About the Founder

Skills Not Pills was founded by Dr John Forbes, a Clinical Psychologist based in Perth, Western Australia.

Dr Forbes has witnessed the evolution of mental health treatment over decades of practice. He observed a recurring pattern: clients were often treating therapy as a passive process—a place to "vent" rather than a place to "build."

The Philosophy

Dr Forbes believes in transparency. In traditional medicine, the doctor holds the knowledge and dispenses the cure. In psychological health, this model fails. The patient must hold the knowledge. The patient must understand the mechanics of their own amygdala, their circadian rhythm, and their dopamine reward system.

Professional Background

Dr Forbes is the Director of Delta Psychology in Heathridge. He specialises in high-acuity anxiety disorders, trauma processing, and schema therapy. When not in the clinic, he is an avid astrophotographer, capturing deep-sky objects from his home—a hobby that requires the same patience and technical precision as psychological recovery.