Our Psychologists

Dr Elizabeth (Liz) Buikstra is a Registered Psychologist with 23 years’ experience in clinical, project management, research and leadership including a wide range of areas such as resilience, mental health, human factors, rural and remote mental health, and health generally.

 Liz has a unique perspective on rural and remote mental health due to her diverse background working and researching in many parts of Queensland. She understands the specific environment in which Health, Defence Force and Policing personnel operate due to her previous ADF and Queensland Health experience and family ties.  She recognises the need for treatment to be tailored for issues such as workplace stress, burnout, trauma, PTSD, grief and loss, interpersonal and family difficulties.

Age Groups

• Young Adults
• Adults
• Older Persons

Therapeutic Modalities

• Eye Movement DesensitiSation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Strengths-Based Therapy
• Behavioural Activation Therapy 

I’m genuine, approachable and easy to talk to. I enjoy connecting with people from all walks of life and believe that a little humour, when the time is right, can help lighten even life’s heaviest moments. Therapy doesn’t always have to feel heavy. Sometimes understanding what’s happening in our minds and bodies, and finding hope can become powerful parts of the healing process.

Before becoming a psychologist, I spent many years working in the travel industry which included leading tours around the world. It was an adventurous and rewarding chapter of my life that fuelled my curiosity about people, their stories and the experiences that shape who they become. That curiosity has never left me. I’m endlessly curious about people and consider it a privilege when someone trusts me with their story.

I work with adults aged 16 years and over and have a particular clinical interest in supporting people living with the effects of complex trauma. A significant focus of my clinical work has been helping adults recover from the impact of childhood trauma, family and relationship trauma, workplace trauma, first responder trauma, motor vehicle accidents, death of a loved one and other overwhelming life experiences. I also enjoy working with people experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions and women’s wellbeing.

I believe therapy is a collaborative process. My role isn’t to tell people how they should live their lives, but to walk alongside them as they make sense of their experiences, recognise their strengths, values and discover new ways of moving forward.

Trauma can influence the way we think, feel, behave, relate to others and experience the world around us. It can leave people feeling stuck, overwhelmed or disconnected from themselves. 

“I believe healing doesn’t mean forgetting what has happened; it means helping people reclaim the parts of themselves that trauma tried to take away”

My work is informed by evidence-based approaches including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, neuropsychotherapy principles and Ego State Therapy. Every person is unique, so I tailor therapy to the individual rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

Seeking support takes courage, and I never lose sight of how difficult that first appointment can feel. My goal is for every client to leave feeling genuinely heard, understood and more hopeful than when they arrived. Whether you’re working through the effects of trauma, navigating life’s challenges or wanting to better understand yourself, I hope you’ll discover that healing is possible and that you don’t have to face life’s challenges alone. Because when one person heals, the ripple effect extends far beyond them. The emotional footprints we leave today have the potential to positively influence the lives of those around us for generations to come.

Age Groups

• Teenagers
• Adults
• Older Adults

Therapeutic Approaches and Modalities

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Group Therapy/Programs
• Mindfulness

Eleanor is a warm and compassionate Registered Psychologist who has worked with clients experiencing complex trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction and domestic violence issues. Eleanor also works with people dealing with a range of chronic health issues to assist them to better manage their symptoms.

Eleanor is client-centred and will try and find the therapeutic approach that fits the client’s needs. She has experience and professional training in a broad range of evidence-based therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behaviour Therapy (BT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Eleanor’s goal is to listen to her clients, in a supportive environment and assist them in becoming self-aware and experts in their emotional world. Her aims are to offer a range of practical strategies and tools to assist her clients in gaining skills to live the life they want to live.

Eleanor has been working with clients with substance use disorders for the past 8 years and prior to this worked as a counsellor in a domestic violence service for 5 years.  Eleanor has provided individual and group sessions with a focus on adult clients.

Eleanor holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and is commencing her studies for a Master of Clinical Psychology in 2026.  Eleanor is also a Board Approved Supervisor for Psychologists.

Age Groups: Adults

Treatment Modalities:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Behaviour Therapy (BT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Cognitive Therapy (CT)
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
• Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Mindfulness

For more than 20 years, Simone has worked as a Registered Psychologist within the private, community, allied health and educational sectors. She is a Board Registered Supervisor and an Adjunct Lecturer at James Cook University. She has established a reputation of building genuine connections across cultures, age, vocational and societal groups.

Cultivating rapport with respect and unconditional support has enabled Simone to assist clients, both individually and in groups, with developing skills to circumnavigate the obstacles to a meaningful life and promote psychological flexibility.

Simone is well versed in cognitive, behavioural and mindfulness therapies, such as MCBT, DBT and ACT. She is also familiar with mind/body focused therapies, including Somatic EMDR. Bolstering these approaches with narrative and solution-oriented techniques ensures that all clients, from late adolescence through to mature adult hood, have a therapeutic intervention program driven by their individuality.

‘Become director of the mind, not directed by the mind’

Age Groups
• Young adults
• Adults
• Older persons

Therapeutic Modalities:
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Brief Psychodynamic Therapy
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• IFS/Ego State therapy
• Mindfulness/Mindsight
• Positive psychology
• Relationship therapies
• Somatic therapy

Julie is a warm, compassionate, easy going psychologist who enjoys working collaboratively with people to strengthen their insight, skills and resilience. She uses a variety of approaches tailored to the individual’s needs and capacity whilst working within a holistic psychosocial  framework.

Julie has experience in working with clients experiencing grief and loss, stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD and complex trauma, neurodiversity, domestic violence, perinatal depression and anxiety and interpersonal/workplace stresses. Julie is a certified trainer in Circle of Security and Triple P and has facilitated groups to support maternal mental health, parenting and wellbeing.

Julie is also a Board Approved Supervisor and has 10 years experience working as a psychologist, prior to that worked for 10 years as a counsellor. She has worked in Child, Youth and Adult Mental Health, as a School and University Counsellor, with autistic clients and their families, as a Family Counsellor for a Domestic Violence Resource Service and as a Perinatal Psychologist.

Age Groups

• Perinatal/Postnatal
• Adults
• Older Adults

Therapeutic Approaches and Modalities

• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDRT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
• Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy and Perinatal/Women’s Mental Health

Peter is passionate about working collaboratively with individuals to understand and overcome psychological challenges, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. He is committed to supporting meaningful, lasting change, and works with people experiencing a range of chronic psychological difficulties. Peter’s approach focuses not only on helping individuals manage their symptoms, but also on enhancing overall quality of life and supporting greater engagement in the experiences that matter most to them.

Peter works collaboratively with clients to identify therapeutic approaches that best align with their individual needs and goals. He has experience delivering a range of evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Peter has a particular interest in supporting individuals experiencing PTSD and other stress-related conditions.

He is committed to helping clients develop a deeper understanding of how life experiences shape current patterns of thinking, emotion, and behaviour. Through this process, Peter provides practical, evidence-based strategies that empower clients with the skills and confidence to navigate challenges and achieve meaningful change.

Peter has over 15 years of experience across various settings such as private practice, remote Aboriginal medical services, in-patient rehab and detox facilities in Australia and abroad, providing psychological services in response to the disastrous south coast bushfires in NSW and more recently providing disaster focused counselling with the Royal Flying Doctor Service throughout Cape York in response to the devastating Cyclone Jasper event.  Peter focuses on adult and older clients.

Peter holds a Master of Clinical Psychology (Bridging), a Master of Public Policy and Administration, a Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) and a Graduate Diploma of Psychology.

Ange is a compassionate, professional, and down-to-earth Registered Psychologist with a passion for working with adolescents and older individuals.

Ange employs a holistic, strength’s-based approach in her practice, focusing on collaborative treatment for various mental health concerns. Utilising an eclectic approach to therapy, she is interested in emotional regulation, complex behavioural issues, adjustment disorders, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and broader societal challenges that impact wellbeing.

Ange has experience working with a broad range of evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Her aim is to work collaboratively with clients to support them to achieve their goals with improved wellbeing.

Ange has experience working in Child and Youth Mental Health Service working with adolescents who have a history of trauma, eating disorders, school refusal, and/or experiencing chronic self-harm and suicidal ideation; while supporting families to improve attachment and relationships. More recently, she worked with the Older Persons Mental Health Service supporting older individuals with adjustment, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.

Ange holds a Bachelor of Behavioural Studies (Psychology) and Graduate Diploma Psychology (Advanced).

Dr Annelies is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist originating from Belgium, who moved to Australia in 2017. Dr Annelies finished the training as a Psychiatrist and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in the Netherlands in 2004 where she had a special interest in diagnosing and treating ADHD, ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders until moving to Australia in 2017. She believed then, and still believes, in medication to treat mental health disorders but also in non-pharmacological strategies with the child and the important people around them including mindfulness and the collaborative problem-solving method (Ross Greene). In Australia, Dr Annelies has worked treating children's mental health problems caused by traumatic events, such as (complex) PTSD, Reactive Attachment Disorder and Dissociative Disorders. Dr Annelies again believes that medication can have a role in the treatment of these disorders, however, that therapeutic interventions and non-pharmacological strategies are equally important for the child and family's healing and recovery. 

Further Description: 

Dr Annelies completed her training as a medical doctor in Belgium in 1999 and then moved to the Netherlands where she completed her training as a Psychiatrist and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in 2004. For 14 years she provided specialised care in assessing and treating children and young people with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and their comorbidities, both in a clinical and out-patient setting. Dr Annelies worked passionately for 5 years as the Clinical Director of a day-clinic facility for children with severe mental health problems, where she pioneered a clinical enhancement program informed by the well-known collaborative problem-solving method (Ross Greene). Dr Annelies believes that medication can be helpful in the treatment for children and young people with ADHD and ASD, but also believes that therapeutic interventions and non-pharmacological strategies, like family work and skill development in the child, as well as the important people around and raising them, are equally important.

In Australia, Dr Annelies has worked for Queensland Health, treating children's mental health problems caused by traumatic events, such as (complex) PTSD, Reactive Attachment Disorder and Dissociative Disorders. Dr Annelies developed a keen interest in this area and has further trained in different therapeutic modalities (EMDR, Theraplay, DDP, Play Therapy), and completed a 12-month long, international certification course for treating complex PTSD with Bessel Van Der Kolk (2019) and an international 12-month long certification program in treating dissociative disorders in children and youth (2024, Waters and Marks). Dr Annelies again believes that medication can have a role in the treatment of (complex) PTSD, however, that therapeutic interventions and non-pharmacological strategies like attachment-based therapy (Theraplay, DDP) and individual treatment delivered in a playful way, like EMDR and dissociation treatment, are equally important for the child and family's healing and recovery. 

Age Groups:

• Children and Adolescents (0-17 yrs)

Therapeutic Approaches and Modalities:

• Theraplay - D(yadic) D(evelopmental) P(sychotherapy)
• EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
• Play Therapy
• Collaborative Problem Solving Method
• Dissociation Work
• Mindfulness
• Assessment
• Medication Therapy

Mark is a psychologist with a relaxed and down-to-earth style. He supports people to make meaningful change by creating a safe, respectful space where they feel heard, validated, and actively involved in their own growth. His approach is collaborative, with therapy goals and strategies shaped together from the outset.

Mark’s professional background spans both government and private sectors, including mental health facilities, hospitals, custodial environments, university settings, remote Indigenous communities, and telehealth services. He has delivered therapy to individuals and groups from diverse ages, cultures, and life experiences. 

He draws from a range of evidence-based therapies, including trauma-informed approaches, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), narrative work, communication skills training, and self-development - all tailored to each person’s needs. 

Mark has a strong interest in trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, stress, depression and men’s mental health. He also works extensively with clients experiencing relationship challenges, grief and loss, and recovery following illness or surgery.

Collette is a compassionate and empathetic psychologist who takes a strength-based approach to therapy. She values a holistic and systematic view of mental health, recognising the interconnectedness of physical health, nutrition, and the influence of family and social dynamics on overall wellbeing. Her main areas of interest include adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, mental health, and trauma related concerns including PTSD.

Collette is committed to working collaboratively with her clients, placing emphasis on supporting those who are new to therapy or hesitant to seek psychological support.Collette is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and trusting therapeutic space where clients feel comfortable and respected. She is passionate about understanding how mental health challenges and other presenting issues affect her clients’ daily lives and overall wellbeing.

Her approach combines thoughtful treatment planning with personalised, evidence-based interventions tailored to each client’s unique needs. Drawing on a range of modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapies, Collette helps clients regulate emotions, build resilience, and enhance their quality of life.

She is deeply committed to fostering compassion and offering the support clients need to work through life’s challenges and create meaningful, lasting change. Collette has 20 years of experience working as a registered psychologist, including nearly 15 years of experience working in forensic mental health. Her work has primarily been with adult men aged 18 and over. Since moving into private practice, Collette has broadened her focus to include both males and females in their late teens, as well as adult women. Collette holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours).

Age Groups:

• Older adolescents
• Adults

Treatment Modalities

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Schema Therapy
• Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
• Behaviour Therapy (BT)
• Cognitive Therapy (CT)
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness