Alicia is a highly experienced and dedicated Psychologist with over 21 years of experience providing exceptional psychological support and intervention. Alicia specialises in working with diverse clients, including individuals with disabilities and unique life experiences, and has developed a deep understanding of their specific needs and challenges. With a decade of experience in a P-12 school and private practice, Alicia has significantly impacted the lives of numerous children and young people. She empowers her clients through evidence-based strategies, creating a safe and supportive environment for growth and development. Alicia’s commitment to ongoing professional development ensures that she stays up-to-date with the latest advancements in psychology, offering the highest standard of care. With her qualifications, achievements, and passion for supporting well-being, Alicia is a valuable asset to her clients and the community, making a positive difference in their lives.

Wei is a Registered Psychologist. Wei holds a PhD in psychology and worked as an academic for many years before he started on the path to put the theories into practice working in the private sector as a generalist psychologist (registered since 1997). Wei provides individual psychological assessment and treatment to children, teens and adults for a range of presenting issues. He also facilitates group programs on a range of topics, but has a special interest in running groups for children, parents and families on emotional health, resilience and wellbeing. Wei is interested in the psychological therapy techniques of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness. He has experience in providing school-based early intervention and prevention programs to children. He also has a special interest in helping people from other cultures deal with the stress involved with adapting to new and unfamiliar environments. Wei is eligible to provide services under Medicare, NDIS, DVA, Workcover, and many Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providers.

Lisa has been a Mental Health Accredited Social Worker for 12 years and has extensive experience working in the mental health space for more than 25 years. She worked in a variety of settings as a Social Worker, both overseas and in Australia. She has worked in Mental Health NGO settings, Community Mental Health, the hospital, and private practice. Lisa has been supervising Mental Health Social Workers in various Mental Health settings, as well as providing supervision and field instruction to students at various levels of their academic journey in social work, as well as interdisciplinary mentoring and consultation. Lisa is a Practitioner who draws on many therapeutic approaches, including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Lisa uses mainly DBT, but she is also of the opinion that an Eclectic Approach is useful to ensure a good fit between elements of the approaches and the individual person instead of relying on only one model. This enables her to use a variety of strategies and techniques, e.g., psychoeducation and mindfulness strategies. She believes strongly in the Recovery Model and aims to empower people to grow and develop knowledge and skills, personal values, and a life worth living. She is also passionate about group interventions, especially those aimed at skill development. Lisa works with a wide spectrum of mental health disorders (e.g., Depression, Anxiety, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Emotion Regulation Disorders, Suicidal Ideation and more). Lisa draws mainly on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy with a strong focus on recovery, aiming to develop knowledge and skills and specifically manage distress and powerful emotional reactions. Life often throws curveballs our way. Many are not really sure how to deal with these, and sometimes it feels like your life attracts curve balls. This is usually when a skills training approach can assist. Apart from individuals, Lisa also enjoys working with couples. Her preference is to work with couples where both are serious about overcoming the difficulties threatening their relationship, although there might be times when one partner might be seen on their own. Lisa also prefers to do couple counselling following the DBT model to empower both to grow and develop together. Understanding and accepting each other’s unique identity within the relationship limits conflict and facilitates effective interpersonal communication, improves relationship satisfaction, and creates a sense of belonging and connection. Lisa is an empathic, authentic, and intuitive person, and a counselling session with her will feel natural, conversational, and purposeful. She is a warm, kind, and caring person and clinician. She aims to create an opportunity for meaningful change in the lives of those she works with and to do it by creating a space in sessions that feels safe, accepting, validating, and nurturing.

Ian has been practicing since 2004 and is accredited as both a mental health and clinical social worker through the Australian Association of Social Workers. Ian has experience working with adolescents and adults in the form of individuals, couples, and/or families in both the government and community sectors. Ian has clinical and non-clinical experience in adolescent and adult counselling, youth work, hospital and health care, family therapy, and former defence force experience. Ian does not have a “one size fits all approach” with his clients but practices from the perspective that most people have an inner expertise waiting to be unlocked through therapeutic engagement. Ian has a particular interest in trauma-informed practices and neurobiological psychoeducation. Ian has a down-to-earth approach with his clients, tailors his therapeutic style to suit each individual, and is passionate about ensuring every opportunity is provided for his clients to experience meaningful change. Some of the approaches Ian may use include, but are not limited to, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Attachment Theory Approaches, and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing.

Rick has: Extensive training and experience in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [CBT] and Advanced training and experience in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [ACT]. Certified training in Interpersonal Therapy [IPT] and Relationship Issues. Rick has worked at QLD Health for 8 years in the clinical treatment teams and, most recently, for the last 6 years in private practice. Rick has many years of clinical and counselling experience with adults, which will be of benefit if you experience any of the following: Discovering your true Identity. How to find yours Making Peace with Anxiety and being Victorious. Understanding why you have them and how to conquer them. What is the Purpose of Depression and how can you overcome it? Stress/Burnout. Simple strategies that work. Trauma or Abuse. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Workplace Bullying. Discover what HR doesn’t tell you. Anger Management. It’s not always wrong to be Angry. How to feel Equal. How to be Capable, Worthy, and Lovable. Finding Direction and Purpose. How to Increase Self-Esteem and Self-Worth. It is not Arrogant or Selfish. Relationship Issues. Understanding and Benefiting from the Hidden Rules. Problem Solving. Unlocking the emotional secrets that allow progress. Rick strongly believes in truly listening to your needs, helping you feel comfortable and valued, and instilling hope and direction, regardless of who you are and what issues you are challenged by. Rick believes that all parts of your life are interconnected and that these parts need to be considered holistically when restoring your health. Rick has vast experience helping people choose the correct psychotherapy and strategies for their unique situation. He also has a strong interest in the relationship between a person’s physical and psychological health. Rick Bird – Psychologist, Husband, Parent, Student of Life, backyard Engineer – loves Latin Dancing.

Vince completed his Bachelor of Behavioural Science in 1990 at USQ and his Postgraduate Diploma in 1991. He has worked in a variety of settings, including relationship counselling, child and youth outreach, drug, alcohol, and dependency services, spiritual and pastoral care, forensic mental health settings, and mental health and disability services. He has also worked in mental health support and mental health coordinator roles with serious mental health. Vince is a Registered Psychologist working with children, adolescents, people with disabilities, and adults of all ages, with particular interests in men’s issues and older adults. Vince is an empathic, compassionate, and dedicated professional. His approach is client-focused and collaborative in assisting clients to meet their goals. Vince is passionate about working with individuals whose lives are affected by anxiety and depression. He understands how these conditions have a significant impact on individuals in various aspects of their lives. Vince’s experience working with clients with anxiety and depressive conditions has helped him develop an understanding of providing a holistic approach and seeking therapeutic guidance to assist the individual in recognising and building their strengths. Vince uses a cognitive-behavioural, strengths-based, and solution-focused approach. Vince’s work with anger management has involved working in groups and with individuals. His approach is to work from a non-judgemental perspective and focuses on working with the individual to assist them in understanding their behaviour, underlying thinking, and how past experiences have impacted their present.

Vish graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2012. He joined The Do Network in 2021, first as a Social Worker and later adding the role of Executive Officer, and joined KCPsych as a Director/Social Worker in 2022. He is based in the Toowoomba area but travels widely to service metropolitan and regional clients. Vish spent more than 10 years working across the Child Protection continuum in rural and remote locations in Western Australia and Queensland before settling in Toowoomba. While working in Child Protection, Vish was elected to a leadership role with the Together Union, where, as an activist, he sought to improve the working lives of Child Safety staff across Queensland and to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families engaged with the child protection system. Vish has extensive experience working with people from first nations and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. He frequently travels across Queensland to undertake interviews and assessments for the Queensland Children’s Court and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. This includes Social Assessments Reports and Family Reports. With a focus on the client’s well-being and functioning, Vish also supports private clients and NDIS participants. He has a particular interest in working with families where a person has experienced a disability, mental health illness, or other social problems. His expertise also extends to supporting older children and adolescents during their development through high school and into adulthood. Vish has a particular interest in supporting children, adolescents, and emerging adults who have experienced being placed in the out-of-home care system, as well as children and young people whose parents are separating or have separated. Vish is also a certified NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback trainer.

Carolina is a Clinical Psychologist. She completed a Master of Mental Health and a PhD in Psychology at the University of Queensland. She completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at the University of Talca in Chile. She has experience working in public health services, child and family services, and NGOs. She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Parenting and Family Support Centre of the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland. Her research focuses on how to engage parents in the early stages of parenting programs. She is also interested in research in the areas of mental health and trauma. I truly believe that people face challenges in their daily lives, but they have the resources to overcome them. As a clinical psychologist, I am available to support them through their process of change. I believe that when people access appropriate support when needed, we can prevent later issues. The key is how we stay mentally healthy. Carolina has experience working with a wide range of mental health presentations, such as depression, anxiety, behavioural issues, and traumatic stress. She has worked with children, teenagers, adults, and older people.

Nicole is a Social Worker and registered Circle of Security facilitator. She graduated from the University of Queensland in 2001 and began her career as a social worker with social services in the U.K. Here she enjoyed working across the fields of aged care, disability and mental health. Moving back to Australia, Nicole gained further experience supporting people in inpatient and community mental health, with a strong focus on psychosocial recovery. Family therapy, parenting and carer support have always been core elements of her practice, as well as maintaining a passion for improving access to mental health services for everyone. More recently, Nicole has worked in primary education, supporting children to have positive learning and social experiences at school. Nicole is enthusiastic about helping people to create the life they want, with meaningful activities, and richer interpersonal and community connections. As part of The KCPsych team, Nicole sees clients in the clinic on Monday and Friday's, and in her role at The Do Network she visits clients at home in the North Brisbane area and can also schedule sessions in the community.

Cathy graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 1978. She was a bonded scholarship holder and was sent to work at Wolston Park Hospital discovering a love of psychiatry that has lasted her whole career. She developed a keen interest in rehabilitation outcomes for people with schizophrenia with a particular focus on community integration, employment and being a parent with mental illness. After completing her bond period she left Australia to work in an acute mental health unit in a hospital in South India. Here she was introduced to systemic family approaches. Returning to Australia, she moved into the community sector, running day centres in metropolitan areas. This was work she delighted in as it gave full rein to her interest in working with people with long-term serious mental illness. As the delivery of mental health services changed, Cathy began work as a mental health case manager, while continuing to offer occupational therapy consultation to clients seeking a return to work. Her caseloads continued to reflect her interests in parenting and community integration. Cathy became an authorised mental health practitioner and gained recognition as a person with high levels of knowledge about capacity, driving and accessing generic community services for clients. She was a sought-after supervisor, often accepting staff identified as having difficulties at work, many of whom went on to become valued members of staff. When Cathy moved to working in an acute inpatient setting in Queensland, she needed to find a new way of conducting functional assessments. She discovered the Cognitive Disabilities Model incorporating the Allen Cognitive Levels. She did a workshop with Delaune Pollard and began to incorporate this evidence-based approach in her practice. Delaune mentored her through this process and then invited her to deliver workshops about the CDM. Now Cathy travels all over Australia and New Zealand delivering workshops. Because of COVID she now delivers workshops online as well. She is recognised as a lead practitioner in Australia for the CDM. Needing a break from routine case management and wishing to expand her skill set, Cathy took a year’s secondment to work as a research assistant at the Queensland Centre for Schizophrenia Research. Cathy spent 10 years managing her husband’s medical practice. This gave her the opportunity to understand many of the co-occurring medical conditions common in people with serious mental illness, such as diabetes. With the advent of the NDIS, she also learned about managing a private practice which gave her confidence to start her own occupational therapy company. From her work with parents with a mental illness, Cathy became interested in the functional cognitive impacts of parents with cognitive disabilities. In partnership with a psychologist, this led to the development of a system for assessing the capacity of people with functional cognitive impairments to parent, along with recommendations for the disability supports and training required for successful parenting. This work is done in the child safety system in Queensland. Throughout her career Cathy has sustained her interest in research and evidence-based practice. She has published articles and presented at occupational therapy conferences. She is a contributor to a series of textbooks on the Cognitive Disabilities Model and the Allen Cognitive Levels. Since beginning work in the NDIS space Cathy has received many referrals to work with autistics. She identifies as a neurodivergent person and practices in a neurodivergent, affirming way. She uses a systemic family approach and is occupationally focused. She is aware that much of the disability experienced by neurodivergent and mental health clients is trauma based and she has completed extensive training to be able to support people with trauma histories. Cathy is committed to keeping up to date with knowledge as it develops. She does this by researching the latest developments in a specific area and checking for updated evidence about an area of practice. She uses her clinical experience to determine the relevance of evidence to a specific client. Cathy maintains membership of OT Australia including a range of special interest groups, as well as being a member of the Allen Cognitive Network in the USA and the Child Protection Practitioners Association of Queensland. At a macro level, Cathy is committed to addressing the social determinants of occupational engagement and to recognising and reducing the barriers for people with disabilities in the wider community. As part of this commitment, Cathy is a director on the board of Karakan, a community not-for profit that supports people with mental health challenges, disability, or both, to achieve their goals and build connections within their community to live a more enriched life.

Working with children and young people has highlighted the impact of systems: our family system, workplace, school, and society play a huge part in how we experience the world and ourselves. Thus, Mary adopts a systematic/family approach to understanding each person’s story. When working with children, Mary considers it necessary that parents attend appointments of their own, given their significance in bringing about change within the family system. Like many psychologists, Mary has integrated her experiences and knowledge into a framework that can be applied to a broad range of presenting concerns. She believes that anxiety is at the core of most difficulties and that our response to our anxiety determines what happens next. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy invites us to sit more comfortably with our human discomfort and to come to view it as our guide. Mary’s approach to therapy, therefore, invites clients to ‘get better at feeling worse’ which, ultimately, will amount to getting better. Getting better at ‘doing feelings’ is good for both our health and our relationships with others. While it can be daunting to ‘run towards the roar’, there is evidence to suggest that such bravery, even in small steps, builds our resilience. Being brave, with the support of a therapist you can trust, can make the journey forward easier.

Eske is a provisional psychologist completing the 4+2 pathway. She is originally from the Netherlands and moved to Brisbane in 2016. She completed her bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Amsterdam. Her PhD research (2006) focused on understanding genetic contributions to childhood developmental disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder. In 2021, she completed a Diploma of Counselling at the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. In January 2021, she became registered as a provisional psychologist with AHPRA. Eske works two days a week as a provisional psychologist and three days a week as the head of the Translational Neurogenomics Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer, where she leads a team of 4-6 researchers. She has more than 20 years of research experience in studying the influence of genetic risk factors on the development of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and schizophrenia. She has published more than 150 articles describing her studies on mental health. Eske is a warm and non-judgemental psychologist. She believes that the relationship between a therapist and a client forms the best basis for recovery and healing. Eske is very passionate about working with clients from different cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. She uses different approaches (e.g., Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness) in her work, depending on the needs of a client. Eske has worked with clients who experience anxiety, depression, parenting issues, relationship problems, and work stress. She completed a major in grief and loss counselling and completed Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. She is passionate about working with parents and adolescents who have questions around gender diversity and/or gender dysphoria (gender-affirmative approach).

Rachel is a registered psychologist who is extremely passionate about working and making a difference in the lives of young people by improving mental health and development outcomes for clients. Working with adolescents and young adults, Rachel believes that the values that each person holds are the key to living a rich and meaningful life and are the key drivers for change. Rachel sees a range of presenting issues, including but not limited to Mood and Personality Disorders, Eating Disorders, Academic Performance, Interpersonal difficulties, and Grief and Loss. She has broad practical experience, having worked in both clinical private practice and psychiatric inpatient settings. She is skilled in several evidence-based counselling modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and in designing and implementing therapeutic interventions for a wide range of clinical disorders.

Qualifications Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours), University of Queensland Training in the Cognitive Disabilities Model and trauma-informed care Expertise in the NDIS, including assistive technology and home modifications Training in PEERS for social skill development and ADOS for autism diagnosis support Snehal graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (honours) in 2017. Her lived experienced supporting people with varying health and disability complexities has drawn Snehal to helping those in need and pursuing opportunities in pharmacological and dementia respite support while studying Occupational Therapy. Since graduating, Snehal has gained experience working in elder care (community and hospital), program and group development, community rehabilitation, and has supported a wide range of individuals across the lifespan with neurological and neurodevelopmental disabilities within home, school and community settings through the NDIS. Within the NDIS space, Snehal has gained generalist skills including prescription of low and high-risk complex assistive technology, minor and major home modifications, housing applications (SIL, SDA and ILO), along with therapeutic interventions focusing on life skill development, emotional regulation and social participation. Snehal is particularly interested in working alongside families and individuals with complex traumas to improve the outcomes and access for those with reduced opportunities. Snehal utilises the Cognitive Disabilities Model to provide holistic care and support to clients, while adopting trauma informed principles into practice. She also supports in the delivery of functional cognition workshops for other OTs and organisation, both local and interstate. Snehal is also trained in the delivery of the Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) for social skill development and the ADOS to support those seeking diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. As a clinical leader, Snehal coordinates Keep Connected's allocation of therapists for the Brisbane area and plays a key role in providing clinical support to therapists. Snehal is actively involved within her clinical caseload and services the Brisbane and Logan regions.

Teracia is a kind and compassionate psychologist who provides psychological assessment and intervention to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Teracia has the privilege of being able to assist many clients on their journey to improve their mental wellbeing and overcome issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, trauma-related difficulties, and self-esteem difficulties. Teracia has experience assisting with a variety of clinical presentations and has worked in a wide range of settings, including running her own independent practice for eight years in residential settings, primary mental health settings, and school settings. Teracia is registered to practice with the Psychologists Board of Australia, and she is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). She has completed a Master of Science in Child and Family Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Teracia adopts holistic and ecological approaches in her work. She is respectful, compassionate, and works in a culturally sensitive manner. Teracia employs a range of evidence-based interventions and therapeutic modalities based on the client’s individual presentation and needs. This includes Mindfulness-based Interventions, Sensory integration, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and Trauma-informed Interventions. Teracia believes in creating a safe environment in which clients are able to reflect on past and current experiences to gain an understanding and insight into how this may influence their mental and emotional well-being. This approach in turn helps clients gain meaning from life and empowers them to develop an enriching way of life moving forward. Teracia has a special interest in working with children, adolescents, and individuals who have experienced trauma.