Clinical Psychologist Registrar Elissa has experience with young adults and older adults with mild to moderate mental health disorders, and is currently working extensively with younger children and adolescents, particularly in the area of Educational Assessment. She has experience working with individuals and groups with various therapeutic techniques including CBT, IPT, ACT and metacognitive therapy, and has worked in various contexts including generalist counselling, and drug and alcohol treatment. Elissa is particularly interested in the application of mindfulness-based approaches to a variety of issues. Elissa has a broad educational basis (covering the areas of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Psychology), as well as specialised knowledge and expertise in the area of Neuropsychology. Elissa completed her PhD on the subject of cognitive aging using a combined approach including neurophysiological testing and functional neuroimaging (fMRI). Other research projects she has conducted in the field of Neuropsychology made use of techniques such as EEG’s and pharmacological intervention. Elissa has a strong interest in the assessment and treatment of neuropsychological disorders across the lifespan.

Justin has extensive experience in couple’s and family counselling for sexual, relationship and parenting problems. He has considerable experience in a number of therapeutic programs addressing domestic violence, anger management and positive parenting. Justin works with families and couples to grow rewarding relationships from a systems-based framework, assisting clients with issues ranging from communication, emotion focused therapies to sexual issues. Justin is a Member of Society of Australian Sexologists, and has a particular interest in working with the LGBTI community. Justin has previously been Consultant Mindfulness Practitioner to the St John of God Hospital Pain Management Program, providing group Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Intervention to individuals with persistent pain. With a passion for delivering proven and evidence-based assessments and interventions, Justin has conducted and subsequently published a number of program evaluation studies. Justin’s Goal Attainment Scaling instrument and manual for Early Childhood Intervention Services is only one example of this kind of work. Justin was a lecturer in Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Science and Introductory Research Methods (Charles Sturt University) for nearly a decade. Having worked in public and private education in the Northern Territory and Western Australia (including two years as school psychologist at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School), Justin has considerable experience in educational assessments and the implementation of recommendations arising from the identification of special education needs (SEN).

Clinical Psychologist Melissa first registered as a psychologist in 2006. She has since completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Melissa works with a broad range of mood, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders, and draws on a range of treatment approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Trauma Focussed therapies (TF-CBT & EMDR). With a solid background in psychological assessment, Melissa consults in relation to various medico-legal matters (Workers’ Compensation, Victims of Crime, Parenting Capacity). Melissa has amassed extensive experience in the private sector conducting various forms of assessment including psychological functioning, educational and intellectual functioning, pre-liability stress assessment, risk of recidivism, vocational assessment, fitness for work, and drug and alcohol treatment needs. Melissa has previously worked in child abuse and neglect, sexual assault, corrections, vocational rehabilitation, general and private practice. Having worked as an Assessing and Consultant Psychologist to local Pain Management Programs, Melissa is conversant with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) interventions for individuals with persisting pain difficulties. She is an AHPRA registered supervisor, and is currently engaged in an extensive program of supervised training to attain accreditation as a Schema Therapist. Melissa is a registered Medicare provider (eligible for Clinical Psychology rebates) and is also eligible for rebates under most private health care funds.