Each of our therapists have completed extensive training in accordance with our individual areas of interest as well as enjoying offering support for general health and wellbeing. We are also committed to the Ethical and Professional Guidelines established by our governing bodies, including AHPRA; OTA; APS; Clinical College of APS and AAPi.
Dr Tracey M Walker
Clinical Psychologist, Director and Founder of Minding Family
“Every heart sings a song.”
Tracey’s primary focus has now moved to teaching, mentoring and supervising her interns and early career psychologists.
She has extensive experience supporting individuals and families for a wide range of clinical difficulties including stress, depression and anxiety. Anxiety problems can be diverse and include generalised and separation anxiety, phobias and related conditions such as Perfectionistic Traits and Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder. She is particularly passionate about supporting parents and being able to empower families to find the right balance for their lives. She also has a strong understanding of the Autism Spectrum Conditions and other complex neurodevelopmental difficulties such as ADHD, Tourette’s Disorder, Learning Disorders and enjoys completing detailed psychological diagnostic assessments for these conditions to enable early intervention and appropriate learning support to be coordinated in the educational environment.
Tracey also enjoys delivering workshops and training sessions and has been an adjunct and guest Lecturer for James Cook University.
Qualifications and Accreditations:
- B Psych (Hons); D Psych (Clinical)
- Member of Australian Psychological Society (MAPS)
- Fellow of APS Clinical College
- AHPRA Approved Supervisor for 4 + 2, 5 + 1 Intern Programmes, Clinical Registrar Programme, and Working in addition to Higher Studies Programme.
Kerry Abbott
Occupational Therapist, Operations Assistant of Minding Family
“Occupational Therapy. Hopeless into hope. Can’t into can. Impossible into Possible.”
Whilst Kerry enjoys working with individuals across the lifespan, her area of passion is in Early Intervention. She is very experienced working in the Neurodiverse field and helps individuals with developmental motor delays, sensory processing anomalies, attentional / behavioural / emotional dysregulation, Autism Spectrum conditions, learning difficulties (physically, mentally and cognitively), Executive Dysfunctions and life-skills building. She is also experienced in the completion of ASD and Full Functional assessments. She is passionate about supporting families manage their children’s challenging behaviours and enjoys helping them achieve positive growth.
Kerry’s occupation-based therapy means that intervention is fun and engaging. It increases the child’s engagement and willingness to attend therapy, helps reduce stress in the session and helps encourage and improve communication.
Kerry is also passionate about assisting our more mature clients with maximising their ability to engage and complete daily activities that give meaning and purpose to our lives. This can include work, leisure, life skills including budgeting, getting dressed or making a meal or a cup of tea.
Kerry can provide service therapies under the Chronic Disease Management Initiative (also known as EPC), National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Private health funds. Kerry is also working toward her Mental Health Clinician accreditation.
Qualifications and Accreditations:
- B Occupational Therapy
- Member of OT Australia
Linda Nerboni
Provisional Psychologist – Currently on Medical Leave
“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together” – Brene Brown
Linda is a warm and approachable person who is passionate about supporting individuals of all ages to experience wellbeing. Working from a strengths-based perspective, Linda uses evidenced based treatment strategies tailored to individual needs and clients’ personal goals. She believes it is a privilege to come alongside children, adolescents, and adults and assist them to identify their strengths, appreciate their value, develop new skills, and experience resilience in the face of challenges.
Linda has experience working in the education system and supporting children and adolescents presenting with a range of emotional, social, and behavioural challenges, as well as mood and anxiety disorders (eg. depression, generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias). She is particularly passionate about supporting individuals with complex neurodevelopmental differences (eg. Autism, ADHD, intellectual impairment). Linda values the role that parents and caregivers play in children’s lives and enjoys collaborating with them to support their children and enhance parenting skills when challenges arise. Linda is developing her skills in psychometric testing.
Qualifications and Accreditations:
- BPsych (Hons)
- Associate Member of Australian Psychological Society (AMAPS)
Aasmund Helness
Registered Psychologist
“All those days that came and went, little did I know that they were life.”
Originally from Norway, Aasmund moved to Australia in 2015 to study psychology and graduated with a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) from James Cook University in 2019. Since then, he has worked in Private Practice at Minding Family Townsville, where he has had the opportunity to work with a variety of presentations across the lifespan.
Aasmund places value on getting to know each client (and their families for the younger ones) and then meeting them where they are at. This means not throwing more at the client than they can handle, and collaboratively building the skills they and their family need to thrive. Every person is different, and they all come with their own experiences, perspectives, strengths, and difficulties. Therefore, Aasmund values tailoring interventions to the individual, by providing the treatment that best suits their needs while building on their strengths and interests.
Aasmund has experience working across the lifespan with a range of presentations, including, but not limited to, neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), Anxiety Disorders (e.g. Social anxiety, Specific Phobia), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, and Tic Disorders. Aasmund places a high importance on working with the family as a whole when his client is younger. This helps both the client and their support systems grow and implement skills allowing everyone to thrive.
Whilst Aasmund is adept at employing various evidence-based treatment approaches to suit the individual client’s needs and wishes, he tends to adopt a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) informed approach. CBT is a collaboration between client and clinician where focus is placed on examining connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and how they each influence each other. Making small changes to each component can often influence the others, in turn creating a higher quality of life for the individual.
Qualifications and Accreditations:
- Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
- Accredited to provide assessment and intervention under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
- Associate Member of Australian Psychological Society (AMAPS)
Stephanie Brus
Registered Psychologist
“When things change inside you, things change around you.”
Steph graduated from James Cook University with a Bachelor in Psychology (Honours) in 2014. From there, Steph went on to work with families, children and young people who had been involved with, or were at risk of entering the child protection system. During this time, Steph worked in Mount Isa, Mornington Island and Townsville, and gained extensive experience working with families who experience multiple and complex challenges with mental health, disability, substance use, parenting challenges, domestic and family violence, family separation and intergenerational trauma.
Steph’s experiences led her back to her career as a Psychologist and she completed her 2 year internship pathway to registration at Minding Family. Although Steph has a special interest in complex childhood trauma and its impacts across the lifespan, Steph has diversified her knowledge and skills. Steph is keen to work with people from across the lifespan and with a variety of presentations including neurodevelopmental disorders, mood disorders, stress management and life balance and other challenges with cognitive, emotional and social wellbeing. She has a particular passion to work with women’s mental health and wellbeing supporting them to enhance their self-empowerment, assertiveness and to reach their full potential.
Steph is passionate about ensuring people have a positive and welcoming experience when they access supports. Steph uses a warm, client-centred approach to help clients feel comfortable and ready to participate. Steph also believes in “going slow to go fast” – taking the time to gain a thorough understanding of a person, their journey and their needs, so that the best outcomes can be achieved.
Qualifications and Accreditations:
- Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
- Graduate Certificate in Domestic and Family Violence Practice.
Leah Chrisp
Psychologist / Clinical Registrar
“You define your own life. Don’t let other people write your script.” — Oprah Winfrey
Leah’s professional journey has been as diverse as her cultural background, having grown up in New Zealand. Initially embarking on a career within the banking sector, she transitioned to the field of psychology after starting a family. Leah graduated with a Master of Clinical Psychology from James Cook University in 2024.
With a varied background spanning finance, education, public health, and disability sectors, Leah brings a wealth of experience to her role as a registered psychologist. Her expertise lies in psychological assessment, with a particular focus on learning disorders. Leah is dedicated to connecting with individuals and their families, providing them with the answers and support they need to navigate their challenges.
Leah’s passion for her work stems from her belief in the power of relationships. She understands that fostering a strong therapeutic alliance is fundamental to supporting individuals through their struggles. Warm, empathic, and armed with a strength-based perspective, Leah employs a variety of evidence-based interventions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Leah aims to empower her clients with practical strategies they can implement in their daily lives.
As Leah embarks on her clinical registrar program at Minding Family, she is driven by her commitment to providing holistic care across the lifespan. Her goal is to walk alongside individuals as they navigate life’s challenges, offering support, guidance, and encouragement every step of the way.
Qualifications and Accreditations:
- Bachelor Science (Psychology)
- Bachelor Psychology (Honours)
- Masters Psychology (Clinical)
- Registered with AHPRA for the Clinical Registrar Programme
Emily Cannavan
Provisional Psychologist
“Every person on this earth is full of great possibilities that can be realized through imagination, effort, and perseverance.”
Emily graduated from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and is nearing completing her 2yr internship as a Provisional Psychologist with Minding Family. Emily has previous experience in early intervention of children aged 2 to 6 years with Autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental concerns. Emily has learned how to form valuable relationships with children and their families to see positive outcomes through a supportive, safe and non-judgemental practice.
Emily has dedicated her training towards constantly expanding her skills as well as learning from the well experienced team at Minding Family. Emily values creating a space where clients feel supported and safe in which they can work together to reach the clients goals. She is currently working in the Early Intervention team and supporting Parents to feel empowered to help their children with challenging behaviours.
Qualifications and Accreditations:
- BPsych (Hons)
- Associate Member of Australian Psychological Society (AMAPS)
Madilyn Beplate
Provisional Psychologist
“Flourishing is not the absence of struggle but finding meaning and growth through it.”
Madilyn graduated from James Cook University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and is currently completing her Master of Clinical Psychology degree at Central Queensland University. While studying psychology, Madilyn worked as a residential youth worker and tutor, where she developed a passion for working with children, adolescents, and families. Madilyn enjoys finding creative ways to empower young minds with the skills and confidence to reach individual goals.
Madilyn has experience helping children and their families work through challenges with anxiety, depression, inattention and hyperactivity, alongside learning and social difficulties. For Madilyn, one of the most important steps in delivering quality services is developing a strong, safe, and supportive relationship with clients. Madilyn believes allowing clients to feel heard and understood is essential for growth. While using evidence-based practices, she also recognises the importance of client-driven outcomes and tailoring approaches to meet individual needs.
With an open-minded approach and enthusiasm for creating meaningful change in people’s lives, Madilyn is excited to continue supporting clients with Minding Family.
ADMIN TEAM
We have a team of amazing individuals, Emma (Senior), Alkira and Nicola, who share the Reception and Administration duties for Minding Family. Together, they help make our beautiful clinic a welcoming, safe and respectful place to visit. Their attention to detail along with their sensitivity to Mental Health and Wellbeing will help your access to Minding Family’s services be as smooth and efficient as possible.
Emma Thompson(Senior Admin and Reception; Operations Team Member)
Alkira Sorbello(Reception and Admin Duties)
Nicola Simmons(Reception and Admin Duties)