Meet the Team
Joshua Bekker
Principal Psychologist
Josh is a generally registered psychologist with extensive experience working with a wide variety of issues across the lifespan, including anxiety, depression, child behaviour problems, difficulty managing emotions, stress, relationship and family issues.
Josh assists his clients with a range of issues by delivering highly effective, therapies and assessments. He ensures his services are tailored to the client’s individual needs so that they can achieve their goals and feel confident to overcome difficulties.
Josh utilises a range of evidence-based psychological treatment approaches including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Analytical Psychology, Narrative Therapy and Family Focused Therapy (FFT). He has a particular specialisation in treating anxiety and conducting psychometric assessments.
Josh has significant relevant clinical experience with exposure working across a broad range of settings including: hospitals, paediatrics, sleep clinics, men's mental health, forensics, military, education, employment services, and private consulting.
Josh understands the importance of creating and maintaining a safe environment that brings comfort and assurance to clients and he prides himself on a collaborative and caring client-centred approach to therapy.
Venessa Nadolnik
Psychologist
Venessa is a generally registered psychologist who has completed a master’s degree in Psychology in Poland. She has worked with adolescents and adults across a range of services, including AOD treatment/prevention and harm reduction, NDIS, psychological intervention, and assessment. Moreover, Venessa has experience working with a range of mental health presentations including anxiety/panic, depression, eating disorders, suicidal ideations and self-harm behaviours, trauma, anger, addiction, and personality disorders. She is particularly interested in Borderline Personality Disorder while working within Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
Venessa believes in a flexible, individualised and client-centred therapeutic approach, seeing uniqueness in each client. In her work, she draws from and incorporates different evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).
Venessa is a compassionate and open-minded therapist, who can create a safe and non-judgmental space for all clients. Venessa describes her therapeutic work as an art of balancing acceptance with change. She works collaboratively with clients, enhancing transparency and open communication. Venessa is truly passionate about a holistic psychology that explores and integrates mind, body and soul. Her aim is to support each person’s true potential by applying strength-based approach in her practice.
Venessa ensures each client feels comfortable and safe to share their individual experience, and the therapeutic relationship is built upon mutual respect and trust.
Tamara Damacena
Play Therapist
Tamara is a Social Worker and Play Therapist who has completed tertiary qualifications in Social Work and Child Centred Clinical therapy. She has experience working as a counsellor with children and adolescents across a wide range of mental health issues. She is particularly passionate about working with children with autism, developmental delays, disabilities, and trauma.
Tamara aims for optimum client therapeutic outcomes through her Child Centred Play Therapy (CCPT). She sees each child as strong, independent, and able to overcome their individualised challenges. With this in mind, Tamara allows children to guide their sessions to promote collaboration and rapport. She believes we all hold within us the capacity for positive change and strongly advocates for the power of play in healing and growth.
Tamara is a fun loving and kind therapist, who creates a non-judgmental and open space for clients to express themselves. She works with both children and parents to support the whole family. Tamara is passionate about creating authentic relationships with children and families to support their therapeutic journey and realise their full potential.