Team

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 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 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)

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.

Qualifications : Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced.

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

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.

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 has been working as an Occupational Therapist (OT) over the past 8 years in Australia and the UK, and has developed a passion for supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of those she works with.

In Occupational Therapy, the word ‘occupation’ refers to anything we do that occupies our time:

• Showering, getting dressed and brushing our teeth are occupations.
• Cooking a meal is an occupation.
• Hiking up the side of a mountain is an occupation!

Our daily occupations contribute to our sense of identity and purpose in life and have a direct influence on our health and wellbeing. At the heart of Emma’s work as a Mental Health OT, she is interested in the interplay between how our mental health (our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, past experiences and memories, self-confidence) can impact what we do, how we spend our time, and how we see ourselves; and likewise how our daily routines may influence our mental health.

Emma offers a warm, calm and nurturing approach in her practice. Drawing upon a range of counselling, coaching and therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, she works with adolescents and adults across a range of areas including:

• Supporting management and recovery from anxiety and depression, stress or burnout.
• Working with individuals who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, affirming individuality, learning social and communication skills, handling bullying, and developing independent living skills.
• Sensory, emotional and behavioural self-regulation.
• Managing chronic health conditions, fatigue and pain, supporting sleep, facilitating graded return to activity.
• Building self-esteem, self-compassion, spiritual well-being, and learning techniques such as mindfulness strategies or nature-connection to support overall health and function.
• Providing functional capacity assessments and supporting people in requests to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Emma also draws upon a lived experience of recovering from an autoimmune condition and the associated impacts on fatigue and mood, the challenges of set-backs or flare-ups, and emotions that arise when we don’t meet our own expectations. The opportunity to walk alongside others to support them wherever they’re at on their health journey is a privilege.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) (Honours)

Professional Memberships: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA)

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.

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

Karen has lived in the Boort area on a farm for the past 12 years. She and her husband have a native bush block and some sheep in saltbush. They have 4 children and an assortment of quail, chooks, budgies and guinea pigs. Karen loves to sing, dance and act, and worked as an allied health professional before raising her children. She is committed to seeing local communities thrive, and is involved in many sporting groups such as tennis and swimming. She is keen to encourage people to be all they were created to be.

Karen will be available Monday through Friday, 8.30-5, at reception in our Boort office, to greet you as you arrive. She will also be answering your calls, booking and rescheduling appointments for you, and passing on any messages you may have for our clinical team.

Leonie is also in our Boort office, supporting our clients and clinicians in administration.

Leonie moved from Ballarat to Boort in January after marrying a local farmer. She loves getting her hands dirty on the farm. For the last 12 years, Leonie was employed at Loreto College in various roles, mainly admin, HR and marketing. She has 2 gorgeous adult children living in Melbourne and Geelong and a very handsome cavoodle, and loves catching up with family and friends in her spare time.

Karina is a Swan Hill local, born here and raised in the lovely little town of Lake Boga. She is a wife and mother of 3 active boys, and very content raising her family in a quiet country town. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, following her boys in their sports, and loves a good book. She also enjoys taking some time out on beach holidays with her family.

With over 28 years of experience, administration duties is what Karina knows and enjoys, and she is looking forward to meeting all the lovely clients in new role at ALSLP, in our Swan Hill clinic.

Sophie has completed her Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and is currently completing her Master of Professional Psychology. She is passionate about working with people of all ages and presentations, and is eager to gain experience and build on her knowledge in all areas. 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.