Meet the Team

Amanda Douglas

Principal Psychologist

Amanda is a compassionate psychologist who enjoys working with individuals from various diverse backgrounds. She is easy-going and can provide a safe space for you to freely share your experiences and emotional burdens.

Amanda can help ground you when things feel chaotic, and she can support you to develop insight and a stronger sense of self. Amanda’s primary interests include working with adults to explore their interpersonal relationships. For example, Amanda has worked with people who have faced feelings of guilt, blame, regret, anger, and uncertainty about relationships and will often use the therapeutic space to build her clients confidence and communication skills. She also enjoys working with individuals to overcome difficulties such as stress, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, and self-esteem issues and has experience working with individuals with trauma and psychotic illnesses.

Amanda embraces several approaches in her work and ultimately ensures a client centred approach. Her areas of practice include interpersonal psychotherapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, solution-focused and mindfulness techniques. Amanda has also worked within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) since its beginning stages in 2017. She is a registered Behaviour Support Practitioner who understands the complexities of positive support plans and supporting staff to work with individuals who may present with behaviours of concern. She has also worked within this space to provide intervention and has a thorough understanding of the reporting requirements. Amanda is an Ahpra registered supervisor.

The other things you need to know about Amanda!

She is a coffee lover and is regularly on the hunt for a good latte! Amanda has many interests and among them is her passion for animals, she has a few fur babies of her own and looks forward to a cuddle with them at the end of the day! Outside of this down time, she likes a good adventure and exploring new places or engaging in something a bit thrilling. She has done the 10 thousand ft sky dive drop and is presently learning to rock climb. She believes that having a balance between down time and a bit of adventure is incredibly important.

Professional Memberships

• Australian Association of Psychologist (AAPI)
• Association for positive behaviour support Australia
• The Restraint Reduction Network

Accreditations

• NDIA registered Behaviour Support Practitioner

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Chris Franck

Principal Psychologist

Chris is passionate about assisting adults with a range of challenges, including mood difficulties, anxiety, trauma, stress management, burn-out prevention and recovery as well as adjustment issues. He uses a range of evidence-based treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy, Mindfulness based therapies, Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Chris has held a strong 18-year career across public and private mental health and hospital services in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory on both executive leadership and clinician levels. He has also been involved in research, advisory panels, media, conference presentations and management consultation. He participated in the development, and had management oversight of, the Rockhampton headspace.

With experience as CEO of Banyan House, a Northern Territory-based 35-bed residential dual diagnosis alcohol and other drug recovery centre, Chris is equipped to support with addiction difficulties.

Having had a decorated 15-year career in the South African Defence Force, Chris is passionate about assisting veterans of all ages with a range of difficulties with high prevalence mental health disorders and adjustment difficulties. Additionally, Chris specialises in working with men of all ages across all walks of life – including medical professions, practical/trade professions and farming communities.

Chris takes an upfront yet compassionate person-centred and supportive approach, tailoring therapy to individual needs and empowering his clients to meet their goals.

Other things about Chris:

Chris is a devoted family man living with his wife and daughter (and their four Siamese cats). As an avid foodie he enjoys exploring the café culture of Melbourne – loves fine dining and appreciating different cultural experiences and traditions. He enjoys travelling – especially on his motorbike. Being a coffee lover, Chris is always on the hunt for the perfect Melbourne Magic. He hails from South Africa and misses the abundant wildlife and of course … Rugby! He can facilitate therapy in Afrikaans.

Professional Memberships:

• Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPI)
• Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)

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Gary Maloney

Psychologist

Gary is passionate about helping people who are struggling to manage and overcome their challenges, and supporting individuals in their personal growth and to achieve their potential, so they can live the life they want, as their true and best selves. He aims to help deepen self-awareness, encourage the development of flexibility in thinking, assist in the development of healthy coping and living, to feel empowered and to take positive action and ultimately improve wellbeing and life satisfaction.

Gary takes a calm, relaxed, empathetic, and person-centered approach to meet individual needs. He has experience working with people from diverse backgrounds. Areas of focus include anxiety, stress, depression, self-esteem, sleep, procrastination, university/workplace issues, emotional abuse/bullying, injustice, anger, life direction and goal focus.

Other things to know about Gary:

Gary enjoys conscious and compassionate living, practicing mindfulness, keeping fit and healthy eating. He enjoys spending time in his garden, meditation, nature walks, running, reading, listening to music and watching AFL.

Professional Memberships:

• Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPI)

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Sam De Vere

Psychologist

Based in our new Hawthorn clinic, Sam is an empathetic psychologist who strives to create a comfortable and judgement free environment for her clients. She enjoys working with adolescents, young adults and adults, and strongly believes in a collaborative approach.

Sam offers a calm, supportive and sometimes humorous environment as she understands the importance of feeling comfortable and safe when sharing what sometimes can be very vulnerable moments. Sam has experience working with people from diverse backgrounds and understands that therapy is a deeply personal experience. She aims to help people better understand their relationships with others and themselves so to allow for the facilitation of empowerment, healthy coping strategies and positive self-regard.

Sam takes a client-centered approach and adapts the therapeutic space to that of the client’s needs. She practices evidence-based interventions such as Interpersonal Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. Included in these practices, Sam values a strength-based underpinning within therapy.

Sam has experience working with people of all ages and backgrounds. She is passionate about working with those who are experiencing anxiety, depression, stress (personal, work, school), adjustment problems and mood disorders. Sam has also previously worked with those experiencing emotional abuse and domestic violence.

The other things you need to know about Sam!

Sam is a plant fanatic and is always perusing the bargain bin for plants that she can rehabilitate and then send to a new home which often, funnily enough, ends up being her own. Sam also enjoys listening to true crime podcasts whilst cooking. When she is not on the hunt for new plants Sam can be found planning her next trip and has a passion for all things Roman history related.

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Donna Reilly

Psychologist – Collingwood & Hawthorn

Donna enjoys working with both adolescents and adults to manage some of life’s challenges. She is passionate about helping clients to see themselves as they truly are, understand what makes them unique, uncover unconscious conditioned patterns and explore new ways of being.

Donna offers a warm, compassionate, trauma informed and person-centred approach to therapy and her friendly nature helps clients feel at ease. She knows that engaging in therapy can be daunting, and therefore works to create a safe space of acceptance and trust.

Therapy also doesn’t have to be serious all the time and Donna takes a relaxed approach to her sessions, sometimes using humour to share in the lighter side of life.

Donna experiences great joy from watching people transform their lives and learn to thrive. She relishes working with people from all walks of life and feels grateful to always be learning from the clients she engages with.

Donna supports her clients to understand and set therapy goals, provide psycho-education, psychological strategies and insights as well as evaluating progress.

Donna practices cognitive therapies including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Solutions Focused Therapy, as well as weaving in an Interpersonal Therapy focus to utilise the therapeutic relationship as a vehicle for reflection and change.

Donna has experience working with adolescents and adults impacted by mental ill health in a community mental health setting supporting individuals and their families on their recovery journeys. She also has experience working with victims of crime, survivors of family violence and abuse, and then return to work space assisting clients to re-enter the workforce.

Areas of Interest:

• Depression
• Mood Disorders
• Adjustment Disorders
• Navigating Life Transitions
• PSTD and trauma
• Victims of Crime
• Family Violence
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Assertiveness Training
• Anxiety Disorders (panic, social anxiety and generalised anxiety)
• Stress Management
• Return to work
• Building Self esteem
• Psychological Assessment

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Anastasia Kioutsoukis

Psychologist

Based in Collingwood, Anastasia is a welcoming and nurturing psychologist who enjoys being with people. She easily connects with everyone she works with. She provides each person she sees with the space to talk openly and work through any difficulties and issues. She is deeply interested in helping others tell their story and enjoys working with adults from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Anastasia has a keen interest in working with family and relationship dynamics, and looking at the overall working relationships and personal patterns. She likes to explore how the past can affect the future and how we perceive ourselves in the external world. Anastasia further enjoys exploring how our ingrained experiences, traumas and habits manifest and can affect our unmet emotional needs.

Anastasia uses an individual-based therapy depending on your needs. She will use a variety of styles and interventions to help you understand how a mental ill health experience or condition has manifested and will work with you to explore these experiences. Some of the techniques she will use include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

Anastasia has previously worked in a NDIS space providing support to adults surrounding issues of identified family trauma and interpersonal conflict. She has also worked with people with Multiple Sclerosis and has an interest in how physical conditions play a part in our mental health.  Ana is fluent in Greek.

Other things to know about Anastasia:

Anastasia is an avid foodie and thoroughly enjoys exploring new venues in and around Melbourne, whether it be a café or a prime dinner location! She is constantly on the hunt for a good Eggs Benedict and will happily take suggestions. Aside from her love of a good meal, she enjoys spending her time with friends and family.

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Ana Romero

Psychologist

Ana is a warm compassionate psychologist who employs a collaborative approach which strives to build strong therapeutic relationships to enable exploration, insight, and growth within the therapeutic space. Ana provides a safe space to explore current life difficulties. She will explore your values to work with you to live an engaged and meaningful life.

Ana employs mindfulness-based approaches and will often use the therapeutic space to enhance emotional regulation, communication, and problem-solving skills in accordance with your goals. Ana has a special interest in trauma and has worked with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder. Ana firmly believes that individuals should not be limited by their mental health and she will work with you to utilise your strengths to empower you to make decisions that are conducive to wellbeing both in and out of your sessions.

Ana draws on a range of therapeutic modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Ana has worked in mental health and disability across New Zealand and Australia since 2010 and she is continuously undertaking professional development and referring to current evidence to enhance her knowledge and skills.

Other things to know about Ana:

Ana is an avid yogi in her spare time and prefers to be outdoors hiking or at the beach during the weekend. Originally from New Zealand, Ana is always on the lookout for a good Hokey Pokey ice cream recommendation.

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Rita Di Mauro

Rita is our Practice Manager, and the friendly face who will welcome you into Groundwork Psychology, Collingwood. She can appreciate the initial steps in seeking a psychologist can be difficult and endeavours to help make that process easier. You will often have spoken to her via phone or email before meeting her in person.

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Brittany Hill

Psychologist

Brittany is part of our Groundwork Psychology team in Hawthorn. As a registered psychologist and member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), Brittany enjoys empowering people to reach their full potential in life. Brittany’s warm and relaxed manner will assist you to feel comfortable in sharing your experience, to ultimately facilitate personal growth. She provides a non-judgmental and empathetic understanding, enabling the safe exploration of presenting concerns.

Brittany is passionate about preventative mental health care, recognising the importance of early intervention. She has a keen interest in working with young people (adolescence and young adults) to foster healthy coping across their lives. She has an understanding of the many challenges young people face; balancing the pressures of social, family, study and work life. This interest extends to working individually with first time parents, building confidence in their perinatal transition when insecurities often arise.

Brittany has experience from working in community mental health, family and employment services exposing her to diverse populations and groups across the lifespan.
Brittany will work with you collaboratively to gain an understanding of maladaptive patterns presenting which may contribute to symptoms of depression, anxiety, adjustment, stress, anger, sleep disturbance or difficulty communicating. She utilises evidence-based interventions to help you discover the best version of yourself; building on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), strength based, solution focused and motivational interviewing principles.
Other things you need to know about Brittany.

Brittany enjoys cheering on the red and blue at the MCG and seeking unique finds at markets or vintage stores. She loves the thrill of giving something new life and often uses her purchases to work on creative projects of her own. Brittany can also be found busting a move at zumba to keep fit whilst having fun, and she is always up for a good laugh.

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