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Meet the Team
Danae Callaghan - Lead Clinician
Danae is a PACFA registered Clinical Counsellor and Supervisor with a passion for supporting individuals and families to heal from trauma, understand and modify behavioural patterns, develop and enhance emotional regulation skills while supporting clients ability to communicate their needs thus supporting improvement within their relationships, sense of self and self-confidence.
Danae has worked with children, young people and their families, within the trauma space for over 10 years and brings with her qualifications in Community & Human Services, Developmental Trauma and Forensic Behavioural Science. Danae is also a Senior Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner.
Danae is accredited to practice EMDR (and is EMDRAA registered) which she incorporates with an Integrative Approach to Therapy which is responsive to each individuals needs.
Danae works with all ages and genders with specific interests in PTSD, CPTSD and childhood trauma, critical incidents (including sexual assault), addiction, eating disorders, behavioural challenges (including concerning or harmful sexualised behaviours), psychotic and dissociative disorders, negative core beliefs and problematic relational patterns. Neurodiverse and LGBTIQ+ friendly.
Danae's clients describe her engaging, authentic, "a bit of a mind reader", enthusiastic and we are often told that after seeing many Mental Health Professionals, they finally feel safe, understood and that they walk out of each session feeling lighter, with a reduction in some symptoms and useable strategies for others. Danae holds complex cases and is able to engage clients who have been unable to engage in therapeutic processes previously.
Naomi Farmer - Educational & Behavioural Specialist
Naomi is an experienced practitioner specialising in neurodiversity; assisting with a wide range of skill developments including emotional regulation, executive functioning, language and communication development. Naomi is a Specialist Behavioural Support Practitioner and has an incredible ability to assess functional capacity and behavioural motivation, supporting clients and the systems around them to make sustainable changes in behaviour, levels of distress, and social emotional capacity.
With over 10 years experience working as a teacher in both mainstream and special education, and an array of qualifications in Early Childhood Development, and positive behaviour support.
She is an advocate for strength-focused approaches to build foundational skills to overcome the challenges the neurodiversity presents in our society.
Naomi's skills and passions within her field also convert to her personal life, as in her spare time she is an advocate for social justice causes and community programs, and also enjoys reading and gardening.
Naomi She is available for one on one therapy, family support, staff training and professional development. Naomi is specialised in working with children, particularly those who are neurodiverse or with developmental delays, including those that are non-verbal or displaying behaviours of concern.
Naomi's clients describe her as incredibly patient, knowledgeable and responsive to their needs. They also note her ability to understand non-verbal language and see strengths and interventions that maximise capacity building. Our team certainly lean on Naomi for her out of the box ideas to support our younger clients and to assess often overlooked components of neurodiversity.
Neurodiverse and LGBTIQ+ friendly.
Kelly Hurst - Counsellor
Kelly holds qualifications in Community Welfare, Counselling and Mental Health. and is about to complete her Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Kelly's passion for helping others has lead her to joining us.
Kelly has worked in the local community for the past 12 years with a focus on people in immediate crisis.
Kelly has the ability to connect with people from all ages and stages of life and is a firm believer that we are not what we have endured, we are so much more.
Kelly is passionate about running and baking, after all, life is all about balance...
Kelly's clients describe her as straight to the point, hilarious and entirely non-judgemental.
Linda Petho - Art Therapist
Linda has completed a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and has completed further study in Art Therapy.
Linda has worked in the health and welfare industries for over fourteen years in a range of roles. Linda has worked therapeutically with children, adults, and young people, and has experience working both with individuals and facilitating small groups. Linda is passionate about empowering others using a person centred, humanistic approach.
Art therapy is not about changing people, or about being able to draw. Art Therapy provides a way of communicating without words. It provides people with a safe and nurturing space in which they can be themselves, without judgement. As an Art therapist, Linda facilitates an opportunity for individuals to express and expand themselves, and a nurturing space in which they can externalise and safely explore their human experience, using a variety of creative modalities and processes.
Linda is an extremely proud and devoted nan and mum, who loves traveling, connecting with others, time in nature and nourishing her own creative spirit.
Linda works primarily with children and young people or dyadically (with a child and parent/caregiver).
Linda's clients describe her as warm, non-judgemental and able to engage those who a hesitant to engage in therapy with ease, with the children and young people who see her always hanging out for their next session.
Bree Cross - Psychosocial Recovery Coach and Support Coordinator
Bree has been working within the NDIS framework since 2018 and joins our team as our Psychosocial Recovery Coach and Support Coordinator.
Through extensive lived experience and industry knowledge, Bree has established herself within the community as an advocate for people with a disability and NDIS funded supports.
She works closely with participants to ensure all options for recovery and increased capacity are available.
Bree has completed a Diploma of Mental Health and works alongside clients and their supports to tailor positive outcomes.
Bree is passionate about community engagement projects and is a member of the CFA. When she gets a chance to let her hair down, she can be found either playing poker or hitting up a local karaoke venue.
Samantha Szczepaniak - Support worker and Support Coordinator
Samantha has been working in the NDIS field for 18 Months, after 12 years in the aged care sector.
With care, empathy, support and respect for her clients, Samantha ensures a person-based approach.
Outside of work, Sam enjoys learning and studying, earning her qualifications in Cooking, Horticulture and Landscaping; amongst other things. Sam also enjoys art in all mediums, and loves sharing this hobby with her clients.
As a Mum of three adult kids and Grandmother of two blessings, Samantha understands the challenges family life can bring, and brings that understanding into her work.
Elicia Harrison - Business/HR Manager
Elicia is our amazing Business/HR Manager. Elicia ensures that the business runs smoothly day-to-day. If you are in on the right days, you will see Elicia at the front desk. She is your go to person for feedback, working diligently behind the scenes to ensure the team are continuously developing their skills and maintaining our aims of providing the best possible support for each individual in a way that makes them feel comfortable, understood and supported in a way that works for them.
Elicia brings positivity and enthusiasm to the organisation and team, leading from the front and setting the standard for our team culture.
Elicia makes sure that both our team and clients are well supported.
Currently studying her Diploma in Counselling, Elicia is keen to take on some of our incredible clients when she completes her studies!
And when not at work (or studying), Elicia is soaking up her young family, spending time with her closest, or binge-watching Criminal Minds for the 150th time...
Bonnie James - Senior Administrator and Client Services
Bonnie is the first port of call when you contact us here at THACG.
Rest assured you are in great hands with Bonnie, from your initial enquiry through to your appointment and end of services; Bonnie is with you each step of the way.
Also currently studying her Diploma in Counselling, Bonnie has an in-depth understanding of the therapeutic process.
Whilst Bonnie works remotely, every one of our clients feel like they know her well, she is the ultimate debriefer, often talking to our clients on their most challenging days and supporting them through whatever life throws at them until their Therapist can intervene (although it's not uncommon for clients to have a debrief with Bonnie and feel well enough to no longer need an urgent response!).
Perseus (Percy)
Percy is our in house peer support worker/cuddle therapist.
She brings her lived experience of making mistakes, but being supported and contained to overcome and move on. She's experienced grief and loss and she's not ashamed to ask for constant support (in the form constant pats).
She provides unconditional positive regard, sees the best in everyone and forgives readily.
She enjoys being used as a sensory toy (so soft and shiny!) and is honoured people are as vulnerable with her as she is with them.