Our Experts

Clinical Director and Founder

B.A Psych (Hons.), PGDip Psych, PGDip ProfPsych, M.Psych (Clinical)

Jaimie Bloch is a Clinical Psychologist, Behavioural Expert, Researcher and Program Developer.

She is passionate about working with youth and adults in understanding, developing and managing the human experience. Jaimie has been working with youth and adults within a range of contexts since 2007. She is an expert behavioural consultant for children and adolescents and has a special interest in the treatment, creation and management of interventions both in individual, group, school and online forums for children, adolescents, adults and families.

Jaimie has spent years studying and perfecting her craft with a Bachelor of Psychological Science, a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), a Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology and a Master’s of Psychology (Clinical).

Jaimie uses her flair for creativity to encompass both holistic and evidence-based approaches when developing group therapy, school-based or individual and corporate programs. She is passionate about creating comprehensive intervention plans, setting up support systems for individuals and families, motivated to bridge the gap between Psychology, Science and Human understanding. Her greatest passions include teaching, researching, developing programs and writing articles that meld Western Psychology, Philosophy, Human Social Psychology and the neuroscience behind the brain that is both palatable and enjoyable to engage with and understand.

Jaimie’s philosophy is that knowledge is power. She believes that the knowledge we can learn and gather about ourselves, our brains and others can empower us to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. She believes minds move better together, and that with the support of a guiding light, whether that be through a mentor, coach or information, we can feel more connected and enlightened, and ultimately empowered in our own life journeys.

Jaimie is a leading psychologist in Sydney and is creative, energetic and grounding in her approach with children, youth and families, making a special effort to instil a sense of self-efficacy and hopeful curiosity towards life’s journey in each person she encounters.

Psychologist

B.A Psych Sci (Hons.), M.Psych (Counselling)

Leigh is a curious, empathetic and passionate psychologist who works with young people, adolescents and adults to help create positive and lasting psychological change and growth. She strives to create a safe and connected space for young people to explore their vulnerability. Leigh has assisted adolescent and adult clients who have experienced a range of psychological concerns such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss, family and relationship difficulties, eating disorders and self-harm. She has a special interest in working with people who have lived through trauma and/or are dealing with complex issues. Leigh works holistically with other helpers, including GP’s, allied health and schools to provide the most effective and supportive care for her clients.

Leigh has a wealth of clinical experience working in Australia, the UK and Europe. She has worked in a number of different settings including private clinics, the public health system, charities, NGO’s and management consultancies. She has been formally trained in a number of techniques that are supported by evidence, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Leigh is a certified Yoga instructor and she incorporates her experience of calming the body and mind into her work and life.

Leigh has extensive experience running workshops and developing group therapy and training for organisations. She has designed and hosted yoga courses for mental health, including trauma-informed yoga.

Leigh is kind, empathetic and warm. She works in partnership with families, young people and adults; developing strategies for managing unhelpful or intrusive psychological issues. Leigh is passionate about identifying and harnessing a person’s already-existing strengths and she is committed to helping connect her clients to a deeper understanding of who they are.

Psychologist

B.Psych

Yalda is a caring, non-judgemental and compassionate psychologist committed to providing client-centred care for children, adolescents, young adults and their families. Yalda’s wealth of knowledge and extensive experience in treatment interventions comes from her experience from hospital, non-for-profit and private settings. She has experience working in national youth mental health organisations as well as in the private consultation sector for children and families who are dealing with trauma and early and emerging mental health challenges, such as anxiety (e.g., phobias OCD, social anxiety), mood disorders, behavioural challenges, emotion regulation difficulties, anger management, interpersonal difficulties, self-harm, risk-taking behaviour, trauma and emerging early psychosis.

She draws on various evidence-based therapeutic modalities, some of which include: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, Play and Art Therapy and Trauma-Focused Therapy. Yalda has extensive training in various parenting programs, such as 1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching, Engaging Adolescents and Bringing up Great Kids and draws upon this work to support parents who are feeling fatigued by the stress and complexities of the parenting journey. Yalda has a warm and empathic approach. She is an expert in working collaboratively with parents and schools to create tailored support plans that look at understanding the core difficulties faced by her clients, ensuring that she tailors the therapy to improve her client’s overall well-being and building skills for long-term positive outcomes.

Yalda strives to support her clients see the external and internal challenges life presents as manageable, whilst also uncovering and developing their unique strengths and capabilities to connect to their best life and self, no matter how old or young. Yalda has a special interest in utilising creative and engaging methods to support her clients in connecting to the process of change. She is dedicated to creating a safe, non-judgmental space that allows for empowerment and transformation. Yalda is practical in her approach, and sees the benefit and need for all children and parents to possess a toolbox of skills to take with them through all of life's stages.

Psychologist

B. Psy (Hons)

Scott is an empathetic, dynamic and caring psychologist. He is passionate about working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Scott’s approach to therapy is to create a safe and nurturing space to allow his clients to be and express their authentic self.  He approaches all families with inclusivity and care, and this encompasses a range of diverse populations and communities. Scott uses a person-centred approach by working collaboratively with families, carers and children to empower and inspire growth and positive change as a collective. He believes change requires collaboration and meaningful connection between the child, family, therapist and other important stakeholders in order for the whole system to work as a team in achieving goals together.

Scott has experience working in private practice settings and not-for-profit organisations. He enjoys building a strong therapeutic alliance with his clients in creating a space that allows them to be motivated and inspired to learn and develop a stronger sense of self. He is trauma-informed and incorporates sensory activities such as yoga, movement and art into his appointments to make therapy fun and engaging.

Scott is experienced in providing intervention for children, adolescents and adults presenting with developmental disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anger management, adjustment difficulties, relationship difficulties, friendship issues, behaviour problems, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma and sexuality and gender identity issues. Scott also has extensive experience in providing child behaviour management support to parents and other services as well as supporting children develop their skills in regulating their emotions and social awareness. Scott also conducts group-based therapy as a certified Westmead Feelings Program facilitator which aims to develop emotional and social skills for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Scott is passionate in implementing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Play Therapy, Schema Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy. He draws from a range of interventions to personalise treatment for each unique client.

Scott is certified in the assessment of developmental disorders, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder. He enjoys conducting cognitive assessments to determine intellectual and functional levels to identify appropriate supports a child, adolescent or adult may need in living to their strengths and creating the foundations to live to their full potential.

Psychologist

B. Psy (Hons) M. Clin Psych

Bre is a warm, compassionate and authentic psychologist. She is passionate about working with children, adolescents and families. She also has expertise in providing safe, respectful psychological support to members of LGBTIQA+ communities.

Bre uses a strength-based, systematic approach, that acknowledges treatment can be most effective when all family members are involved. Bre uses a collaborative approach to support not only the child or adolescent but the family and wider network involved in the client’s care team. Bre focuses on developing a strong therapeutic alliance and ensuring that the client feels heard, respected and understood as a way to support them feel more connected and empowered in their everyday lives.

Bre enjoys and is experienced in working with parents. She is specifically trained in manualised evidence-based treatments for anxiety and externalising behaviour disorders (i.e. Cool Kids and Confident Carers Cooperative Kids, respectively). She also enjoys working with couples to assist their own wellbeing and the functioning of the family unit. Bre works holistically with other support systems around the child including teachers, GPs and other allied health professionals.

Bre has experience working in school settings, university clinics, inpatient, rehabilitation, and not-for-profit organisations. She believes that every client is unique, and she is flexible to each client’s presentation and needs. She enjoys bringing a sense of humour and play into sessions with young children. She is trauma-informed and non-judgemental of each person’s journey. She has experience helping people with anxiety and its related disorders (phobias, social, panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder), Autism Spectrum Disorder, anger management, bullying, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, gender dysphoria, adjustment to difficult life transitions, poor body image, stress, sports psychology, interpersonal difficulties and relationship breakdowns, attention/hyperactivity, and poor sleep.

Overall, Bre’s main treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Parent Management Training. However, she also draws from other therapies such as Psychodynamic Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness-based strategies. She also brings her previous sleep, nutrition and sports experience into the room.

Psychologist

B.Sci Psych (Hons.), M.Psych (Counselling)

Nikki is a calming, warm and experienced psychologist who has over seventeen years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults of varying ages. Nikki has worked as a school psychologist for ten years and has eight years of experience with a well-known not for profit community organisation where her focus was out-of-home respite care and counselling. Additionally, she has consulted for the UNSW Student Counselling Service, as well as volunteering for Lifeline for six years; worked at Headspace and in her own private practice. Nikki has extensive experience in facilitating groups and working one on one with children with issues of anger management, bullying, body image, self-esteem, anxiety, emotional instability, interpersonal problems and various other areas. Nikki is also a qualified family dispute resolution practitioner specialising in counselling children whose parents are going through separation and divorce.

Nikki offers an integrative approach to her practice combining a number of treatment disciplines, including Narrative Therapy, CBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, Mindfulness and ACT. She is able to focus on each modality or create a personally structured treatment to suit her clients. Nikki is a warm, compassionate professional who cares deeply about her clients. Her solution-focused therapy, her empathy and capacity for connection enables her to provide effective and practical help for her clients, their families and the various stakeholders who may be involved. Nikki is passionate about helping connect her young clients to a deeper understanding of who they are, how they work and tapping into their own strengths and internal skills. She is dedicated to creating a safe, non-judgmental space that allows for change and transformation through connection and kindness.

Psychologist

B. Psy (Hons), M. Clin Psych

Julia is a friendly, compassionate and warm psychologist with a passion for working with children, adolescents, adults and families. Julia’s approach is collaborative and non-judgemental and she aims to equip her clients with information, guidance and skills that lead to positive and lasting change. She has a relaxed approach to therapy and likes to focus on her client’s strengths and use these to overcome challenges. She believes in empowering clients so that they can work towards their values and goals. Julia aims to create a safe and nurturing space for clients to explore their difficulties. She understands that each person is different and creates tailored and individualised treatment plans to suit each client.

Julia has worked with clients of various ages and backgrounds and with a wide range of mental health difficulties across private, public health and university clinic settings. Julia has experience working with a range of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, self-harm, tic disorders and Tourette’s syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, stress, bullying, sleep problems and specific phobias.

Julia is also passionate about improving community mental health. Her recent research focused on reducing binge eating in the community in order to decrease cost and increase access to treatment.

Julia utilises a number of therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). She also draws from other therapeutic modalities such as Narrative and Psychodynamic therapy.

Practice Manager and Registered Art Therapist

B.A Fine Arts, AdvDip Transpersonal Art Therapy

Amy is an integral part of the MindMovers Team. Amy helps support our lovely community, Tuesday to Friday, with appointments and all client and clinic related inquiries.

Amy is also an Artist and a tertiary qualified Art Therapist. Exploring metaphor, story and meaning, Art Therapy provides a creative alternative to verbal communication and typical counselling in a nurturing and creative way. Using the visual arts, including drawing, painting, clay and sand play, Amy supports clients of all ages, from children to adults, guiding them through self-discovery and finding creative ways to unlock emotional blocks, support skill development and personal growth. Amy is warm and supportive in her approach. She is dedicated to creating a safe, non-judgmental space that allows for change and transformation through connection and kindness. Amy enjoys connecting with her clients through their journey, as she gently guides through life's obstacles.

MindCoach and Administration Assistant

B.Psych. (Hons).

Jodie is a Psychologist in training and recent graduate of the Psychology Honours program at the University of Sydney. Jodie supports the clinic on Mondays as our administration assistant. She is also our head trainer in our coaching program. The MindMovers coaching program is a tailored program that is run individually and in groups. Its main remediation focus is to support skill development of executive function, planning, organisation, emotional well-being and management skills for school and university students. Jodie strives to support her clients actualise their full potential with evidence-based strategies that increase productivity and efficiency whilst decreasing stress. She is passionate, kind and patient, aiming to uplift her clients to live a more balanced life.