About
Our mission is to assist our clients to build vibrant authentic meaningful lives, based on what they value as important.
Our practice model is holistic and considers emotional health and wellbeing in the greater context of movement, nutrition, social connection, sleep, and spirituality.
We are committed to providing a multidisciplinary approach to client care, maintaining (with client consent) excellent communication with GPs and other allied health professionals in order to maximise the mental health and wellbeing outcomes for our clients.
Our highly qualified and experienced team is committed to providing a service which is mindful of and empathic towards the unique needs of rural people, their families, lifestyles and communities.
Clients’ privacy and confidentiality are imperative (Link to confidentiality policy)
Our practice operates from a convenient, rural location. Boort is situated halfway between the larger centres of Swan Hill and Bendigo, with an approximate 30-45 minute proximity to several small communities including Pyramid Hill, Kerang, Quambatook, Wedderburn, Korong Vale, Charlton, Wycheproof, Barham, Cohuna and Inglewood.
Meet The Team
Dr Naomi Malone
Principal Psychologist
Dr Naomi Malone is an experienced counselling psychologist with a strong interest in working with perinatal, elderly, couples, and trauma populations. Through a variety of urban and rural settings, Naomi has developed a holistic, client-centred approach to psychology with a focus on connections between mind, body and lifestyle.
Naomi uses evidence based cognitive behaviour techniques such as ACT, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness, as well as interpersonal psychotherapy and EMDR.
Qualifications : DPsych (counselling), BSc hons (psychology).
Professional memberships: Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS)
U’Nita Harold
Provisional Psychologist
U’Nita is a Provisional Psychologist with a strong interest in health psychology, specifically the connection between the mind, the gut, and the body.
U’Nita, originally from New Zealand, has worked extensively in a holistic based practice, assisting client’s suffering from autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, sleep disruptions, negative body image, and weight management.
During that time U’Nita developed a strong interest in psychoneuroimmunology. Alternatively conceptualised as the way mental health can influence the body’s natural immune response in a manner that is erroneous to health.
U’Nita uses evidence based cognitive behavioural techniques such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness and Intuitive Eating to enable clients of all ages to gain better tools in approaching psychological issues, lifestyle stressors and chronic health diagnoses.
Qualifications: MSc (Psychology), BSc (Psychology)
Professional memberships: Member of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Helena McCalman
Provisional Psychologist
Helena is not (always) flawless, but she has a diamond heart. She is endlessly curious, always hilarious, and gets on yo level stat. Her areas of interest are about as eclectic as she is; children and young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) behavioural interventions, sleep, anxiety, pre and post-op bariatric surgery, and anything LGBT+ related.
Helena has extensive experience engaging meaningfully with people living in rural and remote locations and considers this to be her strongest area of interest and biggest passion.
Helena has over five years’ experience working with children and young people in out-of-home-care and is way tougher than she looks, but please, do not take this as a challenge. Helena enjoys fun facts (the stranger, the better) and, much like Gemma, basking in the sun.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Psychology
Professional memberships: Member of the Australian Psychological Assocation
Monica Dunlop
Provisional Psychologist
Monica is a Provisional Psychologist who draws on a range of evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She believes psycho-education is an important component of change, that provides increased knowledge and understanding of current situations for the client, and to help them move towards their goals.
Monica has a special interest for working with clients needing support with anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders and emotional regulation difficulties.
Monica is also passionate about providing cognitive and adaptive assessments for children, adolescents and adults and provide a summary of findings and intervention plans within compressive reports.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Psychological Science, Graduate Diploma of Psychology
Professional memberships: Member of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Australian Psychological Association (Assoc MAPS)
Kirsty Taylor
Psychologist (Not currently taking new clients)
Kirsty is a registered psychologist with a strong interest in working with individuals experiencing neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism, and their families.
She also thoroughly enjoys working with anxiety presentations. Kirsty uses a systems approach to ensure that her clients are supported and encouraged by those close to them, while using evidence based techniques such as CBT, ACT, DBT, and mindfulness.
Qualifications: BSocSc(Psych), GradDipPsych, MProfPsych
Professional memberships: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), Australian Psychological Society (APS)
Kirsty is available for teleheath consultations, both video link and phone.
Kay Spurling
Psychologist (Not currently taking new clients)
Kay is a registered General Psychologist with a strong interest in addictive behaviours (substance misuse, food, shopping, ect.) and how this interacts with mental health concerns. As well as having extensive experience working with people who experience substance misuse, she is also experienced in supporting people with a family member struggling with these issues.Kay has open and friendly approach to treatment and aims to focus on client strengths from a perspective of positive psychology.
Kay is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Schema Therapy and uses an eclectic approach to treatment to suit the individual needs of her clients.
Qualifications: Masters of Professional Psychology (MPP), Bachelors of Applied Science (Honours)(BAppSc), Bachelors of Behavioural Studies (BBS)
Professional member Australian Psychological Association (MAPS), Registered as a general psychologist with AHPRA.
Kay is available for teleheath consultations only, both video link and phone.
Christine Halden
Psychologist
Christine is a general psychologist with a warm, accepting approach. Christine’s drive to help others manifests into a collaborative therapeutic relationship and her openness to experience leads to radical acceptance and flexibility. She is experienced in rural youth mental health and emphasises the impact that early life decisions and lessons have on the life we live as adults.
Christine provides interventions in trauma, personality disorders, mood disorders, phobias, difficulty engaging in school, work or social life and learned helplessness. With a firm foundation in current research and neurobiological interventions, she brings a tangible take on psychological constructs, using trauma informed cognitive behaviour therapy, motivational interviewing, cognitive analytic therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy.
Christine is available for teleheath consultations only, both video link and phone.
Sophie Hogan
Therapy Assistant
Sophie has completed her Bachelor of Psychology(Honours) and is aiming to start her Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology next year. She is passionate about working with children of all backgrounds and is eager to gain experience and build on her knowledge in this area. Sophie grew up in a small country town, so is passionate about working rurally and about those in rural places accessing the care they need.
May
Halo / Administration
May is part of the professional and compassionate administrative support of Halo Practice Management.
“I have worked in customer service for 7.5 years. I love talking and listening to other people – I may not dance their dances or speak their languages but I always try my best to be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud. I am also a mum to an adorable little girl. I am an old soul who enjoys reading books, playing guitar and gardening during my free time.” -May
Gemma
Therapy Dog
Gemma is our Therapy Dog.
She is on board to help facilitate clients with emotional expression, by creating a calm and soothing environment, responding well to emotions and providing unconditional love.
Gemma loves pats & cuddles. She is available 2 days a week. When she is not at work, you’ll find her basking in the sun, back home on the farm, with her little sister, Pippa.
Qualifications: Foundation Animal-Assisted Interventions & Therapy Dog Certification