Our Clinicians
Who We Are
At Strong Minds Psychology, we provide a supportive and compassionate environment for all of our clients and visitors. Connecting with our team means an opportunity to improve your mental health and daily functioning, in a wide variety of presenting concerns and situations. We work with you to set realistic goals, and develop strategies that will suit your needs.
If you or your loved ones are struggling to manage feelings of anxiety, depression, grief or anger, or you need support facing parenting challenges, we can help. Our team at Strong Minds Psychology provide excellent customer service, whilst maintaining professional and ethical standards.
Anne-Marie - Occupational Therapist
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences), Graduate Diploma (Psychology), Graduate Diploma (Education); Graduate Certificate in Career Development, Master of Occupational Therapy Practice
Background: Anne-Marie has over 15 years experience in the education setting prior to her training as an occupational therapist. She has experience working with clients presenting with mental ill health, psychosocial challenges, and various disability presentations.
Clients: Anne-Marie is currently providing mental health intervention for child, adolescent, and adult clients presenting with anxiety, depression, attachment difficulties, emotional and/or sensory dysregulation, anger management, stress, trauma, psychological distress, grief and loss. Occupational Therapy (OT) assessments can be booked for sensory processing differences, handwriting challenges, Autism, review of assistive technology needs, and home/school environmental assessment.
Therapeutic approaches: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, psychoeducation, client centred with focus on improved engagement in activities of interest in daily life.
Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Work Days: Wednesdays (intervention) in the Warragul clinic, and Mondays and Fridays (assessment) in our Warragul and Yarra Junction communities.
Kim - Counsellor
Qualifications: Graduate Certificate in Mental Health, Master of Counselling
Background: Kim has a history working in outreach with disengaged young people, young parents, school counselling and wellbeing, youth unemployment, and supporting older adults.
Clients: Kim works with clients across many stages of life, including young people and their families, young parents, pregnant women and new mothers, and older adults. She provides individual and group intervention.
Therapeutic approaches: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, psychoeducation.
Special Interests: Painting, gardening, mosaic, renovating.
Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Work Days: Monday, Thursday and Friday at our Yarra Junction clinic.
Sinead - Psychologist (Provisional)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, Criminology, Behavioural Studies); Graduate Diploma in Professional Psychology; Master of Professional Psychology
Background: Sinead has a diverse range of experiences to draw upon. These include disability support, customer service, event management, mindfulness coaching, youth counselling, and mental health intake.
Clients: Sinead works with clients across the lifespan from different backgrounds, for a variety of presenting concerns. Sinead has enjoyed working with adolescents, young adults, and their families, and individuals living with a disability, in her previous roles. She provides individual intervention and a variety of assessments.
Therapeutic approaches: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Interpersonal Therapy, psychoeducation, neuroaffirming and strengths-based approaches.
Special Interests: Animals, nature, gardening, cooking, music, guitar and photography. Sinead often spends time outdoors looking after her chickens and sheep, exploring nature, or with family and friends.
Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Work Days: Thursday and Friday at our Warragul clinic.
Shifa - Psychologist (Provisional)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology); Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours); Master of Professional Psychology
Background: Whilst studying, Shifa has gained experience as a language tutor, helping people learn and improve their communication skills. She has engaged in organisation and participation in community events to raise awareness for mental health and wellbeing. Shifa has worked with veterans, children, adolescents and adults in roles as a mental health first-aider, dealing with a range of presenting issues. This work has provided understanding of the unique challenges the present across different age groups, and capacity to communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, education, and developmental level.
Clients: Shifa works with a clients across the lifespan, from children, adolescents and adults at different stages of life. Areas of therapeutic focus include mood/emotions (e.g. anxiety, depression), neurodiversity (Autism, ADHD, learning difficulties), & general childhood development. Shifa provides intervention and a variety of assessments.
Therapeutic approaches: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Behavioural Activation, Psychoeducation
Special Interests: Painting, Reading, Writing, Baking & Badminton
Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English & Tamil
Work Days: Monday to Wednesday across both Warragul and Yarra Junction clinic.
Maya – Psychologist (Provisional)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Early Years and Primary Education (Honours); Graduate Diploma in Psychology; Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced); Master of Professional Psychology (Candidate)
Background: Maya has a history of work with and alongside children and families, supporting them through their educational journey and development through her time in teaching.
Clients: Maya works with a diverse range of clients across the lifespan from different backgrounds and a variety of presentations. She enjoys collaborating with children, young people, adults, and their families to support their wellbeing. Maya provides individual and group intervention, as well as a variety of assessments.
Therapeutic approaches: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, while using a strengths-based focus.
Special Interests: Listening to podcasts, reading, attending exhibitions, and spending time with family and friends.
Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English & Arabic
Work Days: Tuesday and Wednesday at the Yarra Junction clinic.
Trevor – Psychologist (Provisional)
Qualifications: Graduate Diploma in Psychological Science; Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours); Masters of Professional Psychology; Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core)
Background: Trevor has a diverse history of experiences to draw upon. These include engineering, military, defense department, palliative care, residential youth work, Lifeline, & working with horses.
Clients: Trevor works with clients across the lifespan and from different backgrounds, for a variety of presenting concerns. He provides individual and group intervention, as well as a variety of assessments.
Therapeutic approaches: Humanistic approach, Interpersonal Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, & psychoeducation.
Special Interests: Singing, Tailoring, Classical Music. When not at work, Trevor is often spending time outdoors, or enjoying creative pursuits.
Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English
Work Days: Monday to Friday, across both our Warragul and Yarra Junction clinics, as well as doing mobile sessions in the community.
Jennifer – Psychologist (Provisional)
Qualifications: Post Graduate Diploma in Human Factors; Masters Professional Psychology; Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core)
Background: Jen has always been interested in philosophy and psychology, and how people understand and navigate their unique experiences. Jen likes the idea that we all have our own beliefs, values, and perceptions that shape the way we learn and share knowledge to develop a sense of meaning. Jen pursued this interest of psychology as a career change, after 15 years working as a chef.
Clients: Jen works with clients across the lifespan, particularly enjoying work with adolescents and the LQBTQIA+ community. She engages in both psychoeducational assessments as well as individual and group intervention.
Therapeutic approaches: person centred and collaborative, holistic, strengths and resilience based, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and mindfulness.
Special Interests: Music, Art, Cooking. If not at work, Jen is most likely playing the guitar or piano, painting while listening to music, cooking for family and friends, or playing with her dogs.
Pronouns: she / her
Languages: English
Work Days: Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday, at our Warragul and Yarra Junction clinics.
Madeleine – Psychologist (Provisional)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Psychological Science; Graduate Diploma in Psychological Science; Masters of Educational & Developmental Psychology (candidate)
Background: Madeleine has worked for the past 5 years with children, young people and their families who have experienced trauma. During this time Madeleine has worked in a range of settings including schools and youth residential care, and supported children with neurodiversity. Madeleine has a special interest in trauma-informed practice and has completed research alongside her studies in youth peer interactions and trauma-informed practice with kinship carers.
Clients: Madeleine works with clients across the lifespan, and enjoys working with children, young people and their families from different backgrounds. Madeleine provides a variety of assessments, as well as individual and group interventions.
Therapeutic approaches: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, while using a strengths based approach.
Special Interests: Madeleine enjoys listening to music, reading, travelling and spending time outdoors on the weekend.
Pronouns: she / her
Languages: English
Work Days: Thursday and Friday at our Yarra Junction clinics and community.
Natali – Psychologist (Provisional)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Psychology (Honours); Master of Education (Educational Psychology); Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core)
Background: Natali has experience in working with children, adolescents and families dealing with diverse psychological, social, and educational difficulties. She has provided training and therapeutic services for individuals with disabilities, developing tailored positive behaviour support strategies to enhance their quality of life. Natali has provided psychological assessments and interventions for individuals across the lifespan experiencing challenges such as depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Clients: Natali collaborates with individuals of all ages and diverse backgrounds, addressing a wider range of challenges. She offers personalised and group support, along with a range of assessments, and Positive Behaviour Support, with capacity to develop Behaviour Support Plans and provide training under the NDIS framework.
Therapeutic approaches: Natali uses a client centred therapeutic approach, creating a safe and collaborative environment for individuals to navigate and address their unique challenges. Utilising evidence-based techniques like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and psychoeducation, her intervention sessions aim to empower individuals providing the necessary tools and strategies for personal growth and positive change.
Special Interests: Psychology related podcasts and audiobooks, and thriller novels (especially John Katzenbach). When not at work, Natali loves to explore new places, especially in nature, and watch series and movies at home.
Pronouns: she / her
Languages: English & Spanish
Work Days: Monday to Friday across both our Warragul and Yarra Junction clinics, as well as conducting mobile work in the community.
Shalene – Psychologist (Provisional)
Qualifications: State Enrolled Nurse; Bachelor of Science (Psychology); Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours); Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology and Doctor of Philosophy (Candidate).
Background: Shalene has experience working in healthcare, adult education and health reform, working with diverse demographics and a range of age groups. During her study, she has had additional experience working with children and the elderly and Aboriginal populations.
Clients: Shalene works with clients across the lifespan, providing group and individual intervention as well as psychometric assessment.
Therapeutic approaches: Shalene uses a client centred therapeutic approach, favouring evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Positive Psychology, and psychoeducation. Her intervention approach aims to support individuals to make empowered choices, build resilience, and manage change.
Special Interests: Psychology related literature, indoor and outdoor gardening, painting, science fiction media, cooking and food-sustainability.
Pronouns: she / her
Languages: English
Work Days: Wednesday and Friday at our Warragul clinic.
Ruben - Psychologist
Qualifications: Five Years Bachelor of Science in Psychology; Graduate Diploma in Culture of Peace and International Humanitarian Law; Master of Clinical Psychology (Candidate); Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core)
Background: Ruben’s background is marked by a diverse history of experiences both within and outside the field of psychology. These experiences involve working with survivors and victims of war, human rights violations, prevention of sexual abuse and domestic violence, working in schools, Human Resources, and supporting asylum seekers. Beyond the field of psychology, Ruben has worked in hospitality, leisure, and logistics.
Clients: Ruben works with clients from the age of 5 and across the lifespan and from different backgrounds, for a variety of presenting concerns. He provides individual and group intervention, as well as a variety of assessments. Ruben’s interest in the field of psychology include Neurodiversity (e.g. Autism, ADHD), Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma.
Therapeutic approaches: Humanistic Psychology, including Gestalt Therapy and Client-Centred therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, & Psychoeducation.
Special Interests: Hiking, basketball, snorkelling and diving, travelling, cycling, languages, cooking, video games, music, and learning about sustainability. When not at work, Ruben often spends time outdoors in the country or in the water sighting the sealife.
Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English & Spanish
Work Days: Monday to Friday, across both our Warragul and Yarra Junction clinics, as well as doing mobile sessions in the community.
Kaitlyn – Psychologist
Qualifications: Masters Professional Psychology; Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core)
Background: Kaitlyn has been with the Strong Minds team since 2021 and completed her internship in 2023. She comes from a background of working with young people experiencing difficulties with their mental health, including school stressors, anxiety and depression.
Clients: Kaitlyn works with clients across the lifespan, and feels strongly about building mental health and wellbeing in the community. She engages in a variety of psychoeducational assessments as well as individual and group intervention.
Therapeutic approaches: strengths based, person centred approach, drawing on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and psychoeducation.
Special Interests: In her spare time, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her dogs, her friends, and in the great outdoors.
Pronouns: she / her
Languages: English
Work Days: Tuesday/Thursday/Friday, across both our Warragul and Yarra Junction clinics, and mobile sessions in the West Gippsland community.
Holly – Educational & Developmental Psychologist
Qualifications: Bachelor of Psychological Sciences, Graduate Diploma Psychology, Masters of Educational & Developmental Psychology; Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core)
Background: Holly joined the Strong Minds team in 2019 to complete her university placement, and has continued on with us since obtaining full registration. Holly has a background in behaviour and mental health support for neurodiverse children in an early intervention setting, alongside completing research throughout her studies in the areas of Autism and experiences of LGBTQIA+ in high school.
Clients: Holly works with children, adolescents and adults across the lifespan. She supports a variety of clients through assessment, individual and group intervention and Positive Behaviour Support, with capacity to develop Behaviour Support Plans and provide training under the NDIS framework. Holly is part of the “Project A” team at Strong Minds, a multifaceted program aiming to support autistic female and non-binary individuals through individual assessment, intervention, community education and support groups.
Therapeutic approaches: Collaborative and compassionate. Holly aims to ensure that the individuals and groups she works with feel that their interests and goals are the forefront of all intervention and assessments.
Special Interests: In her spare time, Holly enjoys running, ballroom dancing, travelling and music.
Pronouns: she / her
Languages: English
Work Days: Monday to Friday, across both our Warragul and Yarra Junction clinics, and mobile sessions in the Yarra Ranges community.
Toby – Counselling Psychologist, Registered Supervisor
Qualifications: Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology); Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology; Masters of Psychology (Counselling); Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core)
Background: Toby is a registered Counselling Psychologist and board-approved supervisor who has been practising since 2011. Toby previously worked concurrently across two roles – balancing clinical work at Strong Minds and academic work at Swinburne university, where he was involved in various psychology subjects across undergraduate and post-graduate courses. More recently, Toby made the decision to leave academia to focus solely on client work and supervision of provisional and early career psychologists. Toby previously worked as a psychologist in various primary schools in the Yarra Valley.
Clients: Toby works with clients across the lifespan, from young children up to older adults across a variety of presenting areas. Areas of therapeutic focus include mood/emotions (e.g. anxiety / depression), neurodiversity (e.g. Autism, ADHD), general childhood development, parenting, personality, and more. He provides individual and group intervention, as well as a variety of assessments.
Therapeutic approaches: Mindfulness, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Buddhist Psychology, person-centred, DBT, & psychoeducation.
Special Interests: Mindfulness, neurodevelopmental differences.
Pronouns: he/him
Languages: English
Work Days: Monday to Friday, across both our Warragul and Yarra Junction clinics.
Lisa – Director, Educational & Developmental Psychologist, Registered Supervisor
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) (Psychology); Masters of Psychology (Educational & Developmental); Behaviour Support Practitioner (Proficient)
Background: Lisa is a registered Educational & Developmental Psychologist and board-approved supervisor who has been practising since 2008. Lisa started the Strong Minds Psychology journey in 2010 after working for the Department of Education in primary and secondary schools. Lisa has loved meeting and welcoming clinicians and customer service team members from all different backgrounds who display the same energy and care for our communities that she has believed in from the beginning of her career.
Clients: Lisa works with the the team to support the development of individuals and families navigating the diagnostic roller-coaster, providing support and advocacy with a focus on inclusion. Skills are developed to provide assessments, counselling and intervention – helping with emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, grief & loss, social interactions, anger management, neurodiversity, environmental modifications, and transitions across the lifespan.
Therapeutic approaches: Positive Behaviour Support, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, mindfulness, psychoeducation. Lisa thrives on working in a team approach, creating positive support networks for children and adults.
Special Interests: When not working with the SMP team, Lisa enjoys being active, getting outside, spending time with friends and family, and cheering on the AFL and AFLW demons at the MCG and Casey Fields.
Pronouns: she/her
Languages: English
Work Days: Tuesday at the Yarra Junction clinics for client work, & all other days for supporting the wider Strong Minds team & community.