Annabelle has been working with children, adolescents/young adults and their families for over 18 years. All of Annabelle’s experience has been gained in psychiatric or clinical settings, and she particularly enjoys working with adolescents and their families during the crucial years of identity development, peer influence and negotiation from child to young adult. Annabelle provides individual therapy for young people aged 12 and up, through to adults. Annabelle utilizes a team approach with young people, identifying symptoms and difficulties, problem solving and helping clients and families to develop new and adaptive coping strategies, thoughts and behaviours. Using a combination of CBT strategies, developmental understanding, interpersonal therapy and systemic reflection, Annabelle assists young clients to identify stumbling blocks, how they developed and how best to alter these patterns. Through this process clients and families become empowered to make changes in their life and relationships, enabling them to move forward with their development. Annabelle also enjoys working closely with parents to provide support and strategies to cope with the impact of developmental and behavioural difficulties within their family. Of particular interest are new mothers/parents struggling with adjustment to parenthood or symptoms of Post-natal depression. Annabelle’s Clinical training and experience ensure thorough mental health assessment, treatment and monitoring throughout the therapy process, and enable her to collaborate effectively with medical and other professionals, including Psychiatrists, Gps and teaching staff.

Speech Pathologist

Melissa practices as a paediatric, adolescent, adult and mental health Occupational Therapist. She provides full Developmental Assessments, assessing and treating Gross/Fine Motor Co-ordination Skills, Handwriting, Sensory Processing, and Social-Emotional functioning. Assessment may include comprehensive written reports with clear and practical recommendations and strategies for home, school, university and/or work. Melissa provides regular educational consultations and training, and liaises closely with educational facilities. Melissa has a special and longstanding interest in working with children, adolescents and adults with Aspergers Syndrome or High Functioning Autism. She is part of the Developmental Assessment Team at Crisalida, assessing and treating children/adolescents/adults, and working closely with Psychologists and Speech Pathologists at Crisalida, as well as external community referrers/team. In addition, Melissa is registered with Medicare as a Mental Health Provider. She provides Child and Adolescent Counselling for 4-23 year olds who are struggling socially, emotionally and/or behaviourally; or who present with mild to significant anxiety, depression, stress, attention deficit disorder, poor emotional regulation and/or other mental health difficulties.

BachAppliSci(Psych)(Honours);MPSYCH(Clinical);MAPS Jade is a psychologist who has gained most of her experience working in psychiatric and clinical settings. This experience includes both individual therapy and group therapy. Jade enjoys working with adolescents and adults with varying issues and aims to help all her clients reach their full potential. Jade has a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and is interested in Schema Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. Jade assists clients to identify symptoms, understand how and why they have developed and how best to alter their behaviour so that they feel empowered in all areas of their life and improve both general well being and the quality of their relationships. Jade’s Clinical training and experience ensure thorough mental health assessment, treatment and monitoring throughout the therapy process, and enables her to collaborate effectively with medical and other professionals, including Psychiatrists, GPs and teaching staff. Jade is available for consultation on Wednesdays.

Psychologist Julia has over 10 years of experience in the mental health sector including community, forensic and clinical settings. She has a strong interest in working with adolescents and adults who may experience personality difficulties. Julia feels strongly about providing greater access to treatment for people with Borderline Personality Disorder. Julia also enjoys working with a range of psychological issues that young people and adults may be experiencing. These issues may include trauma, relationship difficulties, substance issues, voices, identity, self-harming behaviour, loss and grief as well as anxiety and depression. Julia utilises a strengths based approach, in conjunction with principles of narrative therapy, trauma-based CBT, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy, to assist clients in their recovery journey. Julia particularly enjoys working with the person to find ways to empower them to achieve their recovery goals. At times, this can mean working collaboratively with family, teachers and other health professionals.

Occupational Therapist Riny qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2006. Since then she has specialised in working with children with a variety of conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Muscular Dystrophy, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Handwriting difficulties, Down’s Syndrome, Microdeletion Syndrome, Kabuki Syndrome, William’s Syndrome and so on. Riny’s intervention depends on the individual needs of the child and could include sensory processing, fine and gross motor, self care and functional skills such as play or handwriting. In the therapy Riny provides, there is a strong emphasis on working both with children and the significant adults in their lives to foster an environment that will optimize learning, growth and development. A combination of clinical skills, experience and compassion enables Riny to provide a service that is unique to each individual, allowing the child and family to address those difficulties or areas that are important to them.

Simone Lenthall is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist. Simone graduated from the University of Western Sydney in 2007 with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) Hon. Her strong interest in Paediatrics saw her awarded First Class Honours for her dissertation titled ‘The Views of Paediatric Occupational Therapists regarding research priorities in Paediatrics’. Simone was placed on the College of Health and Science Dean’s Merit List (2007) and received a placing in the top 10% of University cohort. The University of Western Sydney awarded membership to the Golden Key International Honour Society in 2006 in recognition of ‘outstanding scholastic achievement and excellence’. Since working as an Occupational Therapist, Simone has gained experience in private practice, Early Intervention, child care, kinder, school and home settings. She enjoys employing family centred practice to meet the goals of clients. Simone has experience working with children whom have a variety of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Global Developmental and Intellectual Delays, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Dyspraxia, Muscular Dystrophy and Anxiety. Simone develops intervention plans to assist in the development of a child’s core stability, fine and gross motor skills, visual perception, motor planning, self-regulation and social/emotional regulation. Intervention plans strive to improve the well-being of clients and their families. Simone is registered with Medicare as a Mental Health Care provider. She provides services under the Helping Children with Autism and Better Start funding schemes. Simone is also a registered NDIS provider. Simone is the Director of Kids on Top Occupational Therapy. She currently provides services at Crisalida (Thornbury, Melbourne) and On Track Therapy Group (Glen Iris, Melbourne).