Meet Our Team
Dr Veronica Johnston (She/Her)
PRINCIPAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Veronica holds dual qualifications as a clinical psychologist and registered teacher. She has over 15 years experience working with children and adolescents, providing emotional, educational, and behavioural support to her clients as well as their family and schools. Veronica also has a passion for women's mental health and works with many adults experiencing mental health difficulties.
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment disorder, grief and loss, behavioural difficulties, parenting support for families, neurodevelopmental disorders (ASD, ADHD), relationship issues, school or peer related difficulties.
Veronica is currently not accepting new referrals.
Jacki Schurmann (She/Her)
PRINCIPAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Jacki is a Clinical Psychologist with nearly 15 years' experience delivering individual and group-based therapies to adults across public mental health, forensic and private practice settings. Jacki is passionate about providing a sense of safety and comfort for clients in her care, and offers a range of services to support meaningful change.
Jacki draws from a variety of evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Schema Therapy. Jacki is also a trained Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) therapist, as recognised by the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) and is an Board-Approved Supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma and dissociation, substance use/dependence, personality disorders, workplace stress, relationship difficulties, adjustment issues, parenting support, and grief and loss. Jacki welcomes referrals from LGBTQI+, neurodivergent and clients of all cultural backgrounds.
Julie Jammet (She/Her)
PRINCIPAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Julie is a registered clinical psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA) and an accredited supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia. She has extensive experience working with adolescents and young adults in different settings such as area mental health services, community care organisations and private practice. Julie has a strong interest in Animal Assisted Therapy and together with her accredited mental health therapy dog, Fly, they provide a non-judgemental therapeutic space where young individuals and their care givers can feel safe, listened to, and supported to achieve mutually agreed treatment goals. Julie is passionate and committed to helping young persons with a range of mental health difficulties to accomplish their personal, social and educational potential.
Outside of the clinic, Julie enjoys bushwalking with Fly and travelling the world when she can.
Please note that Fly (therapy dog) does not work every day and may not be available at the time of your consultation. If you do not wish for Fly to participate in your session, please notify reception in advance. .
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Depression, anxiety disorders, sleep difficulties, managing difficult emotions, low self-esteem, gender diversity, body image challenges, school related difficulties, obsessive compulsive disorder, neurodevelopmental disorders.
Melissa Van Styn (She/her)
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Melissa is a Clinical Psychologist and board-approved supervisor with over a decade of experience providing evidence-based psychological therapy. She has previously held roles in the public mental health sector providing crisis support and has several years of experience working with clients of all ages in private services.
Melissa has a compassionate, collaborative and client-centred approach with a focus on seeking client feedback to tailor therapy for each clients unique needs. Melissa aims to provide a safe and supportive therapeutic space for children, adolescents, parents, and adults.
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment disorder, grief and loss, behavioural difficulties, parenting support for families, relationship issues, school or peer related difficulties.
Pagan Aston (She / Hers)
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Pagan is a registered Clinical Psychologist and a board approved supervisor under Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is a member of the Australian Psychology Society. The Neurosequential Network acknowledges that Pagan has completed NMT Training Certification through the Phase 1 Level and utilises this within her practice alongside a range of evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
Pagan has been providing psychological treatment and a range of cognitive, academic and behavioural assessments for children, and adolescents to the local Ballarat community for a number of years and has a passion for providing treatment to children and adolescents. Pagan brings valuable experience in addressing the mental health needs of neurodivergent and neurotypical children with commitment to addressing a wide range of social, emotional and behavioural challenges.
Pagan has strong skills in engaging children and adolescents who may be hesitant to seek help or speak to a “therapist”. She strongly believes in the importance of providing a personally tailored approach and ensuring that a trusting, supportive and honest relationship is formed between herself and those she works with. Pagan is passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ community as well as being disability sensitive and works from a trauma safe and somatic therapy framework.
Leigh Parkin
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
The decision to undertake any psychological work may feel confusing and daunting, so Leigh strongly values the importance of providing a safe and relaxed environment for people to explore and come to the necessary choices toward growth and change.
Leigh has trained and worked as a psychologist since 1997 and he draws upon this experience across numerous roles he has undertaken across the community, educational, government and private service areas. He enjoys working with a wide range of issues and has a passionate interest in the impacts of family and domestic violence and promoting non-violence in the community.
Leigh values the importance of forming a strong, collaborative relationship with his clients and has a flexible approach that values each clients’ unique experience and life circumstances. He draws upon a range of evidenced-based approaches including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), schema therapy (ST), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), solution-focussed therapy (SFT) and mindfulness-based strategies.
Appropriate Referral Include:
Anxiety disorders, including panic attacks, social anxiety, illness/health anxiety and generalized anxiety, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar and related disorders, Trauma, Issues relating to family of origin or relationship difficulties, Low mood, stress, adjustment to significant live events.
Krystal Chaffey (She/Her)
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Krystal is a psychologist with over a decade of experience working across the lifespan in a variety of settings including public, private and educational settings.
Krystal has a compassionate and collaborative approach using evidence-based interventions to improve psychological well-being
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, school, relationship and behavioural difficulties, parenting support for families, stress management and body image challenges.
Georgie Chew (She/Her)
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Georgie is a registered psychologist with over a decade of experience working with Adults and Adolescents and their families. She has worked in a range of settings, including both hospital and community health teams, giving her broad experience across the spectrum of mental health illnesses and severity of mental health illnesses.
She provides comprehensive assessments, problem formulations and evidence-based therapeutic interventions to support her clients of all ages, to build self-compassion and understanding, resilience and mastery. She strives to build a safe and trusting working alliance and brings a curious, non-judgmental attitude to every client.
Georgie has a Masters of Youth Mental Health and has a special interest in adolescent and young adult mental health and early intervention. Georgie also a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician.
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, school, relationship and behavioural difficulties, parenting support for families, stress management and body image challenges.
Jamie McDonald
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Jamie is a generally registered psychologist with experience working with adolescents in school and private practice settings, as well as with adults in private practice. Jamie works with clients in an "integrative" context, combining mixed, evidence-based methods that prioritise client care (empathy, genuineness and positive regard), as well as goal-consensus and collaboration. That is, we work together to better understand your concerns, then plan together to overcome them.
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Anxiety, stress, depression, general mental health and wellbeing, positive psychology, grief and loss, interpersonal difficulties, neurodevelopmental disorders ASD (client or parental counselling support only - not assessments), narrative, phobias, bullying, emotional neglect, mindfulness
Liam McDonald
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Liam is a registered psychologist and community worker with many years experience across the community services, counselling, and psychological treatment sectors. He has worked in primary school counselling, alcohol and drug withdrawal care, and direct client treatment for anxiety, depression, conduct disorders, and autism spectrum disorder. Liam primarily works with children up to 12 and adults to provide support in emotion regulation, behaviour change, stress management, and create a comfortable space for clients to debrief and share without fear of judgement. He currently holds a Master of Professional Psychology and is currently completing his Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Appropriate Referral Include:
Anxiety (social anxiety and general anxiety), depression, behavioural difficulties, neurodevelopment disorders (ADHD, ASD), behaviour change, conduct disorders, and cognitive assessments.
Raffaella Ward
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Raff is a registered psychologist with experience providing individual and group-based therapies to populations within forensic and private practice settings. Raff draws on a variety of evidence-informed therapies including Schema therapy, CBT, ACT and trauma-informed approaches. Raff works with clients to tailor treatment to their needs.
Appropriate Referral Include:
Alcohol and other Drugs, trauma, forensic, behaviour change, distress tolerance and emotional regulation, general mental health and wellbeing
Dominique Mulhane
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Dominique is a registered psychologist with over 6 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults in both private practice and educational settings. She collaborates with clients to support them in achieving their own unique goals in a strengths-based and compassionate way. Dominique incorporates a range of evidence-based approaches in her work with clients including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. She is also a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician.
Cheryl Wile
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Cheryl is a registered psychologist with over 25 years of experience. Very compassionate and caring, Cheryl draws on a myriad of approaches to tailor individualized treatment plans to the client’s needs.
She endeavors to create a safe, warm, supportive environment where clients are encouraged to explore, understand, and develop increased self-awareness and an improved ability to cope with and challenge difficult thoughts, behaviours and feelings. She aims to help client’s feel empowered and equipped to self-manage their lives and optimize their future. Cheryl enjoys working with numerous client groups and has a special interest in palliative care.
Her treatment approaches are guided by emotion focused therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, narrative therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and solution focused therapy. She regards the job she does and the trust clients place in her a privilege.
Appropriate Referrals Include: 17+
Anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, depression, trauma, PTSD, grief, anger, addictions, emotional regulation, self-esteem, stress, sexuality, burnout, LGBTIQ, ageing, end of life issues
Skye Petrie (She/Her)
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Skye has over 23 years of experience working with children and families who have experienced trauma and harm. Skye believes the therapeutic relationship is a key element of support and offers a calm and safe space for individuals to explore and make sense of their experiences and feelings. She is passionate in supporting individuals to identify and achieve their goals through relationship and evidence-based interventions including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Skye also has a strong interest and passion for infant and parent mental health, with post graduate qualifications in infant mental health.
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Trauma and PTSD, anxiety, stress, depression, emotion regulation difficulties, parenting difficulties, parent-infant relationship, ASD.
Rachel Tallent
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Rachel is a registered psychologist with experience in public mental health and private clinics. Rachel works with individuals across the lifespan from children to older adults and has experience working with a broad range of concerns including anxiety and depression. Rachel employs a friendly, collaborative and non-judgemental approach when working with individuals, with the aim of creating a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore their difficulties. Rachel primarily uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, however, will draw upon several therapeutic approaches to tailor therapy to the individual, including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Rachel's particular areas of interest include working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, stress and emotion regulation difficulties. Rachel is also working towards endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist.
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, relationship/interpersonal difficulties, anger management, sports performance, general mental health and well-being, and emotion regulation.
Luke Blackley (He/Him)
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Luke holds qualifications as both a registered psychologist and a registered nurse and has extensive experience working therapeutically with individuals experiencing both acute and chronic symptoms associated with a range of major mental illnesses. Luke has previously worked in primary health care, forensic and acute mental health care settings, employing individual and group-based treatment methods and is experienced in utilizing motivational and strengths-based approaches to help individuals achieve their personal recovery goals. Luke is passionate about helping individuals manage difficulties associated with trauma, PTSD, substance use, relationship stress, adjustment to physical illness, carer stress and occupational stress.
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, substance use difficulties, relationship/interpersonal stress, assertiveness, adjustment difficulties, carer stress, occupational stress, major mental illness including schizophrenia and mood disorders.
Jessica Camilleri
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Jessica is a registered psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). She has experience working with young people and adults in private practice, schools and community health settings.
She has extensive experience supporting families through the assessment process (Autism, ADHD) through to ongoing therapy supports. Jessica values building trust and respect with each person she works with through a collaborative approach.
Jessica uses a range of evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Psychoeducation, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT).
Appropriate Referral Include:
Jessica has experience in working with autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, general mental health and wellbeing, parent coaching (behaviour support), emotion regulation and anger management.
Rebekah Oppenheim
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Rebekah is a Clinical Psychologist with over fifteen years’ experience providing individual and group-based therapies to children, adolescents, and adults. She has worked in the public and private sectors and specialises in treating trauma, depression and anxiety.
Rebekah draws on a variety of evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Schema Therapy (ST). She also holds specialist training in evidence-based interventions for trauma including: Child Parent Psychotherapy (parents-infant); Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (parent and child/adolescent); and Cognitive Processing Therapy (Adolescent/Adult).
Rebekah is committed to helping clients make sense of difficult life events by providing a safe and non-judgmental environment. She works collaboratively with clients, helping them to freely explore their experiences, find new ways of understanding challenges and develop helpful responses to manage hardship and distress.
Appropriate Referrals Include:
Trauma, complex trauma, depression and mood disorders, emotion dysregulation, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, stress and adjustment difficulties, pregnancy and postnatal mental health concerns, eating disorders, insomnia, grief and loss, body-image issues, self-harming behaviours, and suicidal thinking.
Make it stand out
Taylah Blake
PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Taylah is a registered provisional psychologist, who believes in a holistic and evidence-based approach to therapy, working with the whole person and recognising their unique life story. Taylah is passionate about supporting young people and working collaboratively with their parents, families and communities. Taylah also works with clients across the lifespan, including younger adults and adults of all ages as they navigate different life challenges.
As a clinician, Taylah is non-judgmental, warm, collaborative, and client-centered in her approach. She believes that every person is unique, and their treatment should reflect this individuality. Taylah is particularly passionate about helping individuals understand themselves better and achieve their goals.Taylah recognises the unique experiences for neurodivergent clients and those from diverse cultural backgrounds and is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all her clients. She uses a range of evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and Narrative Practice.
Appropriate Referrals:
Taylah works with children, adolescents, and adults across the lifespan. Suitable referrals include individuals navigating, but not limited to: Anxiety, Depression, School refusal, Behavioral issues, Emotional regulation difficulties, Neurodiversity (ADHD, Autism), Body image concerns, Grief and loss, General mental health and wellbeing, LGBTQIA+ issues, Cultural and ethnicity issues
Claire Foster
PSYCHOLOGIST
Claire isa generally registered psychologist who works with adolescents and adults and has completed a Master of Psychology (Professional) at Curtin University, and have since worked at Headspace and in private practice.
Claire is authentic, warm, and friendly person who values the positive outcomes that come from establishing a safe, collaborative, and non-judgemental therapeutic relationship. She like to work from a strengths-based approach where I get to know each individual and work in a way that best suits them.
Claire enjoys working with people from all backgrounds and experiences, including LGBTIQA+, culturally diverse, and neurodiverse individuals. Using cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, and works using a neurodiversity affirming approach. Claire works with a wide range of mental health presentations, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, interpersonal and relationship concerns, body image and eating concerns, and OCD.
Appropriate referrals include:
Clients 14 years and above presenting with:
Anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment disorder, OCD, eating disorders (adults only), relationship issues, LGBTIQA+ clients (with the ability to provide support letters for commencing hormone replacement therapy), general mental health issues.
Rebecca Petrie
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Rebecca is a registered psychologist with an extensive history working in secondary schools. Her experience as a teacher, school counsellor, school psychologist and private practitioner gives her a unique understanding of school-related challenges, experience working with complex young people, advocacy and promoting systemic change. She has a passion for working with children and young adults experiencing school attendance difficulties, learning disorders and ADHD. She is a neurodiverse-affirming and trauma-informed practitioner and a board approved supervisor.
Appropriate referrals:
Rebecca is offering cognitive, psychoeducational and ADHD assessments.
Catherine Macharia
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST &
CERTIFIED GRIEF COUNSELLOR
Catherine is a registered psychologist who has worked with clients of all age groups in both the public and private mental health services. She is a warm, and compassionate psychologist who strives to establish a safe, and respectful therapeutic relationship with her clients. She utilises evidence-based psychological therapies to support her clients to move towards an authentic and fulfilling life. Catherine’s approach is person-centred. She works collaboratively with each client to provide interventions that are specific and unique to their personal needs.
Please refer to Catherine’s website for more details. www.kunawiripsychology.com.au
Appropriate referrals include
Neurodiversity assessments (Autism and ADHD), Intellectual Disability and Cognitive assessments.
Katina Simos
PRACTICE MANAGER
Katina has over 20 years of experience working in allied health administration and support. She has a friendly, warm manner and will ensure that you feel supported and understood when making the call to discuss your specific needs. Please call Katina to make an appointment or discuss any clinic matters.
Administration Days:
Monday to Friday - 9am - 5pm
Please note that Katina works off site so you won't see her friendly face when you attend your appointment.
Contact Us
Contact us for further information or to book a consultation.