Our Team

Alikki Russell

Director, Registered Psychologist & Trainer
Newcastle West

Alikki is the Director of The Hummingbird Centre. With over 16 years’ experience as a Psychologist, Alikki has opened and operated six private multidisciplinary mental health clinics. Alikki is dedicated to providing mental health services that improve our clients' lives by ensuring The Hummingbird Centre provides excellent training and support to team members. 

Alikki is committed to creating a world where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive. Dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of others, she is particularly passionate about working with trauma and helping those affected by it. She does this by working closely with clients and their families, or the health professionals and organisations that support them. 

Alikki is clinically trained in a range of trauma-informed approaches and is accredited in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, certified in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) and Board-certified in Neurofeedback treatment and mentoring. Alikki has served as President of the Board of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) and is a trainer in Neurofeedback for Complex Trauma.

Alikki has trained extensively with international experts, including Dr Bruce Perry, Sebern Fisher and Kathy Steele, and is an accomplished presenter, providing training on a range of mental health, trauma and attachment-based topics at conferences in Australia and the USA.

Alikki is not only committed to the prevention of Complex Developmental Trauma, but also to fixing the system that surrounds it, so clinicians and organisations can better support their clients. This, in turn, will help improve the lives of the many people who are affected by traumatic experiences.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change we seek.

- Barack Obama

Megan Pumpa

Clinical Psychologist
Newcastle West

Megan is a warm and empathic clinical psychologist. She aims to understand each of her clients as unique individuals, to provide a tailored and client-centred approach to their therapy. She is experienced in assisting adolescents, adults, and older adults with a range of mental health concerns, including stress, mood, borderline personality, and post-traumatic stress disorders. She has a special interest in the treatment of anxiety; particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalised anxiety disorder.

Megan emphasises creating a safe and supportive environment to enable clients to explore their difficulties in a productive way, and to help them achieve their therapeutic goals. She is skilled in providing evidence-based psychological treatments including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and schema therapy.

Megan is also a board approved supervisor who enjoys providing supervision to provisional psychologists completing their internship program and to psychologists completing the clinical registrar program.

Get out of your mind and into your life.

- Steven Hayes

Joelle Clark

Registered Psychologist

Joelle Clark is a Registered Psychologist who has a warm and welcoming approach with her clients. Joelle is skilled in working with a range of mental health conditions such Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, complex family trauma, anxiety, mood disorders, stress, anger, grief, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, among other presentations.

Since becoming a mother herself, Joelle has developed a specialised interest in supporting individuals and couples who are embarking on their parenting journey; whether they are planning to become parents, already pregnant, transitioning to new parenthood or further expanding their family. Joelle is also passionate about providing sensitive support to those who have experienced fertility challenges or pregnancy or infant loss. Joelle has experienced both the joys and challenges of the perinatal period and feels blessed to walk beside and empower clients throughout this significant journey.

Joelle’s approach is holistic, and her main treatment modalities are Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and trauma focussed interventions such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. With her clients she will create the most appropriate treatment plan based on their individual goals and needs.

Above all, Joelle values creating a strong therapeutic relationship that promotes a sense of connection and safety to set the foundation for successful clinical outcomes. She feels privileged to participate in this unique process with her clients as they work on healing past wounds, engaging more mindfully in the present and moving towards a more fulfilled and enriched future.

Being able to feel safe with people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives.

- Bessel A. van der Kolk

Karen Bell-Weinberg

Clinical Psychologist
Broadmeadow

Karen ensures a personalised and client-focused approach incorporating each client's input into their treatment plan. This provides a warm, inclusive environment where her clients feel heard, valued and supported. She is down-to-earth, intelligent and intuitive and offers a range of evidence-based treatment options, including CBT, DBT, EMDR, and RO-DBT. Karen treats a range of mental health concerns, including complex presentations providing real depth of experience and qualifications. She is an endorsed clinical psychologist with master’s degrees in clinical psychology and human resources management. She is a member of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA) and a fellow of the APS Clinical College.

Smile, breathe and go slowly.

- Thích Nhất Hạnh

Mitch Pinchbeck

Registered Psychologist
All locations

Mitch is passionate and dedicated in assisting his clients to resolve or better manage their mental health conditions, intense emotions, and life difficulties. Mitch supports clients through a collaborative approach by developing a strong therapeutic relationship and sensitively assisting individuals with their presenting difficulties. Mitch focuses on destigmatising mental health conditions through the provision of education and skill building while minimizing distress.

Mitch is skilled in administering Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT/RO-DBT), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution Focused interventions (SFT); and administering the following assessments from individuals 7-years and older (ADHD, Personality, Cognitive, Skills, Occupational, Mini-Mental Status Examinations, Trauma focused and Dissociation).

Mitch works across the lifespan from children (7+) through to older adults. While Mitch’s primary area of interests are aligned with treating trauma (Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, Dissociation) and maladaptive coping, he frequently works with individuals experiencing anxiety (Generalised, Social, Panic, Obsessive Compulsive), mood disorders (Depression, Bi-Polar, Complicated Grievance), neurological disorders (ASD, ADHD, Intellectual Disability), psychotic disorders (Psychosis and Schizophrenia), and addiction (sexual behaviours, substance).

Mitch also has extensive experience in Occupational Psychology, working with current and past Members of the Australian Defence Force, and, elite athletes.

Mitch completed his two Graduate Diplomas at The University of Newcastle and the Australian College of Applied Psychology. He completed his Bachelor degree in the United States. Mitchell is an associate member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.

- Brene Brown/span>

Paula Bridge

Registered Psychologist
Broadmeadow

Paula is a Registered Psychologist who provides a warm, safe and nurturing space to connect with her clients. Paula focuses on developing a strong therapeutic relationship with her clients so that clients feel heard, validated and supported. Paula’s passion is working with children, adolescents and their families to support them to work through emotional regulation difficulties, anxiety and depression, school refusal, grief and loss, low self-esteem and trauma. Paula also enjoys working with children and young people who are Autistic and/or have ADHD. She is also a LGBTQIA+ ally.

Paula is committed to providing a holistic approach to therapy to promote well-being and empower clients to achieve their goals. Paula uses a number of therapeutic interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Play therapy.

Before graduating with a Masters of Professional Psychology in 2020, Paula worked with children and young people across different areas including working with educators of Preschools and Long Day Care Centres and supporting children to build resilience and belief in themselves in after school activities.

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

- Oscar Wilde

Aurora Sacchetti

Registered Psychologist
Broadmeadow

Aurora has extensive experience working as a psychologist in education, including in leadership, and in private practice working with people across the lifespan. Aurora has worked with adults, adolescents, and children who have experienced significant trauma and a range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, OCD, grief and loss, adjustment issues, and family and relationship difficulties.

Aurora is committed to providing a holistic and solution-focused approach to promote wellbeing and empower clients to achieve their goals. Aurora utilises a number of therapeutic interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Informed, Motivational interviewing, and family-based practices.

Aurora is an AHPRA approved supervisor and has supervised several provisional psychologists to obtain registration with AHPRA.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

- Lao Tzu

Cinthia Galvez

Registered Psychologist
Broadmeadow

Cinthia is a registered Psychologist who has a warm, empathetic, and caring approach with her clients. She is passionate about helping people to develop strategies to cope effectively with life challenges, build resilience, and improve emotional well-being. She adopts a compassionate, collaborative, and person centred approach in therapy with the aim to develop a strong therapeutic alliance. Cinthia strives to create a psychologically safe environment for her clients to discuss their difficulties and ultimately create meaningful change.

Cinthia graduated from the University of Newcastle and has worked in the non-profit sector supporting adults experiencing mental health conditions including stress, anxiety and depression. During her studies, she spent several years volunteering across organisations in Newcastle including James Fletcher Hospital and the Calvary Mater Hospital. Cinthia strives to deliver evidence-based interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-focused Therapy (SFT), EMDR and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).

Be kind to yourself, to others, and everything around you.

- Alexandro a Stoddard

Dr Tim Regan

Clinical Psychologist
Broadmeadow

Tim is a warm and friendly Clinical Psychologist with experience in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. Tim emphasises the therapeutic alliance and utilises Motivational Interviewing strategies to develop a collaborative approach to improving mental health. Tim has experience and training in providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Tim enjoys working a with range of mental health disorders, including anxiety and mood disorders, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma, substance use disorders, behavioural issues including Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), psycho-oncology and other chronic or ongoing health conditions. Tim has a PhD and a research background in psycho-oncology, mental health, and health behaviour.

Tim is a AHPRA approved supervisor who is able to supervise Clinical Psychology Registrars and 5+1 Provisional Psychologists.

It's chaos, be kind.

- Michelle McNamara

Tanayah Tooze

Registered Psychologist
Newcastle West

Tanayah is passionate about helping young people grow resilience, connect to, and regulate their emotions, build self-esteem, and overcome difficulties, including healing from complex and traumatic experiences. Tanayah also enjoys working across the lifespan with children, adolescents, their families, and adults. Prior to embarking on her career in psychology, Tanayah spent several years mentoring and supporting young women in a high-school arts and wellbeing program. She has also worked closely with John Hunter Children’s Hospital, supporting children and their families during difficult times.

Tanayah is warm and compassionate with her therapy style, holding space and a commitment to the healing and ambitions of those she works with. While taking on a holistic approach, Tanayah’s main therapeutic modalities include: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Neurofeedback and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Tanayah also has a keen interest in incorporating creativity with those she works with through art and play therapy techniques. Tanayah is passionate about helping children and adults to feel a sense of calm and control, to achieve their goals and to live rich and meaningful lives.

At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.

- Frida Kahlo

Nina Booysen

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Newcastle West

Nina is a Mental Health Social Worker, Couples Counsellor and accredited Clinical Psychosexual Therapist with 12 years' experience. She prides herself in using evidence-based techniques to help clients delve into their issues, adjusting unhelpful beliefs and behaviours. She takes a holistic approach helping you decide on the tools and strategies you need to move forward.

Nina attends to clients who seek assistance for:

• Psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, trauma and stress
• Sexual dysfunction such as erectile problems, premature ejaculation, low libido/ sexual desire, sexual pain, inhibited ejaculation, sexual/porn addiction, orgasm issues and more
• Relationship counselling for issues such as infidelity, mismatched libido or low desire, negotiating intimacy after chronic illness, reigniting sexual and emotional intimacy and other issues experienced in relationships

She provides a non-judgmental environment open to all and understands the sensitive nature of the topics requiring respect and dignity.

Remove the "I want you to like me" sticker from your forehead and place it on the mirror, where it belongs.

- Susan Jeffers

Amelia (Amy) Alker

Registered Psychologist
Newcastle

Amelia is a kind and understanding psychologist who engages in a holistic, person-centered approach that focusses on helping you build the skills to overcome life's challenges as they arise. Amelia enjoys working across the lifespan, with particular interest in working with adolescents and adults.

Amelia has experience in working with a range of presenting concerns including anxiety, depression, social and emotional difficulties, career counselling and adjustment difficulties. She likes to take on a collaborative approach that empowers clients to implement helpful, long-lasting changes to your life, leaving clients with lifelong skills to continue applying on their journey.

It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.

- Confucius

Danyelle Mastroianni

Registered Psychologist
Broadmeadow

Danyelle is passionate about helping clients discover their authentic sense of self-understanding, self-compassion and self-acceptance through the safety of the therapeutic relationship. Danyelle has worked with a range of presentations including anxiety, depression, PTSD/C-PTSD and trauma-related symptoms, and enjoys working with therapies including EMDR, TF-ACT and attachment-based modalities. Danyelle is also passionate about supporting clients with the effects of shame and stigma on emotional well-being and practices therapy from an inclusive, weight-neutral standpoint. Outside of work, Danyelle enjoys spending time in nature, listening to too many podcasts and practicing self-connection through meditation, intuitive eating and joyful movement. These practices help keep her calm and centred during her fiercely competitive chosen sport of pub trivia.

The healer you have been looking for is your own courage to know and love yourself completely.

- YungPueblo

Nimra Bilgrami

Clinical Psychologist
Warners Bay

Nimra Bilgrami is a Clinical Psychologist who has experience in supporting children, adolescents and adults presenting with a variety of concerns. She provides a trauma informed service within an evidence-based treatment model. Nimra is trained in various therapeutic models, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). In addition to this, Nimra also provides assessment services for intellectual ability, functional skills, learning difficulties, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nimra is a warm and friendly clinician that believes in a strengths-based approach aimed at supporting the individual needs of her clients.

The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.

- Carl Rogers

Ellen Browning

Registered Psychologist
Newcastle West

Ellen is an authentic and compassionate Psychologist, who understands there is no such thing as a ‘cookie cutter’ approach to therapy. She values working collaboratively with her clients to support a holistic approach to building a more meaningful and fulfilling lifestyle.

Her experience has predominately focused around assisting people in developing motivation, confidence, resilience, and quality of life through tailored intervention.

She has worked with a range of clinical presentations, in-particular depression, anxiety, substance abuse, work stress and vocational assessments, grief and loss, interpersonal and relationship difficulties, and those undergoing acute hardship.

Ellen is an associated member of the Australian Psychological Society with a passion for clinical quality and professional development.

Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey.

- Roy T. Bennett

Victoria Headon

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Newcastle West

Victoria is a mental health accredited social worker with 20 years of clinical and leadership experience. Her warm and engaging manner will help you feel safe and allow you to talk about whatever it is that has brought you to us.

Victoria has practiced in many settings including mental health, alcohol and other drugs, sexual health, sexual assault services and within the legal system. Victoria is excited to be able to bring all of this together to give you the best possible experience of therapy.

No two people are the same and therefore every session is tailored to meet your needs. Victoria is trained in a range of evidence based therapies including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy), ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy), EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing), motivational interviewing and skills training. She has a particular interest in helping people resolve underlying trauma and reduce the distress associated with traumatic memories.

You can expect to leave a session with Victoria feeling heard, understood and with some new strategies to try. And just by reading this, you have already taken that first step towards feeling better!

Be who you are and say what you feel, because in the end those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter.

- Dr Seuss

Kim Bullock

Education Specialist
Newcastle West

Kim is an energetic and enthusiastic part of our multidisciplinary team. A passionate teacher and lifelong learner, Kim’s life purpose is to provide a family centred approach to help children love learning, and help them reach their academic and wellbeing potential. Kim holds a Masters of Education and draws on her broad knowledge base to provide evidence-based solutions to support clients understand and navigate the distinct education hurdles faced by neurodiverse individuals.

Kim has worked in the United States, as part of her professional training, with renowned psychologist Dr Linda Silverman PhD. As a result of that incredible opportunity, Kim specialises in educational options beyond diagnosis for a variety of presentations, including ASD, ADHD, intellectual disability, giftedness, twice exceptionality (giftedness with a learning challenge) and executive functioning challenges.

When not at the Hummingbird Centre, Kim teaches Music, Dance and Drama, at a primary school, delivers professional learning to teachers, teaches enrichment courses at the University of NSW and plays Pickleball like her life depends on it.

Whether you think you can, or you think you cant…. you’re right.

- Henry Ford

Kimberly Noye

Registered Psychologist
Newcastle & Warners Bay

Kim is a warm-hearted psychologist who emphasises the importance of self–compassion and acceptance in her practice. She is passionate about supporting people to increase their self-understanding and to cultivate a deep connection with themselves and others. She believes this is key to living a life with rich meaning.

Kim uses attachment theory to center her practice; working with adults, children and carers to strengthen emotional bonds, develop an integrated and positive sense of self, overcome problems and work towards their goals. Kim has experience working with a range of presenting problems such as anxiety, depression, attachment issues, developmental trauma, selective mutism, parenting challenges, behavioral difficulties, and developmental disorders.

Kim brings a holistic approach to evidence-based practice, incorporating elements from a variety of modalities. She is also trained in a range of assessments including cognitive, behavioral, and developmental; and is a Circle of Security trained facilitator.

Kim recently embarked on her journey of motherhood and can often be found rollerblading behind the pram, paddling at the beach, dancing around her living room, and taking slow mindful walks through local pockets of nature with her family.

We may not be responsible for the world that created our minds, but we can take responsibility for the mind with which we create our world.

- Gabor Mate

Kaz Amos

Registered Psychologist
Broadmeadow

Kaz enjoys providing evidence-based mental health treatments to a broad range people within our community. Before completing her studies in psychology, Kaz Amos spent the past two decades in various organisations primarily supporting people in her role as a Counsellor. She has been effective in helping people address past trauma, grief and loss, depression and anxiety, domestic abuse and relationship changes. Her broad knowledge base is built from studying social science, business management, leadership, fitness and psychology.

Appreciating that reaching out for help can be one of the hardest decisions to make, Kaz has learnt to apply her professional knowledge with clients in a gentle manner, with wholehearted individualised approach. Both her personal and professional experience has taught her that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ when it comes to working with people. Her therapeutic toolkit is still expanding, but for now, it includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Neuropsychotherapy and mindfulness practices. Kaz’s experience in fitness has helped people actively face their challenges using walk and talk therapy, inviting nature and the outdoors to be a part of the healing process.

Kaz is committed to the therapeutic alliance and understands its importance for clients and their positive treatment outcomes.

You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf.

- Jon Kabat-Zinn

Dr Aaron Simpson

Clinical Psychologist
Telehealth Only

Aaron is a Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years training and experience. Aaron holds a Doctorate in Clinical psychology. He has also worked in senior leadership roles in both the private and not-for-profit sectors.

Aaron enjoys working alongside adults experiencing a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, co-existing mental health and substance use problems, posttraumatic stress disorder, adjustment to change, work related stress, and hoarding disorder. He is skilled in a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioural therapy, schema-focussed cognitive therapy, acceotance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic counselling.

Aaron is a warm and personable therapist, and is committed to helping people achieve their goals. Aaron is a Member of the Australian Psychology Society and Medicare accredited.

In a world where you can be anything, be kind

- Charlie Brown

Ashleigh Fitzgerald

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Warners Bay

Ashleigh is a highly experienced mental health Social Worker, who's passion is in the area of perinatal mental health, including antenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression and grief and loss surrounding stillbirth and miscarriage. Supporting families through these tough times in their lives is crucial. Ashleigh has worked within NSW health in inpatient and community teams in this area for many years. Ashleigh believes in providing holistic treatment to families with a mental health and attachment focus on relationships between parents and children.

Ashleigh fits extremely well into the Hummingbird team due to her warm and friendly personality and passion and commitment to her clients.

Don't dilute yourself for any person or any reason. You are enough! Be unapologetically you.

- Dr Steve Maraboli

Courtney Roughan

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Newcastle West

Courtney is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has over ten years clinical experience working in the public mental health sector in Australia and the UK. Courtney has specialised in working with children, adolescents and their families and also works with adults.

Courtney provides therapy for a variety of presenting issues including mood disorders, difficulties in managing emotions, adjustment difficulties, anxiety, eating disorders, developmental trauma and suicidality/self-harm. She also is able to provide support with parenting and family difficulties.

Courtney has completed training in evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) and has a particular interest in mindfulness-based therapies, including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Courtney has a strong belief in developing a genuine and effective therapeutic relationship within a strength based and collaborative approach, ensuring that people and their families are able to work towards achieving their goals.

A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life.

- Christopher K. Germer

Dr Lindsay Gale

Adult Psychiatrist
Books closed for 2024

Dr Lindsay Gale completed her medical degree at the University of Newcastle in 2007. She trained as a specialist psychiatrist in hospitals in Sydney and Newcastle, completing her Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in 2017.

Lindsay has established public perinatal clinics in Newcastle and Maitland and has experience in providing assessment and care for women experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties in pregnancy and the postnatal period. While this often includes helping women to understand and make decisions about medications during pregnancy, Lindsay takes a holistic approach which prioritises individual goals and values, with a recovery and attachment-based orientation.

Lindsay is currently accepting referrals for women who are planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, and up to 24 months post-partum including following pregnancy loss. Lindsay is also accepting referrals for adult eating disorders, or adults with an existing ADHD diagnosis.

All theory, dear friend, is grey, but the golden tree of actual life springs ever green.

- Goethe

Sarah Coleman

Registered Psychologist
Warners Bay

Sarah is a friendly and empathic registered psychologist with experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families. She offers a person-centred approach, tailoring strategies around what works best for the client in a strengths-based setting. Whether it is expressing oneself through talk therapy, play or a creative/artistic approach, Sarah offers flexibility in her therapeutic style. Sarah knows it is important to create a safe and supportive space to promote connection and foster the therapeutic relationship.

Sarah’s experience involves working with people experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, low self-esteem, anger concerns and disordered eating. She is also able to provide support to families and carers in healthy attachment and emotional intelligence. She uses a variety of therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing and Narrative Therapy.

Sarah is passionate in working with children, adolescents, adults and families towards their goal to improve their lives in a meaningful way.

When it rains look for rainbows, When its dark look for stars.

- Oscar Wilde

Margaret Conaghan

Registered Psychologist
Newcastle West

Margaret is a registered psychologist who has experience supporting people who present with a variety of concerns including stress management and anxiety.

Margaret has a collaborative and warm approach to the client-practitioner therapeutic alliance, which provides a calm and safe space, for the client. She meets you where you are emotionally allowing you the time to heal, whilst working with you using evidence-based psychological tools and strategies such as CBT and solution focused therapy.

Margaret’s interest area is the link between healthy lifestyle choices, including a healthy gut microbiome, and optimal mental health.

Identify your problems but give your power and energy to solutions.

-Anonymous

Angie Yashchuk

Registered Psychologist
Newcastle & Warners Bay

Angie is a dedicated and caring psychologist with a passion for working with diverse clients across the lifespan. She believes that nobody’s needs are 'too complex' or 'beyond help.' Angie strives to see strengths, courage, and opportunities in everyone. She establishes a warm and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment with her clients, where they feel empowered to explore their stories, thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Angie places a strong emphasis on respecting clients’ autonomy, values, and worldview.

With experience working with a variety of presentations, including depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, and personality disorders, Angie provides trauma-informed evidence-based interventions. She enjoys working with diverse populations, including LGBTQIA+, First Nations people, and the CALD community.

The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.

-Carl Rogers

Naomi Dennett

Registered Psychologist
Newcastle & Warners Bay

Naomi is a empathetic, passionate and enthusiastic registered psychologist with 7 years’ experience working across the lifespan including, children, adolescence and adults. Naomi likes to provide a safe, warm, unintimidating, open and positive space for people to work on skills, their social relationships, emotional regulation and better understanding themselves. Naomi is experienced in working with clients with or exploring the possibility of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, chronic pain, personality disorders, learning disorders, trauma and behavioural difficulties amnong others. She has experience using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectal Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Therapy along with play based and trauma informed therapies. She is also passionate about working with the family to provide a fantastic team environment to achieve the most optimum outcomes for the client.

Naomi aims to provide her clients sessions where they can feel validated in their emotions and experiences while also being shown other perspectives and being provided practical, usable and individualised techniques and tools to take into the outside world!

Believe you can and you’re halfway there.

-Theodore Roosevelt

Helen Nicholas

Registered Psychologist
Newcastle West

Helen is a warm and compassionate registered psychologist who enjoys working collaboratively with her clients. She provides a safe and supportive space to navigate life’s challenges, offering therapeutic support tailored to each individual’s needs.

Helen works with a variety of presentations, including anxiety and mood disorders, attachment difficulties, developmental trauma, caregiver challenges, behavioural difficulties, and developmental disorders.

Using a person-centred approach, Helen assists clients in achieving their therapeutic goals by supporting them to access their intrinsic abilities to live rich and meaningful lives. She has experience in providing cognitive-behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, neurofeedback therapy, and play therapy techniques.

Helen is trained in a range of evidence-based psychological assessments, including cognitive, behavioural, and developmental assessments, and is a Circle of Security trained facilitator.

The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.

- Carl Rogers

Deborah Costa

Registered Psychologist, 
Psychology Training Provider
(Books closed)

Deborah has expertise in trauma informed systems, techniques and treatments within education settings. Deborah was awarded the 2017 NSW Premier's Scholarship and travelled throughout the USA and UK researching whole of school reparative and resilience projects for addressing the needs of traumatised students in schools. Deborah has specialist qualifications from the Trauma Center at JRI in Boston, extensive knowledge and experience and is a recognised leader in the field.

Deborah regularly presents to education and health audiences at local, state and national level conferences and forums and delivers directly to schools.

Fire can warm or consume, water can quench or drown, wind can caress or cut. And so it is with human relationships; we can both create and destroy, nurture and terrorize, traumatize and heal each other. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love.

- Dr Bruce D. Perry

Alison Gosling

Registered Psychologist
(Maternity Leave)
Newcastle West

Alison's interest in psychology stems from a love of understanding how things work. The knowledge of how the brain and body support each other fascinates her and has led to a special interest in the effects of food and nutrition on mental health.

Alison has a passion for supporting parents in the perinatal period. She works with an attachment-based parenting approach to encourage positive ongoing relationships. As a mum of a young child herself, Alison is brimming with empathy over the many struggles and joys that this time often brings.

Alison has experience and training in working with a diverse range of people and welcomes people to embrace their true and authentic selves, whoever that might be.

Her warm, friendly personality allows people from all walks of life to build trust and feel comfortable in her presence and in her skills. In addition, Alison enjoys working collaboratively with other professionals to provide the best holistic outcomes.

You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So.... get on your way!

- Dr Suess

Renee Morrison

Clinical Psychologist
(Maternity Leave)

Renee is committed to fostering a calm, open-minded and compassion driven atmosphere to create a safe therapeutic space. Renee has experience working across the lifespan and is passionate about helping people improve their mental health, relationships and quality of life. Renee's background is both in private practice and hospital-based settings (acute mental health). She has also facilitated a range of therapeutic group programs focusing on depression and anxiety management, addiction recovery and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder. Renee understands the effectiveness of therapy is strongly connected to the quality of the relationship between a client and their therapist. Therefore, her therapeutic style emphasises collaboration and creating an individualised approach to achieve valued change, develop more effective coping skills, and build a meaningful life.

Renee is trained in various evidence-based therapeutic models, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy.

Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.

- Dr. Seuss