Brionie is a huge animal lover and enjoys going on weekend adventures with her husband and 2 dogs Sophie and Barbara. She recently added a new addition to her family, her son Ivar, and is appreciating the many priceless moments of motherhood. She enjoys listening to hip hop music and binging reality TV shows on more quiet days!

       Registered Psychologist 

***Currently accepting new clients, phone us to book in with Katie!

Katie is a compassionate and curious psychologist available to work with adolescents and adults. Her clinical practice is informed by her experience in public mental health services and reflects her values of community, inclusivity and intersectionality. It is her belief that every person deserves access to safe, respectful and high-quality healthcare. Katie is LGBTQIA+ affirmative and informed.

Katie is trained in the delivery of a range of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. She is guided by principles of trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming practice with an emphasis on creating safety. Her therapeutic style is warm, collaborative and centered around the person seeking care. Katie is particularly drawn to compassion-focused therapy and supporting people to move through shame and towards self-compassion. She also enjoys working with people to explore and connect with their neurodivergent identities.

Katie welcomes those seeking support for general and complex mental health concerns, trauma, family violence, stress, grief/loss and relationship difficulties. Her therapeutic approach considers individual concerns as well as reflects on how the world in which we live can affect our wellbeing. Katie is proud to assist people in finding recovery and connecting to their sense of meaning, community and self.   


 

Fun Fact About Me  

Fun Fact About Me  

Fun Fact About Me  

***Currently not accepting new clients
 
Brionie is a registered Psychologist and APS Board Approved Supervisor. She has 3 degrees in Psychology including a Masters in Clinical Psychology. Prior to private practice, Brionie spent years in the WorkCover and insurance industry supporting members of the community with complex physical and psychological injuries.

Her main focus is to develop a strong therapeutic alliance with clients, using her genuinely warm, friendly and easy-going personality. Brionie works with Adults and sees herself as an 'allrounder', however she is passionate about working with clients with trauma and PTSD, and is a trained Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist. She has other special interest areas that include anxiety, workplace stress and burnout, relationship difficulties, perfectionism, assertiveness, psychotic symptoms and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) support. 

Brionie uses an eclectic approach towards treatment and prefers to target the 'deeper roots' of core issues. She finds that modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) and Schema Therapy are most helpful for clients who intellectually understand their vulnerabilities but don't 'feel it'. She also incorporates DBT, CBT and attachment theory into her practice.

Brionie will be with you every step on your journey towards positive wellbeing!

director/ Clinical Psychologist registrar

Brionie Fryer 

Meet Our Team 

Michelle Scott

***Available for new clients  

 Michelle has 13 years of experience in providing psychotherapy in South Africa and more recently in Australia. Michelle is aware that the decision to start therapy may not be easy; it takes courage to face painful feelings. This is why she places great importance on creating a confidential and safe space for clients and she believes a person who enters therapy should be able to express all their emotional feelings, doubts and questions. Michelle will normally base the type of therapy on each individual need of the client. Sometimes a person may just want a person to talk to who is neutral and non-judgemental.

Michelle uses well established evidence-based modalities including Person Centered Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Mentalisation Based Therapy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy. The aim of these therapies is to assist in creating conscious awareness of all parts of the self so that we can live a life with awareness, empathy and access to different parts of ourselves. Michelle also has had training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Solution Focussed Therapy.

Michelle has worked in different contexts with clients from a variety of cultural backgrounds and socio-economic contexts. She has a lot of experience in helping clients with depression, anxiety, bereavement, loss, family relationship issues, self-esteem, trauma, attachment difficulties, sexual abuse, HIV related concerns and difficulties managing mood.

REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

Michelle grew up inland in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa and is finding living at the beautiful Sunshine Coast near the beaches quite a treat. She has a passion for music (especially live music and the blues), dancing, reading and a love of animals. She also has a passion for learning and is interested in learning about the mind, people, culture, communities and social psychology.

Delia Panizo

***Available for new clients

Delia works with children and teens and is a friendly and dedicated psychologist who embraces a holistic approach to mental well-being.

With a profound appreciation for both the distinctions and commonalities among individuals, Delia recognises that each person is unique and is committed to assisting her clients in realising their full potential. Delia's professional experience spans diverse settings, including private practices, educational institutions, and non-profit organisations. Her practice is rooted in neurodiversity affirmation and a trauma-informed perspective. Delia has undergone training in evidence-based therapeutic techniques, such as Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Strengths-Based Approach, and Schema Therapy. She customises her therapeutic methods to meet the specific needs of each individual.

 Delia has a special interest in supporting neurodivergent children, adolescents, and young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma-related challenges, as well as grief and loss. She offers psychological services in both English and Spanish.

REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

Delia cherishes spending quality time with her two beloved cats and her husband. Born in South America, she has called Australia home for nearly six years and has a deep passion for exploring diverse cultures worldwide through her travels.

Madeline Connors

***Contact us to be placed on Waiting List

Madeline is a registered Psychologist with a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology. She has completed part 1 of her EMDR Training and is currently able to assist clients with single incident traumas.  
 
Madeline uses a collaborative, client-centered approach, actively utilising client feedback to inform treatment and improve therapy outcomes. Madeline strives to create a safe, welcoming environment where clients feel heard and valued. Madeline practices from a stance of cultural humility and is proud to be an LGBTQIA+ affirmative clinician. 
 
Madeline has a passion for supporting the emotional and psychological wellbeing of children, adolescents, young adults, couples, and families, providing treatment of many issues, but in particular, focusing on developmental and personality disorders, trauma, issues with mood, anxiety, behaviour problems, parenting support, perinatal and women’s mental health, relationship difficulties, stress and burnout.  
 
Madeline draws from a wide range of evidence-based psychological strategies to assist people of all ages in reaching their goals, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, systems and attachment frameworks, and Positive Psychology.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST REGISTRAR

Madeline loves traveling, the beach, good food, and spending time with her fiancé, friends and family. She has two Ragdoll cats and loves all animals, big or small

Fun Fact About Me

Fun Fact About Me

REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

Katie Fletcher

Fun Fact About Me

 Katie fills her life outside of work with books, writing, visits to the movies, time spent in nature and connection with family and friends.

Cynthia Trudgett

Cynthia enjoys getting out in nature and exploring our beautiful hinterland surroundings, and is a keen gardener. 

***Available for new clients

Cynthia is a registered psychologist who holds an additional degree in counselling. She has been working over the last six years providing counselling and psychological support to persons experiencing difficulties with maladaptive ways of coping. Cynthia has worked within the corrective services field and Not-For-Profit organisations to support her clients understanding of the social influences that have contributed to their concerns. Additionally, Cynthia has been involved in supporting clients with complex trauma to understand the multifaceted impacts that they face and has helped Monash University to create a maters unit that train allied health professionals to engage more effectively with clients.

Cynthia has been using CBT and ACT over the last two years with her clients and works from a trauma informed perspective. Cynthia incorporates schema informed therapy into her work and hopes to become endorsed in the future. Cynthia enjoys working with adults using a range of skills including internal family systems, to understand their stuck points and to build skills in managing triggers and resolving patterns of problematic behaviours. Her main focus is working collaboratively with her clients to set targeted goals that help to improve their lives.

Heather Woodford

REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
AND
YOGA TEACHER

***Currently accepting new clients for Trauma Informed Yoga. Please contact us to book!

Heather is a registered Psychologist, with over 25 years experience in senior roles in a variety of settings, including Government Health Services, Private Hospital settings, Not-For-Profit organisations, and over 13 years in Private Practice. Heather provides a warm, empathic, inclusive and down to earth approach, mostly using Trauma-informed Cognitive Behavioural therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness-based skills and Motivational strategies. She is an experienced group therapist and has an interest in mind-body approaches to health and wellbeing.

In the past few years, Heather completed her Yoga Teacher Training (200RYT) and has furthered her study in Yoga and the Traumatised Body and Trauma Aware Yoga Teacher Training with Trauma Sensitive Yoga Australia (TSYA). She completed further Vinyasa sequencing training in 2023 and this year will extend her practice to include Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga. In 2024 Heather is taking a break from providing individual Psychology sessions and will be available at Nurturing Minds for Trauma Informed Yoga sessions (individual and small group). Please contact the clinic if you are interested.

Heather has a special interest in supporting current and retired Frontline staff, first responders and the veteran community, with a particular focus on trauma recovery. Heather has extensive experience supporting health and education professionals. Areas of practice include anxiety, issues with mood, trauma and post traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, relationship and family issues, family and domestic violence, injury recovery and persistent pain, chronic health issues, addiction issues, to name a few. Integrating Yoga into therapy to approach the experience of trauma common across many of these issues, has great value.
Trauma informed yoga has strong evidence across a range of areas (Domestic violence survivors, Veteran health, Frontline responders) and Nurturing Minds is pleased to be able to offer this approach by a very experienced psychologist and therapist.

Heather is LGBTIQA+ affirming, and offers support to the neurodiverse community, with a specific interest in ADHD related concerns. Heather is a DVA, WorkCover and other Third Party Insurance Provider. She is also an Opens Arms Contractor for current Australian Defence Force (Army, RAAF and Navy), Veterans and their families, and provides support to NDIS participants.

Fun Fact About Me

 Heather loves the beach and surf, and enjoys exploring our beautiful coast, camping with her partner and their three children. She loves to be active, and is a Masters boxer, but to maintain some life balance, she enjoys Yoga, playing guitar, and creating and drawing with her young son.

Fun Fact About Me