Our Aims
We create strong, flexible workforces, using best-practice methods, guided by cutting-edge research.
PsyFlex is a collaboration between Dr Natasha and Dr Russ Harris.
While they were junior doctors, working in hospitals with a wide range of medical, surgical and psychiatric issues, both Natasha and Russ became fascinated by the psychological aspects of human health. At the same time, they became increasingly frustrated at the inability of modern medicine to create genuine health and wellbeing.
This took them both into unique career pathways, exploring the important connections between mind, body, environment and wellbeing.
Their partnership happened when Natasha’s passion for creating an optimum, injury-free work environment met Russ’s determination to develop psychologically flexible people. It’s a partnership of two passionate people with the same vision: to provide cutting-edge, evidence-based, sustainable health and wellbeing solutions in the workplace.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to empower employees to efficiently deal with everyday life challenges, and to help employers build safe, healthy and supportive work environments.
Our People
Dr Natasha Lazareski, Managing Director, PsyFlex Pty Ltd
Natasha is a medical doctor, specialising in occupational health, psychosocial risk management, behavioural science and acceptance & commitment training (ACT).
Her passion is creating optimum, psychologically and physically healthy work environment, and empowering individuals to effectively deal with life challenges.
Natasha completed her medical degree in Belgrade, Serbia and was a junior doctor during the war there, in the late 80s and early 90s. Exposure to the disastrous effects of war and trauma, and their devastating effects on the human mind, stirred her to explore preventive medicine and psychological health.
She became especially interested in psychological flexibility and helping people develop the strength to deal with challenging situations.
In last 20 years Natasha worked with workers’ compensation, personal insurance, and the emergency, health and banking industries. This experience, alongside her unique combination of medical, behavioural, occupational and strategic operational knowledge, makes Natasha a highly sought-after expert.
She is in high demand as a speaker and regularly presents at workplace health conferences, globally.
Natasha provides workshops, webinars, supervision and coaching services to clients globally.
In 2014 Natasha partnered with Dr Russ Harris, internationally renowned therapist and author of the million-copy-bestseller, ‘The Happiness Trap’. They have developed numerous training programs that drive behavioural change through psychological flexibility and values-based action; in total, they have trained over 5,000 people globally.
Natasha regularly consults with a wide range of organisations worldwide, including government institutions and employers, to successfully develop sustainable psychosocial risk management strategies and holistic wellbeing frameworks.
Dr Russ Harris – Director
Russ Harris, author of the million-copy-bestseller, The Happiness Trap, (as well as nine other books), is a world-renowned trainer of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), and advisor to the World Health Organisation.
Russ’s background is in medicine. As a GP he became increasingly interested in the psychological aspects of health and wellbeing, and increasingly disenchanted with writing prescriptions. Ultimately this interest led to a total career change. He now works in two different, yet complementary roles – as a therapist and as a coach.
Since 2005, Russ has run over 600 two-day workshops and provided ACT training for over 40,000 health professionals, including therapists, coaches, counsellors, doctors, and psychologists. In 2015 he created an ACT protocol for the World Health Organisation to use in refugee camps around the globe. In 2020, the WHO published their first research on this protocol, which showed significant reductions in PTSD and depression that from just 10 hours of ACT.
He has authored three ACT textbooks (ACT Made Simple, Getting Unstuck in ACT, ACT Questions & Answers), and four ACT-based self-help books (The Happiness Trap, The Reality Slap, The Confidence Gap and ACT with Love).
He has also co-authored two self-help books (The Weight Escape and The Happiness Trap Pocketbook). The Happiness Trap is the best-selling ACT book in the world, translated into over 30 languages.