Psychologists Hills District – Creating Change

Rebecca (Bec) is a spirited Provisional Psychologist driven by a passion for helping people discover and unlock their potential to achieve positive transformations in their life. From a fitness professional to a passionate psychologist, her journey has shifted from physical health to mental health, and she enjoys the link between the two. Honest and warm, she is committed to work on mindset changes in her sessions so people can plan the life they desire.

Originally from Sydney, Rebecca grew up deeply immersed in sports from a young age. Her tenure in the fitness industry showcased firsthand the mental health benefits that physical activity can bring upon us. Supportive through your therapy journey, Rebecca brings a touch of humour in her sessions to help you feel at ease. Her fascination for human behaviour has led her to believe everyone has their own unique story and perspective on life, and that this should be voiced and listened to.

REBECCA’s Experience & Approach

Rebecca approaches her therapy sessions with an open mind, seeing the world in shades of grey rather than black and white. Her supportive, yet firm style encourages her clients to want to work on and overcome their challenges and not feel constrained or held back in life. She creates an atmosphere so her clients feel as if they are chatting with a good friend, fostering comfort and vulnerability. The space is open and non-judgmental, and somewhere that her clients feel heard and understood.

Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: teenage challenges, sport performance, low self-esteem, anxiety, body image, motivation, depression, phobias and empowering young women.

As an experienced Provisional Psychologist at Creating Change Psychology, Rebecca combines a Master of Professional Psychology with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degrees. Her training extends to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), using its methods to address mental health concerns by identifying negative thought patterns. Her expertise allows her to target issues including anxiety and low self-esteem, guiding clients toward healthier thinking. She includes mindfulness in her sessions adding depth to her approach, aiding stress management and emotional awareness.

Known For

Rebecca’s expertise surrounds sport performance, She thrives on working with individuals motivated to make positive changes and put in the effort to transform their lives.

Passion

Having spent over ten years in the fitness industry, Rebecca advocates for the mental health benefits of physical activity. Her personal journey of breaking free from self-imposed constraints inspired her to pursue the path of psychology, driven by a desire to empower others to believe in themselves.

On a Personal Level

Outside of her professional life, Rebecca enjoys exercising and playing netball. Her love for dogs is evident, and she has a keen interest in travelling, World War II and the Holocaust, reflecting her diverse range of personal passions.

REBECCA’S APPOINTMENTS

Bec is a devoted full time therapist at our practice and is available for appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.

Roy T. Bennett

Karen is a dedicated Provisional Psychologist, passionate about navigating life’s challenges together with her clients, helping you to feel confident to tackle any difficulties you may face. Warm & compassionate, Karen ensures you feel heard within the therapy room, and provides a calm environment where you feel safe to share your story.

Karen was drawn to the world of psychology by an aspiration to not only help people, but more importantly work alongside you to build your skills. Her goal is for you to feel equipped to cope with your problems and face life with confidence. With a background of over 25 years’ experience in corporate food manufacturing, Karen draws on strong interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills to ensure you receive a thorough assessment and tailored treatment plan.

KAREN’s Experience & Approach

Karen provides a friendly atmosphere in her sessions, which is led by the client, ensuring you feel heard and the time to share your challenges. She prides herself on providing evidence-based strategies that are tailored to your specific needs, supporting you to find avenues for personal growth.

Karen’s research for her Master’s degree investigated the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in alleviating depression symptoms and improving quality of life among individuals diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The results found that CBT reduced symptoms of depression, improving an individual’s quality of life.

As an experienced Provisional Psychologist at Creating Change, Karen combines a Master of Professional Psychology, a Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science (Advanced), a Graduate Diploma of Psychology, a Diploma of Counselling, and an MBA. Her training includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy – Eating Disorders (CBT-E), Maudsley Family Therapy, and providing a range of assessments for children, adolescents, and adults.

Known For

Karen is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED), National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC), and the Australian Menopause Society (AMS).

Her accomplishments include the completion of her honours’ thesis which investigated contributing factors to “baby-brain” (brain fog, memory disturbances, forgetfulness) during pregnancy. Working memory in particular is one area of cognitive functioning most often self-reported by pregnant women to be perceived to deteriorate during pregnancy. The study specifically investigated if self-reported anxiety symptoms are associated with changes to working memory performance during pregnancy. The results found that being anxious whilst pregnant did not affect working memory accuracy compared to a control group.

Passion

Karen has a real passion for helping adolescents, adults, and families cope with life’s unexpected challenges. She has a particular interest in supporting females with peri-menopause and menopausal symptoms, and has assisted teenagers and young adults with body image and self-esteem issues, as well treating eating disorders. Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: anxiety, depression, stress, adjustment disorders, ADHD, trauma, eating disorders, body image disorders, teenage changes, workplace and relationships issues, family breakdowns and mental health changes during menopause.

On a Personal Level

On a personal level, Karen likes to spend time with family and friends, and she helps to puppy raise guide dogs for NSW Guide Dogs.

KAREN’S APPOINTMENTS

Karens is a full time devoted therapist at our practice. She is available for appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and alternate Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Maybe everyone can live beyond what they are capable of – Markus Zusak

Daniel Alevras is an accomplished Psychologist, passionate about assisting individuals to combat and overcome challenges that hold them back from becoming their best self. Empathetic and compassionate in nature, Daniel believes that with some patience and elbow grease, concerns and goals you believe are unachievable can turn around. Daniel aims to bring that “feeling” you get when overcoming a challenge to all his clients, enabling you to progress and have a sense of achievement. You will instantly feel Daniel’s relaxed demeanour in session, as he genuinely takes the time to listen to your needs and provide actions to work towards improvement and change.

Daniel grew up within a Greek family in Sydney’s west, and from his primary school years he had a keen interest in understanding why people do the things they do. What motivates people to make choices and take certain actions, and why do people react differently to situations? These were the questions that led him down the path of psychology, to understand the brain and what makes us all act and behave in different ways.

Daniel’s Experience & Approach

Daniel has a formal yet approachable manner, and whilst he brings a calm and easy going presence to his sessions, he continually puts in place structure and guidelines to ensure therapy is focused on progress and the client’s needs.

Supporting adults, teenagers and children, Daniel’s level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations he treats: addiction, online video gaming obsession, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.

As an experienced Psychologist at Creating Change, Daniel holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and has training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and uses the Adversity Behavioural Consequences (ABC) method in sessions to help clients visualise their thought patterns. He encourages the implementation of diary use or entry journals to assist in documenting your thoughts and behaviours, to see your own improvement over time.

Known For

Daniel has worked with the elderly, supporting them through community service at Mayflower Retirement Village. He has gained experience in return-to-work rehabilitation where he supported those from varying cultures across all age groups with disabilities, illnesses and injury to recovery at work, and achieving independence at home within their workplace and community.

Passion

Daniel ensures that all his clients work towards overcoming their concerns to be the best person they can be. He has a particular interest in video game addiction and online obsession, and wants to develop his research on the link between addiction and depression based on the length of time individuals spend on video games.

On a Personal Level

On a personal level Daniel enjoys music and playing the piano. He is self-taught on the keyboard, is a huge fan of NRL Footy, and on occasion uses his skills as a touch football referee.

Daniel’s Appointments

Daniel is a full time devoted therapist at our practice and is available for appointments on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and alternate Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Good better best, never let it rest, till your good is better and your better best.

Samira Wiemer is a warm and understanding psychologist who is passionate about supporting individuals, parents, and couples through life transitions and family challenges. Samira aims to bring joy and fulfilment into clients’ everyday life. Thoughtful & genuine in nature, Samira believes that sometimes, particularly when experiencing difficult times, what is needed is understanding and a space to be heard and reflect. Often, everyday life becomes too busy, and we can feel pushed around by life or like we are rushing through life with no direction. Samira wants to provide a space for individuals, parents and couples to press pause, regain control and refocus on what is most important in their lives, ensuring that clients live a happy and fulfilling life.

Raised in a multicultural family in Chicago, USA, Samira developed an appreciation for psychology during her teenage years. After travelling, moving to Australia, and starting a family, she became more determined to become a psychologist. Her personal experience raising five young men and witnessing other parents’ struggles gave her a genuine empathy for parent’s mental health struggles, and her desire to help others evolved.

Samira’s Experience & Approach

Curious and attentive in her sessions, Samira ensures she creates a nonjudgmental space for you to have a voice. She takes a collaborative approach, likes to work as a team, and is solution-focused. Believing everyone is entitled to a fulfilling and rewarding life, her sessions are open, providing a safe place for clients to open up away from the busyness of everyday life.

Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats couples counselling, stress, depression, anxiety, women’s issues, life transitions, parenting, family & relationship conflicts, adolescent issues, culturally sensitive issues, mixed culture families and emotional regulation.

As an experienced Psychologist and couples and Family Therapist at Creating Change, Samira combines a Master of Professional Psychology and a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degree with a Diploma in Counselling. Her training includes Gottman Level 1 supporting couples using researched based assessments and effective interventions; Circle of Security parent and child to assist parents in providing emotional support for their child to develop secure attachment, resilience and enhanced school readiness; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy to help couples and families resolve conflicts and distress within relationships; is DBT and Schema Therapy informed, and has studied how parental burnout affects couple’s relationships.

Known For

Samira’s accomplishments include her research project on the effects of parental burnout on a couple’s relationship. Through her research, she discovered that parental stress is linked to adult and child functioning, the quality of parent-child relationships and the parental relationship.

Samira has recently published the manuscript “Spread Too Thin”: Parent’s Experiences of Burnout During COVID-19 in Australia” with the Journal of Family Relations. The manuscript examined the impact of COVID-19 on parents both quantitatively and qualitatively. The outcome was that parents reported increased stress and a loss of coping mechanisms during lockdown, and this commonly led to adverse outcomes. Parents struggled to cope with the additional responsibilities and reduced resources created by COVID-19 restrictions.

Passion

Samira is particularly interested in supporting couples, family relationship challenges, women’s issues, and parenting support. As a result of her upbringing, she has a unique perspective on religion, and the optimism in her sessions is infectious.

On a Personal Level

Samira loves the outdoors, both coastal and bushwalking. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and eating good food.

Samira’s Appointments

Samira is a devoted therapist at our practice. She is available for appointments on Wednesdays, Fridays & alternate Tuesdays & Saturdays.

It is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change 

Queen Elizabeth II

Camilla Pihl is a dedicated Provisional Psychologist with a passion for helping others navigate life’s challenges as they surface. Empathetic and understanding, her compassionate approach makes you feel seen and heard, providing a safe and non-judgmental space for you to share your concerns. Camilla values her attentiveness, believing it takes courage to share personal matters, and that everyone in life can benefit from therapy.

Growing up in Norway and moving to Sydney to pursue psychology, Camilla had to rebuild her life and connections, shaping the person and psychologist she is today. There’s always been a deep passion to help others, and she is of the belief that seeking support and someone to talk to is important in life. Creating trust and being that ‘someone’ you can rely on is central to her sessions, as she tailors therapy to your specific needs and circumstances.

Camilla’s Experience & Approach

Taking a client-focused and holistic approach, Camilla acknowledges your feelings and personal situation to work together at your own pace. Building rapport and adapting to your personal needs, Camilla believes active listening and validation are key factors in creating a strong therapeutic relationship. Throughout her sessions, Camilla will help you gain insight into your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. She will assist you in developing problem-solving skills and coping strategies according to your needs, and work together to set personalised, realistic, and achievable goals.

Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: eating disorders, self-esteem and body image concerns, family and relationship challenges, anxiety, stress, depression and interpersonal issues.

As an experienced Provisional Psychologist at Creating Change, Camilla is currently pursuing a Master of Clinical Psychology, and combines this with a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degrees.

Known For

Camilla’s accomplishments include working with children, adolescents and adults across a wide range of mental health concerns and disabilities, where she supported clients to work towards their goals. Her travels led her to experience living in Zimbabwe with homeless teenagers and children who required schooling support, where she gained insight into the mental, physical and financial challenges people faced. This strengthened her desire to help those in need and provide them with the knowledge and skills to cope with life’s challenges.

Passion

Camilla has a passion for working with couples, families, adults, adolescents and children, and believes that with the right tools and support, anyone can overcome their concerns and become the best version of themselves.

On a Personal Level

On a personal level Camilla enjoys hiking and sports-related activities, and has been active in volleyball and rock-climbing. She enjoys quality time with her loved ones, and is a big animal lover (who is always willing to help stray pets), as well as travelling, experiencing new places, food, culture and live music.

Camilla’s Appointments

Camilla is a devoted therapist at our practice and is available for appointments on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall

Nelson Mandela

Paris Gibson is a dedicated Psychologist committed to engaging with adults, adolescents, children and their parents, educating them on emotional management techniques to develop healthy coping strategies. Understanding and personable, her approachable nature provides a safe atmosphere for you to explore your barriers and needs. Bringing humour, focus and empowerment to what can be overwhelming issues, Paris devotes herself to you, your story, and your needs. She really takes the time to work through your challenges, focusing on outcomes and goals that are personalised to your situation.

Growing up locally in the area, for Paris, mental health has always stood out as one of the most important parts of a healthy life, and an area that too many people don’t feel fulfilled. Through her own experiences, Paris valued the importance of having someone understand you, and give you the tools you need to manage difficult times. This, along with her interest to explore people and relationships, is what led Paris to the world of Psychology. She has an endless fascination for the mind, and the affect our thoughts and behaviours can have over every part of our life.

Paris’ Experience & Approach

Paris centres her therapy sessions around your goals, providing the guidance and support you need to develop a sustainable, healthier mind. Through her planning approach, Paris is always equipped to make the most of your time together. Her focus is always a collaborative one, and she has a curiosity for learning what is behind your challenges and feelings, and how together you can work towards overcoming them, setting goals for your future.

Paris is inquisitive to find out what your experiences mean to you, taking a client-centred and individualised approach. She evokes openness, making no assumptions, and has a way of ensuring you feel safe and not alone in your struggles.

Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: adolescent challenges, parenting, generalised anxiety, depression, social anxiety, panic disorders, mood disorders, stress management, emotional regulation, OCD, family and interpersonal issues. 

As an experienced Psychologist at Creating Change, Paris combines a Master of Professional Psychology, Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced, Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Bachelor of Human Sciences (Human Movement) degrees, with training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Known For

Paris’ accomplishments include the completion of her thesis which researched the public’s perceived usefulness and happiness of service dogs, compared to pet dogs. This fascinating study explored the public’s opinions of working dogs, which did raise some concerns over them working excessively. The results found that service dogs actually have happier and more useful lives, than pet dogs. Her valued research given to Guide Dogs Australia, enabling them to inform their practices and education to the general public. 

Paris is also an integral part of the Creating Change Clinical Leadership Team.

Passion

Paris has a real passion for helping the local community, and particularly likes working with adolescents and young people, setting them up with the tools to cope with life’s challenges. She encourages young people to be the best version of themselves, now and into their future, and focuses on building their confidence.

On a Personal Level

Paris loves being in the kitchen – whether it’s baking, cooking, trying new recipes, or eating. She also enjoys travelling and seeing new places, having new experiences, and meeting new people. 

Paris’ Appointments

Paris is a full time therapist and devoted to our practice. She is available for appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.

Educational Articles/Videos by Paris

Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine

Roy Bennett

Rickii Lotsaris is an accomplished Psychologist with a passion for guiding children, adolescents, parents and individuals to find the right balance in their life. Compassionate and understanding, her bubbly nature creates a secure space for you to share your concerns, and explore ways to become the best version of yourself. Creatively, Rickii’s expertise includes working with children for over 10 years in a teaching space, instilling motivation techniques and working with primary and high school age groups on a variety of academic challenges.

Rickii felt from a young age that she always wanted to help people, and she has a real passion to guide individuals to find their own unique life balance. She ensures all her therapy sessions are tailored to your own situation and that she will remain with you right throughout your journey of change. How the mind works, emotions and memory fascinates her, and she is highly empathetic to those that struggle to cope with their emotions. She places a real emphasis on acknowledging her clients, overcoming that struggle and mastering the changes long term. 

Rickii’s Experience & Approach

Taking a collaborative approach, Rickii places a real emphasis on teamwork, ensuring you always have a voice. It is through this collaboration there is an agreement between you and her, where both parties are accountable and feedback is encouraged.

Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: depression, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, sport anxiety & pressure, exam stress, sleep hygiene, motivation, friendship and relationship challenges, self-esteem and self-harm.

As an experienced Psychologist at Creating Change, Rickii holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honours), with extensive training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Behavioural Activation, time management, study strategies and social exposure. Her results speak volumes as she actively progresses teenagers through challenging school times, assisting them to maintain motivation and feel proud of their effort and achievements. She spent 4 years as a study motivator using mindfulness techniques and skills to teach students to study smarter, not harder. This encouraged them to feel less stressed and clearer heading into exams.

Known For

Rickii’s accomplishments include the completion of her first-class honours’ thesis on memory for repeated events of domestic violence, where she researched how memory can be improved, so witnesses can appear more credible in court. She discovered that if the witness can focus on the uniqueness of each event, then they’ll have better memory for that specific event.

Rickii is also an integral part of the Creating Change Clinical Leadership Team.

Passion

A successful coach of children and teenagers in dance related endeavours, Rickii collaboratively works with children and their parents to manage the pressure, stress, and expectations that come with extracurricular activities. She also has an extreme appreciation for research within this field and how it informs therapeutic practice. Dedicated and attentive in her manner Rickii will give complete focus, taking the time to build rapport to work through your challenges.

On a Personal Level

Rickii is an avid dancer, and enjoys reading in the sun, spending time with family, and trying new restaurants with friends. She identifies herself as a real “foodie”!

Rickii’s Appointments

Rickii is a devoted therapist at our practice and is available for appointments on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Educational Articles/Videos by Rickii

We cannot control the wind, but we can adjust the sails and direct the movements of our ship so that it stays on course

Thomas S. Monson

Gretchen De Martin is a dedicated Psychologist with a passion for assisting individuals impacted by trauma, anxiety, and supporting senior adults through life transitions. Genuine in nature, Gretchen creates a secure space to ensure you feel heard, and her calm character allows clients to feel safe.

Taking an optimistic and inclusive approach, Gretchen is passionate about the inclusion of all individuals, older adults, and children with disabilities and their siblings in society. Working with people at different stages in their life, Gretchen shows a real dedication to learning about you, your challenges and your life experience, whilst showing respect and appreciation for you as an individual. She values the time with her clients to connect and work as a team, enabling you to feel empowered and live a meaningful life.

Gretchen’s Experience & Approach

Since a teenager, Gretchen was driven to become a Psychologist as a result of seeing the impact mental health issues had on those around her. It was at this young age Gretchen made her decision to devote her life to helping people live the best life they can.  Her broad and trusted expertise includes working with clients who are impacted by trauma, vulnerable to social isolation or exclusion, guiding them to find ways to become more engaged with what is important to them within their life and community setting.

As a Psychologist at Creating Change, Gretchen combines a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) with a Bachelor of Psychology degrees, and a Graduate Diploma in Management Practice. Gretchen incorporates Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy and Exposure Therapy into her sessions, and has undergone training in understanding Dementia.

For 5 years, Gretchen worked in case management which included liaising with mental health workers, housing and homelessness, employers, academics and other community and government organisations, to streamline client servicing and effect change for social impact. Over the years she has also taken on managerial and leadership roles within Disability Employment and Personal Support Services and for Break Thru; an organisation offering mental health, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Disability Employment and youth services.

Known For

Gretchen has a real passion for supporting clients impacted by trauma, furthering her training in “Treating PTSD and Complex Trauma”. A registered Griffiths III user (a developmental assessment tool for children aged 0 to 6 years), Gretchen supports families to understand and achieve goals for their child. Here experience extends to working with adults impacted by PTSD and Complex PTSD, children experiencing anxiety, adults experiencing relationship, work or health stressors, understanding and processing grief & loss, and supporting older adults through life’s changes.

She is also loves offering supervision to other psychologists, empowering them clinically to have greater vision, as a Board Approved Supervisor.

Passion

In addition to supporting parents & children with behavioural challenges and the associated impact of this on siblings, Gretchen has a passion for helping trauma impacted clients find safety within themselves. She also supports older adults experiencing anxiety, depression, mood disorders, stress disorders, grief & loss, parenting stress and adjustment, as well as supporting women with life’s stressors.

On a Personal Level

Outside of work Gretchen enjoys being in the outdoors at the beach or in the bush, bike riding and reading.

Educational Articles & Videos By Gretchen

Live life as if nobody is watching, and express yourself as if everybody is listening

Nelson Mandela

Dr Kylie Hutchings Mangion is a highly educated Psychologist who takes the time to understand challenges adolescents and adults face, focusing on real solutions to assist you to move forward. Flexible and person centred, Kylie recognises within both personal and professional environments there is room to cultivate knowledge and the ability to understand your choices. Together, she will navigate you through the ‘how’ to take the next step and invest your energy wisely, as she believes this is critical to living a much healthier and happier life.

With a former career in Tertiary Education, training and development for over 30 years, Kylie has focused on instructional development from a cognitive performance perspective, aspiring her to give university students the opportunity to succeed in their chosen fields through academic support and direction. 

Kylie’s individual life experiences shaped her in shifting her career path towards Psychology, expanding her capacity to continue to help others beyond the educational space. She has an innate desire to help individuals gain clarity and accept themselves, building strength to ensure you experience personal growth independently. Kylie has extensive training in EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), with positive results emerging from this technique to support your therapy journey.

Kylie’s Experience & Approach

Kylie’s approach is collaborative centring her sessions around your challenges, and solutions to overcome what’s hindering you. Her own interests have guided her to form a genuine appreciation of people’s distresses, where she can make a real difference in individual’s lives.

Her experience has extended to support those during trying times of Infertility, Organ Donation, Transplants, Chronic Renal Failure, living with Dialysis, Cancer, Anxiety, Depression as well as adolescents faced with making career decisions and navigating university for the first time.

In particular, young adults entering university whilst managing personal relationships and career pressure, carries new levels of stress. Kylie also has experience with older adults and the changes they face moving into later life, as well as Section 14 legal reports & Firearms License reports.

As an experienced Psychologist at Creating Change, Kylie combines a Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degrees, with extensive training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, EMDR Therapy and Schema Therapy. Her former education qualifications include a Doctor of Education, Master of Educational Technology, Bachelor of Teaching (PAVE) and Bachelor of Learning Design degrees, certifying her extensive understanding of adolescents and young adult distresses. She is also informed in Imagery Rescripting and CBT for Paediatric OCD, and is currently accepting referrals for Section 14 legal matters and Firearms License reports.

Known For

Kylie’s accomplishments include her Doctoral Research on how humans process information, in particular from a mental workload perspective. She explored the range of dimensions learning involves, measured brain activity whilst conducting learning tasks, and discovered that information can be presented differently, depending on how effectively it is processed. Strategies were discovered that reduced mental workload and improved cognitive efficiency and performance.

Her research extends to the focus on the predictors of psychopathological decluttering behaviour including vulnerabilities, sense of coherence, intolerance to uncertainty and OCPD for her Honours Thesis. Kylie has also explored the opposite end of the Hoarding Spectrum and the predictors of decluttering, such as vulnerability factors, Sense of Coherence, Intolerance to Uncertainty and OCPD.

Passion

Kylie has a real passion in supporting those with Trauma, Anxiety & Stress related concerns. Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: Personality Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Hoarding, Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Phobias, PTSD, Mood Disorders including Depression & Bipolar, trauma, Delusional Disorder, Psychosis Disorders, substance and medication induced Psychosis, older adults, adolescent & young adult career & personal challenges. 

On a Personal Level

On a personal level, Kylie enjoys experiencing different cultures – people, food and travelling with her family.

Dr Kylie’s Appointments

Kylie is a devoted therapist at our practice and is available for appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Educational Articles By Dr Kylie

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations

Author Unknown

Senior Psychologist Dr Debbie Collaros, is highly successful at helping familial, couple, sibling and collegial relationships thrive. Greek in origin and hailing from South Africa, her considerable experience includes the impact of trauma, affairs, mood disorders and family of origin on relationships. She is also renowned for effectively diagnosing and working with adult ADHD – an accomplishment that has garnered the respect of colleagues in the same field of treatment.

Debbie’s Experience & Approach

Approachable, genuine and humorous, Debbie effortlessly forms a comfortable, therapeutic relationship with clients of diverse ages and cultures. She is primarily committed to helping you restore a healthy sense of self, and to develop, or improve, beneficial relationships built on clear, strong boundaries. Under her guidance, you will gain powerful insights into becoming emotionally independent, stable and content.

Debbie treats a broad range of presentations: anxiety, depression, adult ADHD, adult & childhood trauma, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and high-functioning adults and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum.

Debbie combines a PhD in Forensic Medicine & Pathology, with two Masters in Psychology (Counselling, and Research), and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Science (Honours). She has extensive training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Therapy, Couples and Family Therapy (including the Gottman Approach), IFS (Internal Family Systems) Complex Trauma, Adult ADHD, Forensic Psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and High Functioning Autism.

Known For

Debbie has many accomplishments including running workshops for corporate leaders in forensic psychology focussed on strategic interviewing and deception detection in the investigation of fraud; developing curricula and lecturing on forensic psychology, counselling skills and psychopathology at tertiary institutes in South Africa and Australia. She earnt a nomination for an ‘Excellence in Teaching’ award, and presented a paper at the 2017 Australian Counselling Association’s Conference on technology and therapeutic relationship.

Debbie is known for her workshops and talks for couples, parents, teachers and pupils on marriage, parenting with boundaries, sibling rivalry, stress management, technology and hubbly bubbly. She has radio broadcasted on sensitive issues such as xenophobia and male/female marital roles.

She has also won the award for Most Dedicated Marriage & Family Counsellor – NSW in the 2022 Australian Enterprise Awards, and Most Dedicated Marriage Fitness Therapist – NSW in the 2024 Acquisition International Awards.

Passion

Debbie’s trusted expertise draws on over 29 years experience in private practice. She is passionate about the prevention of mental health issues and is enthusiastic about teaching psychoeducation. Debbie features on local radio show Alive 90.5 FM, as well as other Australian radio shows on topics such as ADHD and Forensic Investigation of Fraud. Offering psychoeducation to the Hills District community is of importance to her.

On a Personal Level

On a personal level, Debbie is a Christian who enjoys interacting with her young adult kids, annoying them with puns and dad jokes, singing, drumming, dancing, attending church, cracking hilarious jokes and witty comments, playing with her baby animals and watching true crime.

Educational Articles By Dr Debbie

The best way to stand your ground in this life, is on your knees

Unknown

Rebecca Deane is a dedicated Senior Clinical Psychologist, and founder of Creating Change Psychology and Counselling. She is an accomplished therapist excelling in the field of ‘Trauma and Adaption to Change Stemming from Early Life Experiences’. Rebecca’s distinct reputation for rekindling joy in families of Sydney’s Hills District precedes her, as does her compassionate, thorough, resourceful and trustworthy nature.

Rebecca’s Experience & Approach

At the coalface of her clients’ lives, Rebecca works with adolescents and adults of all ages to strengthen their sense of self and build a framework for navigating the trials of life. Supportively, devotedly, she will empower you with the skills and confidence to foster acceptance and remain hopeful for the future.

Bringing warmth, humour, and calm to what can be serious and distressing issues, Rebecca is committed to helping you trust again, adopt new life experiences, and feel content in your independence. She has successfully assisted deeply withdrawn clients achieve the same dramatic results.

Rebecca is also proficient at aligning your potential to your goals. Core to her approach is ensuring you understand the influence of the past while staying focused on developing a sound and stable future.

As a Senior Clinical Psychologist at Creating Change, Rebecca holds a Master of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Arts (Forensic Psychology), Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), and has extensive training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Mindfulness.

Her professional experience is impressive: over 25 years in private practice; roles with Wollongong University Clinic, The Forsight Foundation for deaf/blind adults, and Yasmar Juvenile Justice Centre.

Known For

A landmark in Rebecca’s career has been her instrumental role in establishing the NSW Drug Court Trial Treatment Program in South Western Sydney, renowned for its innovative, evidence-based treatments for adults with drug addictions.

Passion

Equally notable is the scope of clinical presentations she treats: weight management and body image issues, anxiety and panic, depression, bipolar disorder, parenting issues, self-harm, suicide, loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and drug abuse, and challenges experienced in relationships and families.

On a Personal Level

On a personal level, Rebecca has flourished interacting with families in her local area through volunteering with Little Athletics NSW, coaching soccer, and participating in local mental health networks. As her children are now young adults she enjoys learning the guitar, CrossFit and being in nature.

Educational Articles by Rebecca

May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears

Nelson Mandela

Lana Jaff is a diverse Psychologist, passionate about the importance of people’s mental health & wellbeing, and how early intervention can really help to overcome and prevent some of life’s challenges.

Genuine and understanding, Lana is extremely client driven, focusing on you and your needs. Her compassionate nature puts you at ease right from the start, as Lana ensures she is always approachable, no matter what your individual circumstances. Her sessions are personally tailored, as you discover together as a team what works best for you and your future.

Lana grew up in the Kurdistan region, and has long had a curiosity to understand the human mind. This curiosity led her to read about Sigmund Frued in her high school years, and further investigate and pursue a professional career in psychology and mental health. Besides English, Lana is fluent in Kurdish (Sorani), and is culturally cognisant to Farsi, and Arabic speaking backgrounds. Lana is also EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy Accredited, with positive results emerging from this technique to support your therapy journey.

Lana’s Experience & Approach

Lana’s approach is one that is attentive, and collaborative. She shares a safe and trustworthy environment in her sessions, so you feel assured and comfortable.

Her experience has extended to coaching young people on their professional and personal lives, based on scientific methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy and positive psychology. Through her coaching she improved habits related to behaviour change, emotional management, as well as finding and leveraging signature strengths.

Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: stress management, sleep disorders, anxiety, OCD, depression, behavioural challenges, emotional regulation and anger, trauma, grief & loss, alcohol and drug dependencies, body image issues, self-esteem, and panic disorders.

As an experienced Psychologist at Creating Change, Lana holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree, and has worked closely with university students to maximise their potential by building emotional intelligence and wellbeing management skills, through digital interventions. Her skills & training includes in-person EMDR Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Schema Therapy.

Known For

Lana’s accomplishments include joining a government advisory committee of community members & professionals, where she raised recommendations on how to better support the mental health of small businesses and business people. Her outlook delivered insights and opinions across a variety of mental health/small business roundtables, as well as delivering recommendations on how the government could best support small businesses to reduce mental health stigma. She encouraged insight to allow small businesses to build capabilities and self manage their mental health; to integrate mental health into their businesses; and to mitigate risks associated with poor mental health.

Passion

Lana has a real passion to understand human behaviour, and how to flourish despite adversity. She appreciates working with people of all ages, including children, adolescents & adults.

On a Personal Level

On a personal level, Lana takes time out in nature with activities such as hiking and camping. She also enjoys swimming and yoga.

Lana’s Appointments

Lana is a devoted therapist at our practice and is available for appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays.

Educational Articles/Videos By Lana

What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.

Glenn Close