Meet Our Mental Health Experts

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 She has successfully assisted deeply withdrawn clients achieve the same dramatic results.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 20 years of private practice; roles with Wollongong University Clinic, The Forsight Foundation for deaf/blind adults, and Yasmar Juvenile Justice Centre.

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.

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.

On a Personal Level

On a personal level, Rebecca enjoys interacting with families in her local area through volunteering with Little Athletics NSW, coaching soccer, and participating in local mental health networks.

Educational Articles by Rebecca

May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears

Nelson Mandela

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.

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

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 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 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.

Passion

In addition to nurturing families and relationships, she 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’s trusted expertise draws on over 27 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.

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 recent 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 often radio broadcasts 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.

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, and playing with baby animals.

Educational Articles By Dr Debbie

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

Unknown

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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

Rebecca El-Helou is an accomplished Psychologist, passionate about changing and making an impact on mental health in the local community. A warm, empathetic presence in her clients’ lives, Rebecca truly has a love for our culturally diverse community. Growing up in Western Sydney, she has become culturally aware and extremely open to a breadth of cultural backgrounds, and learning how this shapes world views.

It was apparent from a young age that Rebecca was the person others would confide in times of distress. This felt very natural and became a personal strength, leading her to pursue a career in mental health. Relatable and compassionate, Rebecca always remains open minded and focussed on every individuals specific needs and goals.

Rebecca’s Experience & Approach

Rebecca’s approach is one that is non-judgemental and collaborative. She is very warm and understanding in her sessions, and likes to work as a team together with you to reach your goals. She is a hands on therapist including drawing and writing, practicing skills through role play and exposure tasks as part of her sessions. Rebecca has been involved in extensive research projects over the years, and has volunteered for community aphasia support groups. 

Her experience extends to working with children who presented a range of emotional and social development concerns, where she provided evidence-based treatments and worked collaboratively with parents to deliver the most effective outcomes for their specific family circumstances. Further research throughout Rebecca’s postgraduate studies aimed to improve social and emotional outcomes for brain injury patients, particularly for stroke survivors.

As an experienced Psychologist at Creating Change, Rebecca combines a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and a Master of Clinical Psychology degrees, and is currently in the final stages of completing her Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology. She has extensive training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness techniques and Academic and Cognitive Assessments for children and teenagers.

Passion

Rebecca has a real passion and appreciation to work together with people of all ages; including children, adolescents and adults, with an appreciation for elderly adults and their adjustment to life’s limitations. Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: older adults, brain injuries (e.g. stroke), stress management, sleep disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety, depression, improving communication and confidence, anxiety and depression management for those with cognitive impairment, emotional regulation and anger management, grief & loss, self-esteem, social anxiety and panic disorders.

Known For

Rebecca’s accomplishments include conducting Event Related Potential (ERP) studies, to examine neurophysiological sex differences in empathy, and to identify neural markers of psychosis in young people with trauma. The research aims to improve the identification and treatment of mood disorders in stroke survivors, and she has recently published a paper in the Disability & Rehabilitation Journal on Development of the “Kalmer” Relaxation Intervention: Co-design with Stroke Survivors with Aphasia (a language and communication based disability). 

In the final stages of completion, her Doctoral thesis aims to improve the identification and treatment of mood disorders in stroke survivors, including survivors with moderate to severe cognitive and communication deficits.  

On a Personal Level

On a personal level, Rebecca loves reading classical literature and writes her own short stories. She also sees herself as a big foodie, and enjoys fine dining with friends, as well as running her own clinical related Psychoeducation Instagram page. 

Rebecca’s Appointments

Rebecca is a devoted therapist at our practice, and is available for appointments on Mondays and alternate Tuesdays & Saturdays.

Expert Articles by Rebecca

In the depths of winter I discovered within me, an invincible summer

Albert Camus

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’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 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.

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. 

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.

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

Educational Articles By Dr Kylie

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations

Author Unknown

Daniel Alevras is an accomplished Provisional 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.

As an experienced Provisional 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and alternate Mondays and Saturdays.

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

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 8 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.

As an experienced Psychologist at Creating Change, Rickii holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honours), with extensive training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy, Behavioural Activation for depression, time management 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 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. Equally, Rickii has also conducted research across many topics, including; the memory capacity of adults to understand their ability to think critically about asking open-ended questions; and researching police interviewing techniques and case files for a potential wrongful conviction.

Passion

A successful coach of children and teenagers in sporting and 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. Her passion extends to body image concerns, eating disorders, and general health and wellbeing in adults and children, working with you to develop a positive mindset. Dedicated and attentive in her manner Rickii will give complete focus, taking the time to build rapport to work through your challenges.

Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: depression, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, body image concerns, eating disorders, sport anxiety & pressure, exam stress, sleep hygiene, OCD, motivation, friendship and relationship challenges, career planning, self-esteem, self-harm, behavioural challenges, anger and learning difficulties.

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. A victim’s believability in court is hindered when they become confused between each violent event. She discovered first-hand that if the witness can focus on the uniqueness of each event, then they’ll have better memory for that specific event. Her findings proved that when isolating the specific event, memory confusion is avoided. 

On a Personal Level

Rickii is an avid classical ballet dancer, and enjoys swimming and 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 full time therapist and devoted to our practice. She is available for appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays.

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

Samira Wiemer is a diverse Provisional Psychologist, passionate about supporting individuals through life transitions, multicultural and family challenges, to bring happiness and fulfilment into their life.

Warm & genuine in nature, Samira believes that sometimes, particularly when facing a challenging situation, all that is needed is understanding, encouragement, support and acceptance. Ensuring clients can focus and have greater clarity to allow them to make small changes in their life, is important to her. She wants clients to experience substantial improvements first-hand and see how this can positively affect their future.

Raised in a multicultural family in Chicago USA, Samira developed an appreciation for psychology in 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 real empathy for women’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 non-judgemental 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.

As an experienced Provisional Psychologist at Creating Change, Samira combines a Master of Professional Psychology and a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degrees, with a Diploma of Counselling. Her training includes Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and has studied how parental burnout affects couple’s relationships.

Passion

Samira has a particular interest in women’s issues, parenting support, and navigating adolescents through their teenage years. As a result of her upbringing, she has a unique perspective on religion, and the optimism in her sessions is infectious.

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

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. It was concluded that that the best way to support parents is through ongoing research and providing psychoeducation.

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 negative outcomes. Parents struggled to cope with the additional responsibilities and the reductions to resources created by COVID-19 restrictions.

On a Personal Level

Samira loves the outdoors – both coastal and bushwalking. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and 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

Paige Rosekilly is a dedicated Psychologist with an aspiration to reduce stigmas, encouraging a greater understanding and awareness of mental health in the wider community. Warm & approachable, Paige’s friendly nature puts you at ease right from the start. She brings a very authentic and respectful presence to her sessions, relishing the support she gives individuals across all ages and a multitude of mental health difficulties. Bringing humour and compassion to what can be overwhelming issues, Paige is a believer that every individual has personal strengths to live their life meaningfully. She sees herself as the guide to helping clients identify those strengths, and works collaboratively to develop a ‘support toolbox’ for clients, enabling them to engage when exposed to unforeseen challenges.

Growing up within a blended family in South Africa, Paige observed many family members on their mental health journeys. Although challenging, these experiences facilitated her skill building in understanding and listening to alternate points of view; engaging in problem-solving; and developing a strong sense of empathy for those she cared for. Her personal experiences led her to become a carer, equipping Paige to always look for the strengths and uniqueness in each and every person. She developed resilience and knew that psychology was a path to help people live meaningful lives, whilst not being defined by their mental health outcomes.

Paige’s Experience & Approach

Paige ensures she is attentive and authentic in her therapy sessions, bringing a neutral, non-judgemental and patient stance. Understanding and reflective, she provides clients with structure and clarity around what a therapy session may look like. She believes therapy is about the present moment and what someone is experiencing in that moment, therefore is flexible within her sessions, personalising them to each situation and the client’s immediate needs.

Her approach is client-centred and strength-based, always focussing on the client’s core needs, and safeguarding that they feel heard safe and empowered to advocate their needs.

As an experienced Psychologist at Creating Change, Paige combines a Master of Clinical Psychology, an Advanced Graduate Diploma in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) degrees. Her training includes Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), using evidence-based treatment modalities to tailor support her sessions to each client’s needs.

Passion

Paige works collaboratively across all ages, with a particular interest in young adults transitioning to adulthood, and life transitions for older adults. She has a real appreciation to support parents with young and primary school aged children. Her experience extends to working with both Neurodivergent children and adults, assisting those individuals to not only understand how to navigate the world around them, but also empowering them to understand and explore their identity.

Growing up she thrived off connection with others and has a strong desire to support those around her to be a part of a bigger purpose. Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: generalised & social anxiety, OCD, parenting support, phobias, life transitions, depression, adjustment disorders, PTSD, trauma, stress & study stress, low-self esteem and emotional regulation. 

Known For

Graduating from Macquarie, Monash and Newcastle Universities, Paige has a desire to engage with local communities and to drive to improve public policy through research and evaluation. She has completed training in the polyvagal theory, believing that this is an interesting area of research that fits well with EMDR in the context of trauma related disorders.

On a Personal Level

Paige loves being at home and spending time with her pets, reading a book, and enjoying the latest TV series. She also enjoys the outdoors at the beach, gardening and horse riding.

Paige’s Appointments

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

ou’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think

Winnie the Pooh

Lana Jaff is a diverse Provisional 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’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.

As an experienced Provisional 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. 

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. 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.

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.

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 full time therapist and devoted to our practice. She is available for appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday’s & Thursday’s.

Educational Articles/Videos By Lana

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

Glenn Close

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. 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.

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. 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.

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.

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

Romana Ali is an accomplished Provisional Psychologist, passionate about fostering empowerment within individuals so they can maximise their potential, gain confidence in themselves and be the driver of change in their own lives. Encouraging and genuine in nature, Romana believes with the right tools, encouragement, and support, change is achievable for everyone.

Romana felt inspired to pursue a career in psychology from a young age and is an avid promoter of de-stigmatising mental health. Always feeling like she was drawn towards helping people, Romana found growing up that in return, those around her were also drawn to her caring, supportive nature. Mental health is extremely important to Romana and her own experiences have shaped her kind and warm persona. She feels grateful to be in a position where she has access to education to provide much needed support to the community.

Romana’s Experience & Approach

Romana’s therapy approach is one that is collaborative, attentive and client focused. Life is constantly changing and evolving, and she believes so should therapy. Through her bubbly personality, her clients feel understood and heard, free from judgement. Her strength is the ability to match her own interactions with the clients, and adapt to any situation and different interaction styles. She places a focus on ensuring her clients feel safe and comfortable.

As an experienced Provisional Psychologist at Creating Change, Romana combines a Master of Professional Psychology with a Bachelor in Psychology (honours) degrees, with training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness.

Passion

Romana enjoys treating all ages from children through to adults, with a particular interest in supporting adolescents and young adults trying to find their way in life. She has an interest in stress and how it affects our overall functioning, as well as life transitions. Her experience extends to include working together with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families as a behaviour therapist, and disability support.

Her level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations she treats: anxiety, depression, Bipolar Disorders, OCD, Perfectionism, life transitions, interpersonal issues, school/university stress, life stress and workplace issues.

On a Personal Level

On a personal level, Romana enjoys playing soccer and has a true passion for everything sports and fitness. She loves music and dancing, as well as spending quality time with friends and family.

Romana’s Appointments

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

Everything can be taken from a man, but the last of the human freedoms: to choose one’s attitudes in any given set of circumstances

Andrew Tortorella is a passionate Provisional Psychologist with a genuine enthusiasm for boosting motivation, excelling in guiding his clients towards a happier, more fulfilling life. Warm and patient, Andrew is known for his calm demeanour and genuine approach, creating a safe and welcoming space in the therapy room.

Andrew’s background is rooted in a personal journey of self-discovery and a strong desire to support others through life’s challenges. Born and raised in Western Sydney, he developed a passion for neuropsychology during his high school years which led him into the world of Psychology. Working alongside a mentor as an Apple Technician, it was at this young age he realised he could achieve the life he truly wanted – one where he is driven to support others through life circumstances that he can relate to.

ANDREW’s Experience & Approach

Andrew brings an easy-going nature to his sessions, fostering a comfortable atmosphere from the very beginning. Placing an importance on understanding every individual’s unique story and experiences, you will instantly feel at ease with Andrew as he is attuned and empathetic. His dedication and passion shine through in his commitment to support and guide you to overcome your challenges.

Andrew’s therapy approach is solution focused. He believes listening is of the utmost importance and will empower you to reach your full potential by going at your own pace. It is also crucially important to Andrew that he presents as a human, ensuring you feel comfortable and not in need of “curing”.

As an accomplished Provisional Psychologist at Creating Change Psychology, Andrew combines a Master of Professional Psychology, a Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced, and a Bachelor of Psychological Science. His therapeutic skills include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and mindfulness, tailoring these approaches to your unique circumstances.

Passion

Andrew works collaboratively across all ages and has a particular interest in supporting those struggling with problematic pornography use, problematic gaming, and internet addictions. His experience extends to navigating low drive and depression, understanding the complexities and how to develop effective strategies to address these challenges.

His level of expertise is evident in the broad range of presentations he treats: internet and addictions, depression, anxiety, low drive, problematic pornography use emotional regulation, stress management and mood disorders.

Known For

Andrew has extensive knowledge on the psychological nature of addictions, including compulsive pornography use and internet addictions – along with strategies dealing with these challenges. Developing Mindfulness techniques through his master’s degree, he has specifically focused on exploring it in a way that’s personal to each individual.

On a Personal Level

Beyond his professional life, Andrew enjoys running, producing music and exploring a wide range of music genres. He’s also deeply interested in philosophy and has developed a fascination with ancient civilizations, such as those responsible for constructing the Egyptian pyramids.

ANDREW’s Appointments

Andrew is a full time therapist and devoted to our practice. He is available for appointments on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and alternate Mondays/Saturdays.

“We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.” – Epictetus