working with children, adolescents, and families

• Neurodiversity‑affirming practice

• ASD and ADHD diagnostic assessment and intervention

• Risk assessment and safety planning

• Self‑care and burnout prevention

• Cultural responsiveness

• Trauma informed approaches

• Working within school and multidisciplinary systems

Supervision can be scheduled fortnightly or monthly depending on your requirements.

 

Experience That Supports Your Growth

With two decades of experience across diverse clinical settings, Narmi brings a broad and nuanced understanding of psychological practice. Her clinical background includes:

• Child and adolescent mental health

• Parent work and family systems

• Neurodiversity‑affirming practice

• ASD and ADHD assessment

• Cognitive and learning assessments

• Adult mental health

• Trauma-informed care

• School‑based counselling and wellbeing

This diversity allows her to support supervisees from a wide range of practice areas, including those working in private practice, schools, community settings, and multidisciplinary teams.

Narmi is known for being warm, compassionate, honest, and deeply supportive. She aims to build a strong, trusting connection with each supervisee—one that helps them grow as clinicians and as resilient, grounded professionals.

 

Areas of Clinical Expertise

Narmi’s clinical specialities include:

• Cognitive and psychological assessments

• ASD and ADHD diagnostic assessments

• Child and adolescent therapy

• Parent coaching and family systems work

• Neurodiversity‑affirming practice

• Adult mental health

 

She has extensive training in evidence‑based therapeutic modalities, including:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Mindfulness‑based approaches

• Compassion‑Focused Therapy

• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

This breadth of training allows her to support supervisees from a variety of therapeutic orientations and practice settings.

 

Group Supervision for School Counsellors

Narmi offers specialised group supervision for school counsellors, focusing on:

• Managing complex school‑based presentations

• Supporting neurodivergent students (ASD, ADHD, learning differences)

• Working with families and navigating school systems

• Risk assessment and safety planning

• Collaboration with teachers and wellbeing teams

• Professional boundaries and role clarity

• Evidence‑based interventions for children and adolescents

These groups provide a supportive, collaborative space for counsellors to learn from one another, share challenges, and strengthen their practice.

 

Supervisor at University:

Narmi is currently a supervisor at Masters Clinical Psychology; rotating between teaching academically: Neuropsychology and supervising in the space of Neuropsychology, Group: child and adult clients.

 

Expression of Interest

If you would like to learn more about clinical supervision with Narmi, please complete the Expression of Interest form. She will be in touch to discuss your goals, needs, and availability.