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)
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
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)
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 telehealth consultations only, both video link and phone.
Shane DuPreez
Provisional Psychologist
Shane is a provisional psychologist.
Shane has a keen interest in working in a supportive manner with people of all ages, and from diverse cultures. Specific interests include anxiety, depression, trauma and developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Shane is especially passionate about working alongside non-human therapists, and leveraging the benefits of exposure to natural environments, in facilitating an holistic approach to a person’s well-being.
Meera Swaminathan
Provisional Psychologist
Meera believes that it is a privilege for mental health workers to be able to work with people at their most vulnerable. She favours a holistic and person-focused approach to therapy in which she collaborates with clients to improve their mental health and wellbeing as a whole. To facilitate this, Meera draws on evidence-based techniques from a range of psychotherapeutic frameworks, with particular interest in existential psychotherapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Meera draws on her experience working in the disability sector as well as her academic training in psychology to better understand the experiences of clients who live with a disability and to tailor treatment to suit their needs. Meera also emphasises the educative element of psychotherapy, aiming to empower clients by helping them to better understand themselves and their minds.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies
Professional memberships: APS
Melisa Sincock
Counsellor & Therapy Group Coordinator
Melisa brings extensive experience to her role as counsellor and therapy group facilitator, and will be helping us to realise our dream of introducing a range of therapy groups to our wonderful communities in 2021, as well as working with individual clients.
Melisa is a qualified counsellor and has an extensive work background in a variety of fields from aged care to emergency services and the employment industry.
Working with clients catering for their individual needs Melisa works with a variety of therapies including ACT, CBT, mindfulness and Narrative therapies. Melisa has a strong interest in working with elders, emergency service personnel, rural mental health and assisting clients with careers and pathway options.
Qualifications: Master of Counselling, Bachelor of Dementia Care
Professional membership: Australian Counselling Association
Emma Rae
Mental Health Therapy Assistant
Emma will be assisting with providing intake support for new clients, coordinating and co-facilitating therapy groups, providing structured therapy interventions for clients on our waitlist, and providing support and assistance to our other clinicians.
Emma is an occupational therapist with over 6 years’ professional experience working in a range of healthcare settings in Australia and the United Kingdom. She has a passion for supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of those she works with, and is pursuing further study in counselling and mental health in 2021. Emma has a particular interest in the implications that health or life events can have for our sense of identity, and supporting positive identity growth and adaptation.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) (Honours)
Professional Memberships: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA)
Madeleine Scott
Mental Health Therapy Assistant
Madeleine will be assisting with providing intake support for new clients, coordinating and co-facilitating therapy groups, providing structured therapy interventions for clients on our waitlist, and providing support and assistance to our other clinicians.
Madeleine is a registered nurse who has worked in many areas of nursing over her 30 years, with an interest in rural health and aged care.
Over the years she has become increasingly interested in mental health and the ways it affects those in rural areas. Madeleine has developed a holistic and client centred approach to her nursing and focuses on the best outcomes for her clients.
Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in health science, currently studying Mental Health at La Trobe Uni
Sophie Hogan
Personal Assistant to the Director
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
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 telehealth consultations only, both video link and phone.
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 telehealth consultations, both video link and phone.