Say hello to our beautiful team!
About Laura
Laura is a qualified, AASW practicing Social Worker with over 13 years of clinical experience, providing clinical mental health support across community settings for primary mental health services, private practice, and the disability and child protection sectors. Laura’s most recent roles include Therapeutic Support Clinician, Behaviour Support Clinician, Clinical Advisor and working in a Clinical Practice Directorate as a Senior Practice Leader/Project Lead in the Northern Territory.
Prior to this, Laura spent a large majority of her career with her family in remote parts of Australia (WA, NT), whereby cultural humility, sensitivity and congruence is significant. Rustling in the red dirt and camping in the outback suited Laura and her family perfectly! Her strong connection to her hometown of the Hunter Valley and her extended family brought her home, where she implemented her vision of creating a Hub space for individuals that fosters healing, connection, recovery and clinical excellence.
Laura is extremely passionate about walking alongside individuals on their own unique journey and has a natural ability to build relationships. Laura does this with ease through her professional, warm and down to earth nature and is highly skilled in providing a service that is tailored to an individual’s needs and essence. Laura is committed to ongoing learning, striving for deeper practice knowledge and understands the importance of staying connected to new learnings to be an effective and strong ethically-minded Director.
Laura is grateful for the ‘Hub’s Dream Team’ whereby all staff and clinicians hold values that align with the Hub’s deeper purpose. The Hub wouldn’t be what it is without our amazing clinicians!
Laura is grateful for the community support and looks forward to ongoing opportunities to grow and respond to the needs of our diverse community.
About Jessica
Introducing our gentle, kind, caring, driven, perceptive and self-aware Social Worker Jessica. Jessica is a qualified AASW practicing Social Worker with many years of experience in medical and mental health in-patient settings in both private and public sectors. Jessica has also completed a Bachelor of Counselling in 2015 with the Australian College of Applied Psychology and incorporates person-centred, strengths-based principles and theory into her scope of practice.
Jessica prides herself on providing a very high level of trauma-informed care, mental health support and family support to clients and their families. Jessica has worked alongside individuals from all walks of life, ages, backgrounds, experiences and embraces all individuals to support “humans in all their humanness”. Jessica works on important aspects of an individual’s life from their perspective to understand their goals, dreams, hopes, fears and barriers with a focus on capacity building to improve overall well-being and enhanced wellness. Jessica is passionate about supporting individuals to build upon their resilience, capabilities and strengths and supports each person uniquely in their recovery journey.
Jessica is a bubbly, warm and friendly clinician who has a strong connection to family and nature. In the spirit of her love of nature, Jessica will be studying Horticultural Therapy this year with a plan to use nature and plants in healing practices to support overall well-being to the mind and body.
About Kate
Introducing our deeply caring, critically thinking, knowledgeable, patient, empathic and highly skilled clinician/Social Worker Kate. Kate is an AASW practicing Social Worker who has profound experience in the mental health, homelessness and disability sectors.
Kate's extensive experience in the homelessness sector has certainly fueled her passion for supporting people to access and sustain housing that promotes their overall mental health. Kate understands that there are many factors that contribute to mental health and wellbeing and enjoys working alongside people to achieve their goals. Kate particularly enjoys supporting individuals to build confidence, work on distress tolerance skills, social skills and navigating systems.
Kate creates a safe space for people to talk openly about their mental health and has a natural ability to tailor supports to meet each person’s unique needs. When Kate is not devoting her professional time to FHH and our supporters she has her own social media wellness presence called “Full Cup Co.” whereby Kate posts about all things human: life challenges, personal growth, relationships and mental health. Kate is also a massive animal lover, enjoys art and getting outdoors in her spare time.
About Tracy
Introducing our therapy providing, strengths focused, honest, warm, social rights champion and clinician Tracy. Tracy is a qualified AASW practicing mental health social worker with over 13 years of clinical experience working between community and inpatient mental health settings. Prior to this, Tracy worked in the field of child protection and out of home care settings acting as an advocate for children and young people to enhance their safety and wellbeing.
Tracy is passionate about assisting individuals to lead happier and more fulfilling lives and to work towards individuals achieving their recovery goals by supporting people to better understand themselves through a process of self-discovery. Tracy adopts a down to earth, practical and person-centred approach and is a strong believer in individuals as the ‘expert’ in their own lives. Tracy does this by walking alongside individuals in their life journey rather than leading from the front and believes in the power of connection with an aim to build a therapeutic alliance with all of the clients she works alongside as the basis of facilitating change and growth. Tracy loves working as part of a team and takes a shared approach to making progress.
Tracy is excited about working within the NDIS community space and empowering and enabling people to be the best version of themselves whilst collaborating, connecting and creating a workspace that is inclusive, dynamic and meets the needs of our wonderful FHH clients. Tracy is a strong believer in life and work balance and enjoys hanging out with family and friends, enjoying good food, listening to live music and even dabbles in a bit of karaoke!
About Grena
Introducing our experienced, passionate, knowledgeable and caring clinician Grena. Grena is a Mental Health Occupational Therapist who has experience working in a variety of different areas of Mental Health including inpatient and community settings. Grena has a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) from the University of Newcastle and has since worked in both public and private healthcare settings. Grena is registered with AHPRA and is a member of OT Australia.
Grena believes everyone deserves a chance to access the support they require to live meaningful lives. Grena enjoys assisting people to feel empowered and equipped to take on challenges, find purpose and improve their quality of life. Grena delivers occupational therapy with use of different frameworks and approaches and appreciates the uniqueness of everyone’s story with an understanding that we all have different needs and priorities at different stages in our journeys. Grena provides assessments and interventions at our Hub Space in Lorn or in the community. These often include occupational therapy functional assessments, skills training, behaviour activation and coping strategies. Grena works with the individual, their loved ones and other supports to help address an individual’s goals. Grena also values the power of group based interventions and enjoys using her creativity in her work.
Grena embraces the importance of balance between productivity, rest and leisure. In her free time, Grena enjoys playing music, roller-skating, spending time with her loved ones, going for walks/hikes and cooking.
About Kristy
Introducing our spirited, patient, compassionate, caring and vibrant clinician Kristy. Kristy joins the FHH team with over 18 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist having worked in a variety of diverse and interesting settings. In more recent years Kristy has focussed on community based mental health including providing holistic supports alongside individuals in the NDIS space. Kristy is registered with AHPRA and is a member of OT Australia.
Kristy takes a client centred approach in helping individuals achieve their optimum potential to live a meaningful and happy life. Kristy believes in meeting clients where they are at on their journey and empowering individuals to work towards where they want to be. Kristy’s gentle and kind nature provides the foundation for an effective therapeutic relationship for clients to feel comfortable and motivated to achieve their goals with an ally by their side.
Kristy has extensive experience in providing both therapy and assessments for people with psychosocial disabilities and has a particular interest in trauma informed therapy including incorporating sensory modalities for a bottom-up approach to recovery.
Kristy will soon be launching her own Health and Wellbeing practice which incorporates nature-based therapies including concepts from Shinrin Yoku (Forest Bathing), meditation and breathwork surrounded by nature. Kristy has herself realised the benefits and healing power of nature for her own mental health through being immersed in nature with her favourite leisure activities including adventure racing, hiking and alpine sports.
Kristy will be covering a diverse area of the region and has a particular interest in connecting with and servicing individuals in the Upper Hunter and surrounding areas.
About Giselle
Giselle Naidu is the founder of Courageous Steps Psychology, based in Maitland. Giselle has 20 years of clinical experience as a Registered Psychologist. She trained and worked in South Africa and registered as a Psychologist when she immigrated in 2005. Giselle is registered with APHRA and with the APS. As a therapist she honors the courage it takes to want to work on, and improve ones mental health.
Giselle holds a Master's in Social Science (Psychology) and uses her ongoing professional development to offer clients an experience that respects where they are at in their recovery journey. She has worked at both a primary, secondary and tertiary intervention level within the field of mental health. Giselle's experience within private hospital settings and post discharge continuity of care, has given her a wealth of knowledge of how to tailor therapeutic interventions to best meet the needs of a client. Giselle understands that often change and healing is not a simple process and she will endeavor to continue to walk alongside her clients when change is difficult. As a mental health practitioner, Giselle allows the client to determine the changes they would like to see in their mental health. She believes change, however small, is possible and can lead to improvement in ones sense of well-being and connection within community.
About Justin
Introducing our skilled and passionate Counsellor Justin Carl. Justin is the Director of ‘About You Counselling’ and a great asset to our dynamic team. Justin has his Diploma of Counselling and Communication from Torrens University and is also studying a Bachelor of Social Work through UNE. Justin provides opportunities and a safe space where you can be yourself - talk about life and be supported to live the life that you want to live. The professional counselling techniques that align with Justin are Person Centred, Strengths-Based and Solution-Focused Therapy. Justin is an incredibly worldly character, who has this calming, engaging, insightful demeanor and energy.
Justin has supported people of all ages, backgrounds, and diverse circumstances such as those incarcerated or living in transience. Justin began studies for his Bachelor of Social Sciences in 2015, whereby he then proceeded to move into the social service/disability specific industries working in a variety of roles and of course walking alongside some incredible people on their unique journeys and has a particular interest in the ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing Space’. When Justin doesn’t have his Counselling hat on his greatest achievement is that of his beautiful family (being a father and husband) and is active in his community such as coaching his son’s soccer team and managing his other son’s AFL Team. Justin has also been known to play in the AFL Masters. For self-care Justin loves to go mountain bike riding and play golf.
About Shonah
Introducing our spirited, earthy, and skilled ‘Creative Art Clinician’ Shonah Trescott. Shonah is a graduate of the National Art School, Sydney and is a highly qualified, dedicated professional visual artist, creative arts mentor, educational consultant, and creative curriculum consultant. Shonah has excellent subject knowledge in art, photography, and environmental art and has predominately been living and working in Germany, Puerto Rico and the USA as a full-time artist and continues to exhibit her work internationally. Lucky for FHH and our supporters, Shonah has recently moved back to the Hunter Valley whereby she is excited to engage in the artistic fabric of ‘home’ on a deeper level after living and working abroad for the last 15 years. Shonah’s values strongly align with FHH, whereby she believes in using art as a tool to engage and empower communities and individuals to help bring about healing, connection, and empowerment and has a particular interest in using art in the mental health and wellbeing space. Shonah uses a variety of different art forms to assist individuals on the journey to express feelings that may be difficult, explore creativity and imagination, develop healthy coping skills, distraction techniques and mindfulness strategies, develop self-awareness, increase communication skills, improve social skills, relieving stress and anxiety, boosting self-confidence and self-esteem, improving mood and simply allowing individuals to find an activity of enjoyment. Shonah offers these opportunities for growth by creating a safe and nurturing environment.
Shonah has an excellent track record in working with individuals of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and abilities. Shonah has taught and supported students from the ages of 3 years including ESL students to the aged population. More recent projects have been working as master artist for the Heart-to-Heart painting program for high school mental health, wellbeing and mindfulness and she has taught in schools locally. Shonah’s experience is so diverse it will blow your mind. Watch this space as Shonah will be offering 1:1 and some amazing group sessions come 2022!
*Shonah isn't a professional member of ANZACATA
About Brooke
Introducing our wonderful Accounts Assistant Brooke Omotosho. Brooke brings a very diverse work history whereby she has lived and worked abroad specialising in accounts and credit control. Brooke's role is to support our amazing clinicians in doing what they do best by managing the paperwork in a highly organised and professional manner. Brooke is thrilled to be part of a dynamic team and a unique organisation who are shaking things up in the Mental Health Space. Great leaders are certainly often behind the scenes!!
About Ellana
Introducing our friendly Admin Assistant Ellana Kelly (Lana). Lana brings with her an extensive background in administrative work providing Feeling + Healing Hub - Allied Health Services with a friendly, professional and personalised service. Whilst working within the administration sector, Lana has been awarded nationally for her customer service skills and wishes to maintain this level of excellence with all of FHH clients, family members and support networks. Lana will very likely be your first point of contact, fielding inquiries and referrals in a timely manner.
Lana also will be assisting our amazing clinicians by taking care of our paperwork. You will see Lana getting creative with some of our socials so you can see updates of what the Hub has going on and what our clinicians and amazing clients are up too! Lana when not working, enjoys spending time with her husband and little girl. Lana has an incredible sense of humor and we cant wait for people to experience her amazing aura.