Meet Our Team
Currently new patients can book in with Liz, Zera, and Joanne below providing your referral is approved first!
To meet privacy standards and Medicare auditing requirements, secure IT platforms are used by Emerge Psychology™ and its members enjoy access to clinical advice, support, and peer networking to support their work in Telehealth.
All Allied Health Clinicians at
Emerge Psychology™ are:
Medicare Providers
Registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or AASW
Actively engaged in CPD and peer review to support their delivery of Telehealth
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team
Katrina Hall
Accredited MH Social Worker
Joanne Richardson
Accredited MH Social Worker
Zera Walpole
Accredited MH Social Worker
Elizabeth Ford
Psychologist
Nicole Hayes
Clinical Psychologist
Eirini Lammi
Psychologist
Stephanie Cooper
Psychologist
Merril Winney
Clinical Psychologist
Michelle Wharton
Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
Angela Curtis
Psychologist
Dr Brahmesh Goyal
Consultant Psychiatrist
Crystal Kennedy
Clinical Psychologist
Shahim Ahmad
Psychologist
Susan Athaide
Clinical Psychologist and Advisor
Tracy Spencer-Lloyd
Psychologist
Kylie, Psychologist
Kylie is a registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPi) and is committed to engaging in ongoing professional development and supervision to ensure that she is up to date with the latest evidence based practices in psychology.
Kylie has experience working as a private practice clinician, including assisting high risk and vulnerable people. Areas of psychological counselling expertise and experience include grief and loss, stress, relationship issues, work-related problems, Depression, Anxiety, self-esteem issues, sleep difficulties, anger management, trauma, deliberate self-harm, and suicidality. Kylie also has experience in providing counselling and support to individuals experiencing, or at risk of, domestic or family violence.
Kylie integrates a range of psychological approaches and evidence-based treatments (including CBT, ACT and DBT) in order to best suit the clients’ needs, with an understanding that the best therapies are founded in a strong therapeutic relationship.
In addition to her work at Emerge Psychology, Kylie works at a private psychiatric hospital developing and delivering group therapy programs to adults with a wide range of clinical needs. She has a particular interest in working with clients who are experiencing symptoms associated with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Susan Athaide, Clinical Psychologist and Advisor
Susan Athaide holds endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist provider through Medicare. Susan has 24 years of experience across a range of settings and is trained as a Clinical and Educational Psychologist. She runs an established private practice in Brighton, Victoria, treating depression and anxiety disorders using cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).
Rachel Salisbury, Psychologist
Shahim Ahmad, Psychologist
With over 10 years experience as a Psychologist and Family Therapist, Shahim works with various client groups such as couples, families, adults, children and adolescents with moderate mental health issues. Shahim has gained much of his professional experience working in public and private hospitals, doing complex mental health assessments, diagnosis, counselling, case management, group work and parent education.
Shahim provides evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents and families, addressing low mood, anxiety, behavioural issues and marital conflict. Offering Systemic Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Shahim is a SIRA Approved provider of Allied Health Services under Workers Compensation claims and registered as a provider with Medicare Australia.
Michelle Wharton, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
Michelle is a psychologist with clinical and forensic endorsement, based in Adelaide, South Australia and has been practicing since 2005. She has spent a significant proportion of her career working with adults and adolescents involved in the criminal justice system in Australia, the UK, and New Zealand – teaching problem solving skills, emotion regulation skills, and other skills for managing offending behaviour. She has also worked with adults, adolescents, and couples in private practice. Throughout her career Michelle has been committed to assisting people to identify and regulate difficult thoughts and emotions, and to make lasting behavioural changes through identifying both old ‘road blocks’ and new life paths.
Trained in several treatment modalities including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Michelle works with people with problems including anger, violence, and aggression, depression, anxiety, addictions, offending behaviours, personality disorders, relationship problems, grief, trauma, work and life stress, and obsessive and compulsive behaviours.
Crystal Kennedy, Clinical Psychologist
Crystal is a clinical psychologist who works with clients ranging from older adolescents through to older adults presenting with a range of psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, stress management, emotion regulation, relational stressors, addictions and substance abuse, grief, loss, physical health problems, chronic pain, and adjustment difficulties.
Crystal is trained in providing psychological intervention through a range of therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) to build the client’s repertoire of adaptive coping strategies. Crystal enjoys the wide variety of client presentations that she encounters through her work in private practice and adopts a warm, empathetic, collaborative, client-centred approach, and tailors her work to each client’s specific presentation and circumstances.
Joanne Richardson, Accredited MH Social Worker
Joanne, accredited with the AASW, registered with Medicare and NDIS provider, has over 25 years of experience working across a wide spectrum of mental health and addition settings.
Jo has a down-to-earth and practical approach to treatment provision. She views life as either a lesson or a blessing. There is much to appreciate and be grateful for. The challenge is to enjoy the good times and learn from life’s challenges.
Joanne has extensive experience working with anxiety, depression, grief and family separation. She has a keen interest in aged care, disabilities, chronic pain, and advocating for carers.
Drawing on principles of strength-based schema therapy, Joanne’s therapeutic approaches include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness meditation.
Katrina Hall, Accredited MH Social Worker
Katrina is an accredited Mental Health Social worker with the AASW with extensive experience in the community and health sector, prior to moving into counselling years ago. Katrina works across the lifespan with those from 14 years of age to those in their more senior years. Katrina has lived and worked in both the rural/regional areas in Victoria and Tasmania and has a good understanding of the issues facing many of these rural communities. So passionate is Katrina about providing psychological treatment, that after a decade of working as a registered nurse in various fields (including oncology), Katrina re-trained as an accredited mental health social worker.
Today Katrina draws on a range of therapies including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and strength-based approaches.
With particular interest in Grief and Loss counselling, and specific training in this area (Graduate Certificate in Bereavement Counselling), Katrina is experienced in a range of mental health presentations including trauma.
Katrina is passionate about helping people to fulfill their potential and enjoys the rewards of seeing positive change in clients.
Dr Brahmesh Goyal Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr Brahmesh Goyal is a consultant psychiatrist who provides bulk-billed psychiatric opinion and treatment (item numbers 296 and 306) for existing Telehealth patients of Emerge Psychology™. Dr Goyal specialises in managing various psychiatric conditions including depression, grief, anxiety, psychosis and mood disorders. He has a special interest in helping people who suffer psychological distress in the midst of acute or chronic physical/medical symptoms. He also works in public psychiatry at Footscray hospital in Melbourne.
Erin Stuckey, Psychologist
Erin Stuckey has been a registered Psychologist for over fourteen years, with extensive experience in working with clients exposed to chronic and complex trauma. Erin is accredited in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TF-CBT). Erin is also trained and experienced in many other evidence based psychological interventions, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Erin also makes use of Narrative techniques in her therapeutic interventions. Erin has worked extensively with clients from regional settings and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. Her approach to working with clients is to create a space where they feel supported in addressing their emotional concerns, and working collaboratively with the person to achieve their treatment goals.
Angela Curtis, Psychologist
Angela is a registered psychologist with extensive experience in schools and private practice. Originally, from a remote farming community in country NSW, Angela is familiar with the adversities that people encounter living in rural settings including access to health services, financial hardship related to environmental concerns and isolation. Angela is passionate about providing rural and remote Australians with easy access to treatment.
Angela has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Angela has expertise in treating adolescents and
adults experiencing anxiety and depression, work and life stress, addictions, sleep issues, self-esteem and body image issues, social skills deficits, emotional regulation and behavioural difficulties.
Angela meets each client’s personal story with a sense of compassion as well as curiosity
about the skills and strengths they have developed through adversity. Angela enjoys working with clients to identify values and deepen their understanding of themselves in order to co-create strategies that help them move towards wellbeing and flourishing.
Merril Winney, Clinical Psychologist
Merril Winney is a Clinical Psychologist who runs her own private practice in Richmond, Victoria. Merril has over 13 years counselling experience working with adolescents and adults of all ages. Merril uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to assist clients presenting with anxiety, depression, work/life stress, relationship issues and health issues, in particular cardiac illness. Merril has extensive experience in bushfire recovery, with the CFA from the Black Saturday fires.
Merril has experience attending to the needs of clients experiencing a crisis. Merril provides professional and personal counselling focussing on each client’s individual needs.
Stephanie Cooper, Psychologist
Stephanie Cooper is a psychologist with extensive experience providing mental health counselling to regional, rural and remote people from diverse cultural backgrounds. With a career that includes working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service whilst living in a remote community, she has firsthand knowledge of the unique challenges faced by those living and working in small communities and managing environmental hardships and isolation.
Stephanie is passionate about creating a safe and warm environment, focusing on personal strengths and skills to facilitate growth and lifelong change. Stephanie utilises a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach and uses skills in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and various other therapeutic approaches.
As a member of Emerge Psychology™, Stephanie is based in the Bega Valley NSW and provides bulkbilling Telehealth Psychological treatment to adults and adolescents in rural and remote areas. Stephanie has considerable experience delivering psychological Telehealth services and works with older adolescents and adults experiencing a broad range of difficulties including anxiety, depression, adjustment problems, substance use and life stress and has particular interest in trauma and abuse.
Dr Melissa Lethbridge, Clinical Psychologist
Dr Melissa Lethbridge is a clinical psychologist with over 10 years of experience in the field. She grew up in country NSW and recently moved back to her hometown where she provides telehealth services to adults across the age spectrum. Melissa’s professional background involves working across a range of public mental health settings including child and youth mental health, the Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT), emergency department mental health, and psychiatric triage. Most recently, Melissa has been employed as a senior clinical psychologist in a suicide prevention service.
Melissa has expertise in treating a variety of psychological disorders including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, addiction issues, and eating disorders. She also has a special interest working with clients experiencing suicidal ideation, work stress, and relationship issues. As a clinical psychologist, Melissa uses evidence based psychological interventions which are individually tailored to meet the needs of each of her clients. She is currently completing the Advanced Certification Training in Schema Therapy and offers this therapeutic approach alongside Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in her practice. Her
therapeutic style involves guiding her clients through a journey of self-discovery to identify areas of meaningful growth and lasting positive change.
Ashlee Wells
Ashlee is a General Psychologist with experience providing mental health services to children (3+yrs), adolescents and adults. She is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and an Associate Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). She is a client-centered and evidence-based clinician skilled in providing a range of therapeutic interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Therapy including Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Ashlee is also practiced in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Ashlee works with a variety of clients, including those referred through Medicare, WorkCover and NDIS.
Ashlee’s areas of interest include treating clients experiencing anxiety and depression, trauma, grief and loss, stress reduction, conflict management, emotional regulation, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Having completed training in Perinatal Non-Directive Counselling and recently becoming a mother herself, she also has a strong interest in supporting individuals who have concerns about a current or recent pregnancy.
Esther McCarthy
Esther, an accredited mental health social worker who works with children, young people, families and adults in mental health and counselling services has over 16 years’ experience. Esther is passionate in providing clients with the skills and knowledge to help them manage and improve their mental health to obtain a better quality of life. Esther works from a trauma informed and strength-based approach. Esther usilises focused psychological interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), relaxation strategies, skills training, interpersonal therapy, psycho-education and motivational interviewing. Esther see clients as the experts in their lives and endeavours to work in partnership with you in a respectful and non-judgement and safe way.
Tracy Spencer-Lloyd
Tracy Spencer-Lloyd has worked for over 30 years in the not-for-profit Community Services sector, in rural and remote Victoria, NSW, South Australia, the NT and Tasmania, and currently lives in North-West Tasmania. During that time, she has gained qualifications and experience in the fields of Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy techniques, CBT, Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy, Sandplay Therapy, Theraplay, Family therapy and therapeutic DRUMBEAT, and has applied these in therapy with children, adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, stress and other mental health issues, including the effects of trauma, sexual abuse, family violence, substance addictions, and grief. She also offers couple counselling based on Emotional Focussed Therapy approaches, and parenting programs based on attachment theory.
Tracy has had first hand experience living and working in a number of rural and remote communities across Australia, and is currently a member of the APS Rural, Regional and Remote Advisory Group, using her experience and knowledge to advocate for appropriate services for these populations. She is passionate about supporting wellbeing in wholistic and creative ways that build on the strengths and opportunities of rural living. Tracy believes that wellbeing for individuals, families and communities is achieved when we can express our preferred identities and live in accordance with the values that matter to us.
As a member of Emerge Psychology™, Tracy is based in North West Tasmania and has had considerable experience delivering psychological Telehealth through both phone and video, and including with those experiencing COVID lockdown. She has recently completed all requirements for full Registration as a Psychologist.
Elizabeth Ford
Liz is a registered psychologist with nine years of experience working with adults across community, health, corporate and correctional settings. Liz is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for clients while working with clients to reach their goals and improve wellbeing and health. Liz utilizes various approaches including; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing techniques to address a variety of issues including; mental health, interpersonal problems, adjustment and grief, workplace stress and trauma.
Gulzabeen Mohammed
Gulzabeen Mohammed is a Registered Psychologist with over a decade of clinical experience. Gulzabeen aims to establish a warm, safe, and genuine therapeutic relationship at the onset of therapy. Gulzabeen is registered with AHPRA, Medicare and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Gulzabeen is also an APAC approved psychology supervisor. Gulzabeen is experienced in counselling, educational and developmental psychology. Gulzabeen maintains an interest in a variety of mental health related concerns such as:
– Anxiety, depression and emotional regulation;
– Relationship counselling including pre-marital and post-separation support as well as co-parenting concerns;
– Psychological assessments and report writing for multiple purposes including court, educational institutions, funding, court and immigration;
– Psychological pain management;
– Trauma informed therapy;
– Grief, loss and adjustment issues;
– Employee Assistance Program (EAP);
– Change/transition management in organisations.
Gulzabeen adopts a tailored approach to therapy, focused on understanding the unique treatment needs of each client. Gulzabeen values client collaboration and feedback, and endeavours to align therapy to client preferences. Gulzabeen aims to assist people to better understand their distress and foster more helpful and compassionate interpretations of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Gulzabeen aspires to maintain clinical standards of excellence. Gulzabeen is change-focused, and will work to both support and challenge clients to meet their personal therapeutic goals.
Languages spoken: Urdu, Hindi, English and Gujrati
Elizabeth Ford
Liz is a registered psychologist with nine years of experience working with adults across community, health, corporate and correctional settings. Liz is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for clients while working with clients to reach their goals and improve wellbeing and health. Liz utilizes various approaches including; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing techniques to address a variety of issues including; mental health, interpersonal problems, adjustment and grief, workplace stress and trauma.
Zera Walpole
Zera has significant experience supporting some of our most vulnerable community members, from children and youth in foster-care, incarcerated individuals, people with disabilities and war veterans. As a nationally accredited Mental Health Social Worker working predominantly from a Cognitive-Behavioural space, Zera incorporates mindfulness and narrative therapy to assist her clients in their journey to understand their own internal worlds, and make sustainable changes which align with their individual concepts of wellness, connection and health.
She is passionate about providing inclusive support across the community, with a specific focus on sex, sexuality and gender diverse clients, people with lived experience of trauma, and individuals effected by social or economic isolation.
Tracy Spencer-Lloyd
Tracy, Psychologist, works with children, adolescents and adults. Tracy has worked for over 30 years in the not-for-profit Community Services sector, in rural and remote Victoria, NSW, South Australia, the NT and Tasmania, and currently lives in North-West Tasmania. During that time, she has gained qualifications and experience in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy techniques, CBT, Family therapy among other modalities, and has applied these in therapy with children, adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, stress and other mental health issues, including the effects of trauma, sexual abuse, family violence, substance addictions, and grief. She also offers couple counselling based on Emotional Focussed Therapy approaches, and parenting programs based on attachment theory.
Tracy has had firsthand experience living and working in a number of rural and remote communities across Australia, and is currently a member of the APS Rural, Regional and Remote Advisory Group, using her experience and knowledge to advocate for appropriate services for these populations. She is passionate about supporting wellbeing in wholistic and creative ways that build on the strengths and opportunities of rural living. Tracy believes that wellbeing for individuals, families and communities is achieved when we can express our preferred identities and live in accordance with the values that matter to us.
As a member of Emerge Psychology™, Tracy is based in North West Tasmania and has had considerable experience delivering psychological Telehealth. She has recently completed all requirements for full Registration as a Psychologist.
Nicole Hayes
Nicole, Clinical Psychologist, and Founder of Emerge Psychology loves working through Telehealth, both with her Melbourne patients since the pandemic, as well as with rural and remote Australians. Nicole is taking limited referrals as she is almost at-capacity, so new referrals are to be sent to intake for consideration.
Nicole Hayes
Nicole, Clinical Psychologist, and Founder of Emerge Psychology loves working through Telehealth, both with her Melbourne patients since the pandemic, as well as with rural and remote Australians. Nicole is taking limited referrals as she is almost at-capacity, so new referrals are to be sent to intake for consideration.
Eirini Lammi
Eirini is experienced working with children, adolescents and adults, conducting assessments for both clinical and educational purposes. She is experienced in the provision of psychological interventions and therapeutic interventions that are creative, practical and meaningful, designed to meet the individual needs of clients.
Eirini is a Registered Psychologist with 20 years’ experience working across varied clinical, educational and corporate sectors. She has worked in various clinical settings conducting complex assessments and psychological evaluations.
Important Information:
Referral Information for GPs
A note to GPs: All referrals received are examined for suitability for Telehealth and suitability for our service on a case-by-case basis. This may take some time and patients must be adequately supported across this transition time. Indeed, due to the limitations of Telehealth, patients do require local support, and ascertaining that adequate local supports and safety plans exist, is part of our intake assessment process. GPs must indicate upon referral, whether the patient is going to book in themselves, or whether GPs would like us to contact the patient to arrange an appointment. We will advise referring GPs if we require further information to complete our intake assessment and will reply to the referrer in the event that we are not able to accept your referral.
New Policy
Our psychologists at Emerge Psychology™ all work independently in their own thriving private practice locations around Australia. The precious resources of their skills must be best-utilised, therefore, we regret to advise that a $50 cancellation fee will apply to cancellations with less than 24 hour’s notice, in the unlikely event that we are unable to re-fill the appointment.
Clinical Advisor
Dr Melissa Lethbridge, Clinical Psychologist is the is the Clinical Advisor of Emerge Psychology™. With over 10 years of experience, Melissa’s professional background involves working across a range of public mental health settings including child and youth mental health, a Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT), emergency department mental health, psychiatric triage, and as a senior clinical psychologist in a suicide prevention service. Alongside her work in public mental health, she also operated her own private psychology practice in Melbourne for many years before joining Emerge Psychology.
Melissa started her journey at Emerge Psychology by providing psychological telehealth sessions to people living in rural and remote areas in Australia. Most recently, she has joined the operations team in the role as an advisor. She provides advice on the processes and systems at Emerge Psychology to help strengthen the ongoing growth and development of telehealth services.
Operations Manager
Mark is the Operations Manager of Emerge Psychology™. Mark is a member of MFAA and has many years of experience in Customer Service.
Before your session please be aware of the following
By using this resource and attending sessions through Emerge Psychology™, you are agreeing to the provisions of this Disclaimer and the Consent Agreement – must be read and agreed to before the first session
Please ensure you have read the following prior to your initial session and advise your consultant psychologist of any questions:
Consent Agreement – must be read and agreed to before your first session
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