Our Psychologists
Kathleen
Educational and Developmental Psychologist, Discipline Lead
Kathleen is a Registered Psychologist with a number of years’ experience working with young people in Out of Home Care settings and providing behavioural support to individuals with complex behavioural needs. Kathleen uses a range of therapeutic modalities including, Behavioural Analysis, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Kathleen takes a playful and curious approach when working with children, young people and their families to ensure that they feel comfortable and safe in the therapeutic environment. Kathleen is passionate about supporting individuals and families to understand the purpose behind a behaviour and using this knowledge to develop new skills for more effective communication. She is also a firm believer in evidenced based practice and working in a holistic framework to provide informed and consistent support.
Outside of work, Kathleen spends her time with family and friends, watching home renovation shows and trying to be a better cook.
Megan
Clinical Psychologist
Megan is a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, families and adults experiencing a wide range of difficulties and mental health issues. She has an extensive background in the impact of trauma. Megan has a particular interest in the provision of professional supervision and promoting reflection in clinical practice. She is an AHPRA approved supervisor.
She is passionate about building a relaxed, enjoyable and safe environment for her clients to assist them to reach their goals. Megan has worked extensively supporting children and young people who have experienced trauma and stress, attachment difficulties, mood disorders and behavioural concerns through the delivery of individual therapy, group work as well as therapeutic parenting programs. Megan utilises a range of evidence based therapeutic approaches in her work including Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TFCBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing’ EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Megan has three young children and in her spare time enjoys holidays with her family in their caravan and spending time with family and friends.
Melissa
Registered Psychologist
Melissa is a Registered Psychologist and has experience working with adolescents, young people and adults with mild mental health issues to severe mental illness. Mel is passionate about prevention and early intervention and is therefore drawn to working with children, young people and families.
Mel is committed to helping people live fuller, more meaningful lives and strives to provide a therapeutic space that is safe, respectful and compassionate. Mel values a playful, practical, evidence based approach and aims to be curious and collaborative to support individuals and their families reach shared goals. Mel draws on a number of therapeutic frameworks and techniques including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focussed Therapy (SFT) and Mindfulness.
Although intensely interested in all areas of psychology, Mel’s special interest groups are mood and anxiety concerns, resolving stress, interpersonal/relationship difficulties, low self-esteem/resilience, self-harming and suicidal behaviours, personality disorders, and culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and families.
Mel is a mum to two children and enjoys spending time with family and friends, the great outdoors, singing, and a good soy chai tea.
Sally
Registered Psychologist
Sally is a registered psychologist who has a warm and practical approach to therapy. She has worked with families in some amazing places including in rural and remote parts of Australia volunteering her time to work with the homeless before moving to Newcastle in 2017.
Sally has worked with children, youth, families and professionals in community services context, with a specialised interested in trauma and attachment. Sally’s enthusiastic and warm manner assists in developing safe and comfortable relationship with children and their families. Sally is committed to therapeutic interventions that are client-centred, creative, and focus on children’s strengths and interests. Her focus is providing evidence based interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, as well as creative therapies and teaching relaxation and mindfulness. Sally is an LGBTQIA + ally.
Outside of work Sally likes going to the beach, try new foods and spend time with her friends and family.
Darrin
Registered Psychologist
Darrin is a Registered Psychologist who is experienced in supporting young people and adolescents. Darrin spent over 20 years as a teacher before becoming a Psychologist. He has a wide range of experience working with young people and relates and communicates with them well.
Darrin has experience in working with anxiety and mood disorders in young people and uses a wide range of therapeutic techniques including CBT and ACT. He takes great care in developing strong therapeutic relationships with the young person and the families he works with. He develops a holistic approach to working with young people considering family systems, peer relationships and educational contexts.
Darrin moved from Albury/Wodonga where he has worked as a teacher and Psychologist to join the team at Beam Health in Warners Bay, Newcastle. Darrin grew up in Newcastle and has always considered the area as home.
He has 2 grown daughters and loves the beach, bike riding and cooking (and eating!)
Ben
Registered Psychologist
Benjamin is a Registered Psychologist with experience working in out-of-home care and private practice. Benjamin was employed as a Youth Worker in 2012 whilst completing his undergraduate studies. This work led him to develop a passion for supporting young people and their families. Since obtaining general registration as a Psychologist, Benjamin has gained valuable experience working with young people with a wide range of mental health concerns. Benjamin is skilled in psychological assessment, therapy, behaviour support, counselling, and suicide intervention.
Benjamin is particularly interested in the treatment of depression, anger, and the administration of psychological assessments. Benjamin utilises a client-centred approach that focusses on a young person’s goals and existing strengths. Wherever possible, he tailors evidence-based practice to the specific needs of the young person to maximise treatment efficacy.
In his spare time, Benjamin enjoys Soccer, Chess, and playing his PlayStation.
Rebecca
Registered Psychologist
Rebecca is a Registered Psychologist with over 12 years experience within a range of fields including private practice, occupational rehabilitation and employment support. Rebecca is great experience working with young people with a variety of concerns.
Her approach to therapy is both sensitive and evidence-based, structured and tailored to client’s individual needs, with defined outcomes. Rebecca makes use of clinical approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy, Imaginal Exposure and In vivo Exposure Therapy.
Rebecca has a special interest in adolescent mental health and can help with concerns around depression, stress, anxiety, self-esteem, trauma, grief and loss, OCD, personality disorders, eating disorders, self-harm, etc.
Erin
Registered Psychologist
Erin is a Registered Psychologist with experience working with children and families from a trauma informed approach who present with complex trauma, poor self-image, poor socialisation, educational difficulties, dysfunctional behaviour, anti-social behaviours, suicidal tendencies, history of sexually/physically violent behaviour, inappropriate sexual behaviour, difficulties in controlling their behaviour, emotional problems, mental health issues.
Erin uses a range of evidenced based cognitive and behavioural interventions including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and modalities including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Contingency management, Solution focussed Therapy, and Trauma Informed Therapy.
Erin’s strength is her passion for supporting individuals and their families to understand the purpose of attachment, working across several theoretic frameworks, helping parents and children build better attachment relationships through attachment-based play and promoting the matching of educational and therapeutic interventions to the child or young person’s developmental needs across many different domains and actively engaging with children and their family systems by focusing on their strengths and interests.
Outside of work Erin enjoys Crossfit and spending time with her family, children and fur babies.
Grace
Registered Psychologist
Grace is a Registered Psychologist who is extremely passionate about improving the lives of the children, adolescents and families who she works with. Grace is an incredibly bubbly, engaging and friendly clinician which allows her to easily establish rapport and build strong therapeutic relationships with people from all walks of life.
She has significant experience working with children, adolescence and families in addressing many psychological issues including anxiety, depression, behavioural concerns, trauma, stress and adjustment issues. Grace is passionate about helping children and adolescent to develop their ability to identifying, understand and manage their own emotions
She is experienced in delivering a number of evidenced based therapeutic interventions including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). She is also experienced in administering a range of Cognitive and Adaptive Assessments. In her spare time, Grace has a passion for animals and adores her two rescue cats. She also loves to be around family and friends.
Courtney
Registered Psychologist
Courtney is a Registered Psychologist with experience working with and supporting young people and their families. Courtney spent the last 2 years working in rural NSW with children and their families in the school system, which further developed her passion for working with and supporting young people and their families.
Courtney strives to provide a therapeutic space that is safe, respectful and supportive through a warm and enthusiastic manner and focusing on children’s strengths and interests. Courtney uses a range of evidenced based cognitive and behavioural interventions and techniques including, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution focussed Therapy, Trauma Informed Therapy, and Mindfulness, as well as creative and play therapies. Courtney has also had experience in conducting cognitive and behavioural psychological assessments.
Courtney takes great care in developing strong therapeutic relationships with the young person and their families to assist them in reaching their goals. Although interested in all areas of children’s mental health, Courtney can help with concerns around depression, anxiety, self-esteem, trauma, grief and loss, school anxiety, anger, emotional regulation, and behavioural difficulties. Outside of work Courtney enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with her family.
Brady
Provisional Psychologist
Brady
For the past ten years Brady has been working with children and adolescents. He has been in mentorship, leadership and soccer coaching roles which has stemmed a passion for helping children realise their full potential.
Brady has also had a vast experience in the mental health field including drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinics, orphanages, dementia centres, support worker roles and has assisted research on CBT, anxiety, depression and body image.
Brady has also worked heavily in a therapeutic context with children on the Autism Spectrum. Brady completed his Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree in 2016 at Macquarie University and has received his provisional registration with AHPRA.
In his spare time he enjoys watching soccer, surfing and spending time with his family and friends.
Robert
Provisional Psychologist
Rob is a Provisional Psychologist who is close to obtaining his General Registration. Rob has experience providing counselling and assessment services to young people and families who present with complex trauma, learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and a number of other mental health issues.
Rob is currently completing a Doctor of Philosophy qualification in which he is researching the positive impacts that therapy dogs have on the social and emotional wellbeing of children and adolescents in educational settings. Rob is also an active member of his local community where he coaches a junior soccer team in the Newcastle area.
Rob’s strengths are his enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to providing the best standard of care to young people and their families. He takes a holistic approach to understanding the nature of difficulties that people experience, including their physical, psychological, social, and educational contexts.
Outside of work Robert enjoys sports, spending time with friends, family and animals, and in undertaking new adventures.
Our Speech Pathologists
Delna
Speech and Language Pathologist, Discipline Lead
Delna is a Speech and Language Pathologist with over 10 years experience working in schools and providing support to individuals with Autism and other disabilities. Delna has worked in Sydney and London, across a variety of special needs schools, community-based services, private practice and early intervention centres.
Delna is passionate about ensuring each individual has the opportunity to reach their full communicative potential. She holds a special interest in expressive communication and alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) and likes to work together with families and professionals to ensure an integrated, holistic and well-supported approach. Delna recently conducted an action research project looking at the development and implementation of individualised AAC systems as a school-wide approach.
Delna has a sound understanding of the national curriculum and is currently completing a Masters of Primary Teaching. Delna established the Therapists in Disability and Schools Network in Sydney and remains an active member.
Outside of work, Delna enjoys spending time with her kids, cooking and renovating.
Vivien
Speech Pathologist
Vivien is a Speech Pathologist with experience working in the Newcastle and Hunter areas supporting children and adults achieve their communication goals. Vivien has experience working with early childhood educators and enhancing their knowledge of Speech Pathology strategies to support children’s language and speech development.
Vivien loves working with individuals and their families to support them to become more confident in their communicative interactions. She believes she has the most rewarding role and is passionate about addressing functional goals which are important to the individual.
Vivien has completed Hanen training and also uses Key Word Sign to support children’s communication development. Vivien values the importance of collaborating with other allied health professionals to ensure holistic care for all.
Vivien loves spending time with family and friends, relaxing on the beach and exploring new places.
Rebecca
Speech Pathologist
Rebecca is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist with experience working in a range of community settings, including mainstream schools, special education schools and private practice. Rebecca has spent the last 4 years working in Victoria before returning to her hometown of Newcastle in early 2020.
Rebecca is passionate about working collaboratively with families and other professionals to ensure therapy is individualised to each child or young person and their family. Rebecca is certified to run the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk program for parents of young children with a language delay. She has also completed training in Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD) approaches which can be used for individuals with complex communication needs.
Rebecca is passionate about the speech pathology profession, currently serving the Advocacy Portfolio Leader of a State Branch of Speech Pathology Australia and volunteering her time for a Language and Literacy Community of Practice.
Outside of work Rebecca enjoys cooking, shopping at markets and gardening.
Our Occupational Therapists
Emilie
Occupational Therapist, Discipline Lead
Emilie is an experienced and dedicated Occupational Therapist who graduated in 2011 from McGill University in Canada. After several fulfilling years practicing in Canada, Emilie moved to Australia where she has since cultivated her career amidst supportive and diverse settings.
Emilie is enthusiastic about empowering children to utilize their strengths, enhance self-motivation, and overcome difficulties. Children recognize Emilie for her fun and engaging therapy sessions. She understands the best way for children to learn and make gains is through play and meaningful activities.
Emilie is well appreciated not only by children, but also by their carers. She adopts a flexible family-centred approach whereby the unique needs, concerns, and goals of each family are prioritized and tailored to. Her fundamental goal is to improve their quality of life by helping children to overcome developmental challenges and facilitate learning for progressive and sustainable improvement.
Emilie’s therapeutic approach stems from a broad range of experience and education including helping children and adolescents with a wide range of conditions and/or challenges, specifically, those that impact self-care and play skills, relationships with others, as well as performance at school and in physical or leisure activities.
Emilie’s notable areas of expertise include learning difficulties; executive functions; emotional and behavioural regulation; sensory processing; and motor challenges. Further, she is a certified Cogmed Coach – an intensive method aimed to help individuals with working memory and attention issues.
Emilie values spending time with family and friends and is passionate about travelling.
Our Behaviour Specialists
Emmanuel
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Emmanuel is currently completing his final year of his Bachelor of Psychology at The University of Newcastle. Emmanuel has spent the last two years working as an applied behavioural analysis therapist. He has focused on clients with high needs and complex behaviours accommodating to a variety of needs.
Emmanuel is aiming to become a Board-Certified Behavioural Analyst and is interested in working with children and adolescents that have challenging and complex behaviours. Emmanuel thrives in analysing the functions of behaviours and then tailoring programs that allow for the appropriate management of these behaviours.
He will be working predominantly with NDIS participants and families, developing and implementing high quality Behaviour Support Plans.
In his spare time, Emmanuel enjoys spending time with his friends, listening to music and reading.
Rebecca
Behaviour Therapy Assistant
Rebecca is a qualified Primary school teacher with a major in special education.
Currently studying a degree in Psychology through the University of Newcastle, Rebecca hopes to become a Clinical psychologist in the future.
Rebecca has a passion for working with children and adolescents. Her goal is to ensure school is a positive and enriching experience for all by empowering students to identify and thrive in personal areas of strength. Rebecca’s work has seen her travel to communities all over with a personal highlight her time working in rural and Indigenous communities in Mount Isa.
Rebecca has spent the last 4 years working as the teacher of an Emotional Disturbance support unit in the Hunter Valley. During this time, she assisted students who have severe emotional and behavioural support needs to learn coping skills and strategies to empower them as they move through their schooling experience.
In her spare time Rebecca enjoys staying active and experiencing the outdoors through travelling, mountain biking and spending time by the beach.