Team

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)

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

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.

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

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.

Danni is a Swan Hill local, currently living in Port Macquarie. Danni is grateful to have experience working within the Swan Hill Community. Being a rural lady at heart, she is excited to continue supporting our community through telehealth.

Danni is qualified Social Worker and is very passionate about what she does. Danni believes in, and offers, therapeutic intervention that is strength-based, holistic, and client centred. Danni understands that not one style of support works for everyone and offers a flexible, individualised style of therapy based on the individuals need. She is especially passionate about working with clients to develop emotional regulation skills and supporting them to establish tools and strategies to manage life's inevitable ups and downs.

Danni’s passion continues to grow in her work with neurodivergent children, adolescents and adults. Danni has experience developing and implementing therapeutic group programs, specifically within the neurodivergent community.

Currently, Danni is excited to be pursuing her Mental Health Social Worker Accreditation. A credential that is a highly valued acknowledgement of specialist social work skills and experience in Mental Health.

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Human Services

Masters of Social Work

Professional Memberships:

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

Chris is a general psychologist with a compassionate, active and open approach. Chris is passionate about collaborating with people to make meaningful change in their lives by understanding their unique stories, choices, and concerns in life. Experience and insight are the resources for learning, growth, acceptance and meaningful change.

Chris is experienced with anxiety, depression, addiction, neurodivergence, bi-polar, psychotic disorders and personality disorders. He uses a wide variety of therapies including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, and Positive Behaviour Support. He also is trained in Short-Term Solutions Focused Approaches which help to provide a mode of therapy individualised for all his clients.

Having worked in the Swan Hill region, Chris is familiar with local resources, and connections, and the unique struggles and challenges our rural communities and clients face. With a solid base in skill development research and years of experience with community service organisations rurally and metro, Chris offers a path to tangible health benefits, quality of life, and fulfilment.

Chris is available for telehealth consultations only.

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