Our Practitioners

Coralie Holding

Nurse Practitioner – Mental Health – AOD and Practice Owner

Over 40 years’ experience working in a range of senior clinical and managerial settings in both public and private mental health practice. Coralie completed an MBA followed by a Masters – Nurse Practitioner, commencing Clear Thinking Mental Health Group in 2013 with the aim to provide comprehensive multidisciplinary mental health treatment and support for a range of mental health and psychological conditions, across all age demographics.

Treatment includes biological treatment and psychological therapies.

  • Coralie is a certified Opiate Replacement Therapy Prescriber
  • Registered NDIS Behaviour Support Practitioner

Coralie is experienced in managing major mental health conditions including biological and psychological treatment of psychotic illness. Management of high prevalence disorders including anxiety, depression, personality disorders, self-harming and suicidal behaviours, substance misuse and addiction. All treatment is evidence based and can include a range of focused psychological therapies including CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, Interpersonal and Strengths based Therapy and DBT.

Coralie can provide assistance in the management of acute or persistent mental health conditions and provides mental health secondary consultation to a range of services within the Ballarat region.

Medicare and NDIS registered provider.

Jacqui White

Psychologist

Registered psychologist with a Masters in Occupational Psychology and 20 years of experience working with a broad range of clients promoting whole person health and well-being with a strength based focus.

Jacqui has used positive psychology since the benefit of its practical application was realised. She weaves this into her practice either in a coaching, strategic partnering, mentoring or counselling capacity as she is committed to enhancing individual well-being.

Her expertise in, and passion for, helping individuals reach their full potential ensures a challenging and inspirational partnership is formed. Jacqui has experience in assisting people realise the benefits of breathing and relaxation techniques, smoking cessation, useful sleep techniques, mindfulness, and a range of therapeutic strategies to ensure sessions are tailored to individual needs.

Jacqui works with children, couples, adolescents and adults. Jacqui is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and a registered provider with Medicare, WorkSafe, TAC, private health insurance and NDIS.

Nicole Kearns

Psychologist

Master of Psychology (Clinical) and provides a range of psychological assessment and treatment services to children, adolescents and adults.

Nicole has experience in educational and cognitive assessments, and working with children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as their parents/guardians.

Nicole also has experience in suicide prevention and high prevalence mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and personality disorders. Nicole takes a person-centred, strengths-based approach, informed by feedback from each client. Techniques used include cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and motivational interviewing.

Nicole is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and an associate member of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.

Nicole is a registered provider with Medicare, WorkSafe Victoria, TAC, private health insurance and NDIS.

Paul Mattas

Psychologist

Registered psychologist, Paul enjoys working collaboratively with his clients to achieve their goals and focuses on building a strong therapeutic relationship.

Paul has experience in ADHD and enjoys working with individuals across the lifespan.

Paul is passionate about assisting individuals using an integrative approach that is client focused, which draws on elements of interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS).

Paul is registered to provide counselling to clients under Medicare with a MHCP from their GP, NDIS, VOC, and privately funded sessions.

Paul is a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi) and Australian Psychological Society (APS).

Alanna Bennetts

Psychologist

Registered psychologist, Alanna has completed her Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours, and her Masters in Professional Psychology.

Alanna is an empathetic and energetic person, who is passionate about empowering children, adolescents, and young people, particularly within the fields of suicide intervention, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Alanna undertakes positive behavioural assessments plans and implementation under NDIS.

Alanna also has interests within the impact of endometriosis on mental health.

Alanna utilises techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing, as well as mindfulness and meditation.

Alanna is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and Golden Key International Honour Society, as she performed in the top 15% of all graduate students in her field of study.

Alanna is available to see clients referred under Medicare with a MHCP from their GP, NDIS, VOC, and privately funded sessions.

Rebecca Egan

Provisional Psychologist

Rebecca is a provisional psychologist and behaviour support practitioner, having completed a Bachelor of Psychology, Graduate Diploma of Psychological Services and Graduate Diploma of Psychology at Federation University and Deakin University. Rebecca is interested in supporting and empowering clients to reach their full potential taking a client centred and strength-based approach.

Rebecca has experience working with a broad range of clients with diverse presentations and working in community, disability, employment support, mental health, drug, and alcohol, out of home care and forensic services throughout regional Victoria. Rebecca believes strongly in a collaborative, supportive and empathic approach and to build strong therapeutic relationship with everyone.

Rebecca works with all clients throughout the lifespan but primarily adolescents and adults and is passionate about working in fields of suicide prevention, depression, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders. Rebecca has experience and interests in conducting psychometric testing including cognitive, adaptive functioning, personality, and other diagnostic assessments.

Rebecca’s therapy style draws from, a variety of theoretical approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) and Positive Psychology.

Rebecca is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPIi) and Golden Key International Honour Society.
Rebecca is available to see clients referred under NDIS, Victims of Crime (VOC) and privately funded sessions.

Nikki Stiefel

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker / Behaviour Support Practitioner

Nikki is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Behaviour Support Practitioner, with a passion for working with people experiencing a range of life complexities. She has a particular interest in complex mental health presentations including substance abuse and associated life challenges.

Having worked in mental health since graduating with her Master’s in Social Work from Long Island University in New York in 2010, Nikki has been providing support to vulnerable Australians in a range of roles since migrating to Australia in 2013.

Nikki can see NDIS participants in the office but can be flexible and provide outreach support or Telehealth dependent on individual circumstances and funding.

Nikki is available to see clients under Medicare referred by their GP with a mental health care plan.

Kathryn Braszell – Maisano

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker

An Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Master degree in Social Work and 12 years of experience, Kathryn has worked with clients across a range of settings including dual diagnosis and acute mental health.

Kathryns’ treatment style draws from a biopsychosocial model and integrates therapeutic approaches such a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing.(MI) and Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) to empower clients to get unstuck and achieve their goals. Kathryn is passionate about providing a variety of supports for individuals aged 14 years and above.

Kathryn is a member of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW) and is registered to provide counselling to clients with a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), who are referred by their GP via the Western Victorian Primary Health Network (PHN), and Counselling/Therapy under the NDIS.

Jaimie Bellaart

Provisional Psychologist

Completed Bachelor of Psychological Sciences and Graduate Diploma of Psychology. Registered provisional psychologist and behaviour support practitioner.
Jaimie has experience working with NDIS participants and young adults leaving care. Jaimie implements the following techniques: Positive Psychology, ACT, and CBT.

Jaimie is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and Golden Key International Honour Society.

Jaimie is available to see clients referred under NDIS, VOC, and privately funded sessions.

Steve Miller

Provisional Psychologist

Provisional Psychologist with experience across aged care, community, disability, mental health and forensic services. Steve has previously worked as a Mental Health Clinician in multiple organisations throughout central and regional Victoria. Steve has skills and interests in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, with a particular interested in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Steve has experience with a diverse array of client presentations within a clinical context.

Prior to being granted Provisional Registration, Steve worked for several years in a variety of roles within the disability sector (e.g., Disability Support Worker, Mental Health Support Worker and Forensic Support Worker).

Steve completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) at the University of Adelaide. Steve’s Honours thesis was on the Effects of Acute Stress on Learning and Decision Making.

Steve has interests in the assessment, intervention and treatment of Anxiety, Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder across the lifespan.

Steve is available to see clients funded under the NDIS, VOCAT or Privately Funded.

Stacey Allison

Provisional Psychologist / Behaviour Support Practitioner

Stacey is a provisionally registered psychologist currently holding a Master of Professional Psychology and completing a Master of Psychology (Clinical) and a registered behaviour support practitioner. Stacey is interested in supporting and empowering clients of all ages to reach their full potential by taking a client-centre, empathic and strength-based approach.

Stacey has experience working in foster care and disability, and in departmental, legal, and educational settings. Stacey can provide a safe, trauma-informed space and together, will work on strategies that allow you to address your difficulties and build a meaningful way to move forward with strength, acceptance, and resilience.

Stacey is available to see clients referred under NDIS, VOC, and privately funded sessions.

Corrin Volker

Provisional Psychologist/ NDIS Therapist and Behaviour Support Practitioner

Corrin is a counsellor and behaviour support practitioner currently completing a Master of Professional Psychology at Deakin University.

Corrin’s personal values of respect, equity, and inclusivity strongly inform her person-centred, strengths-based work. Corrin has experience developing and implementing behaviour support plans and interventions with a broad range of individuals, their families, and supports, and she believes strongly in a holistic and collaborative approach.

Her interests include working with diverse populations, trauma-informed practice, and forensics; and her therapeutic style draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Polyvagal Theory.

Corrin is an Associate Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Corrin is available to see clients referred under NDIS.

Trish Lannen

Creative Arts Therapist
Anzacata professional membership

Trish completed her Masters in Creative Arts Therapy at the MIECAT Institute in Fitzroy. For many years Trish has worked in Education as a Primary School teacher (both classroom and art specialist) and Deputy Principal, firstly in Tasmania and then in schools around Ballarat. Trish has taught art to adults and children and found this to be very rewarding

Teaching art has given me many opportunities to witness the transformative possibilities of artmaking. Whoever I work with I always seeking to celebrate them, empower them and assist them to be all that they can be.

I do believe that creative expression provides opportunities for self-exploration, building capacity, deepening understandings of self and others, acceptance, and healing.

I use Art Therapy to help explore emotional experiencing, provide moments of mindfulness and self-care, and to assist in creating the pathways leading to a balanced, fulfilling, and integrated way of being in the world.

David L Stokes

Clinical Neuropsychologist

A psychologist with endorsed training in the area of clinical neuropsychology. His area of focus in his practice is the assessment of brain function and particularly skills like memory, strategy generation, problem-solving, organisation and planning. These assessments are particularly useful for people with developmental disorders, head injuries, stroke and a variety of illnesses affecting thinking and behaviour.

The assessments can contribute to clearer diagnoses, characterisation of a person’s strengths and weaknesses and enabling recommendations for life adjustment and community supports. David has had extensive experience in the health system (hospitals and clinics), on national policy committees, in private practice and with a variety of school and educational agencies. He has had extensive experience with working with children with learning disabilities and related developmental disorders but at the other end of the spectrum has worked extensively with more senior adults and the range of illnesses and diseases producing cognitive and behavioural changes, such as the dementias.

Ashleigh Stefanovski

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Ashleigh has completed a Bachelor of Psychology, and has experience working with children, adults, disability, mental health, and neurodiversity.

Registered with the NDIS for Behaviour Support, Ashleigh develops strategies tailored to individuals and helps to implement these across settings such as family homes, shared accommodations, and schools.

Ashleigh’s incorporates approaches of positive behaviour support, trauma-informed practice, and collaborative problem solving to support communication, positive relationships, and quality of life.

Lily Rowan

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Lily is registered with NDIS for Behavioural Interventions, and behaviour support plan writing and implementation. Developing strategies that build on a person’s strengths and to develop positive relationships, communication, and coping skills; plans tailored to the individual.

Victoria Aertssen

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Victoria is registered with NDIS for Behavioural Interventions, and behaviour support plan writing and implementation. Developing strategies that build on a person’s strengths and to develop positive relationships, communication, and coping skills; plans tailored to the individual.

Victoria has a Bachelors Degree in Education (P-12) and a Masters Degree in Leading Education. She has worked with students with additional needs in the education sector for 7 years, developing Individual Education and Behavioural Plans. During her work in schools, Victoria has been employed as Learning Specialist for Numeracy and a Leading Teacher for Wellbeing. She taught VCE Psychology and Mathematics in Secondary schools.

Victoria is currently undertaking a Masters of Applied Behavioural Analysis and is passionate about using interventions that are based on the principles of learning theory. She is working towards becoming a Certified Behaviour Analyst.

She is a student member of the Australian Association for Behaviour Analysis and a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Victoria can see NDIS participants in the office but can be flexible and provide outreach support or Telehealth dependent on individual circumstances and funding. Her interests include working with adolescents; however she has experience in the early intervention sector and with adults.

Tom Walters

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Tom is registered Provisionally with NDIS for Behavioural Interventions, and Behaviour Support Plan writing and implementation. Developing strategies that build on a person’s strengths and to develop positive relationships, communication, and coping skills; plans tailored to the individual.

Fiona Archer

Core Behaviour Support Practitioner

Fiona is registered Provisionally with NDIS for Behavioural Interventions, and Behaviour Support Plan writing and implementation. Developing strategies that build on a person’s strengths and to develop positive relationships, communication, and coping skills; plans tailored to the individual.