I am the Founder, Director and Principal Psychologist at Ringwood Psychology Pty Ltd. I’m a nationally accredited Psychologist and Sex Therapist, registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and The Society of Australian Sexologists (SAS). I was on the Executive Committee and former Secretary of the Australian Society of Sexuality Educators, Researchers and Therapists (ASSERT), and enjoyed lecturing for The Medical Register of Australia, and presenting at conferences and workshops. I am committed to progressing the community’s understanding of mental health.

I love my work as a psychologist! I feel honoured to be trusted to investigate with people the most challenging aspects of their lives. I love emotionally connecting with people and working to piece together patterns and origins of thoughts and behaviours. I have a passionate and insightful style, and have been known to ‘tell it like it is’. I am genuinely excited to see clients gain insight and move toward personal growth and positive change.”

For nearly two decades, my career focused on the use of addictive behaviours to momentarily escape emotional discomfort (via pornography, massage, sex workers, alcohol and illicit substances). However, life circumstances have led to a more recent passion and strong research focus on ADHD. I am interested in untangling the similarities between trauma responses and ADHD symptoms, as well as promoting the need for embracing Neurodiversity for a kinder, more tolerant, healthy, and productive society.

I really enjoy my work with couples, relationship and sex therapy. I gain an enormous sense of satisfaction from assisting couples to better understand the reasons for communication breakdowns and conflict, and the causes for feeling emotionally and intimately distant from our partners.

I am a trained practitioner in emotional regulation techniques required for working with Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse. This is an area of passion for me and I am truly honoured to sit supportively with clients and guide them to unburden themselves with secrets they have kept silent, often for many years.

I have always been interested in the power of anxiety and its tendency to escalate into further difficulties if unattended. Many maladaptive strategies are used to avoid or escape the discomfort of anxiety, and many people don’t realise that it is actually anxiety they are feeling which is causing them difficulties. I enjoy assisting people to become more connected and aware of the link between their thoughts, emotions and their physical body.

My counselling field requires training in a range of treatment techniques. The most predominant therapies are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy, Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Therapies, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems Theory (IFS), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing. , and the various therapies involved in assisting with emotional regulation. My work is based in trauma-focused and Neurodiversity Affirming framework.

My ongoing professional goal is to strive for empathic understanding of clients and their life experiences. I believe that being a good psychologist requires passion for the field, developed insight, and a genuine fascination in human behaviour and connectivity.

Benita (pronouns she/her) is an experienced Clinical Psychologist and holds a Master of Clinical Psychology/PhD from the University of Melbourne. She works with adults and adolescents. Benita practices inclusively, welcoming people of all backgrounds. She is LGBTQI+ friendly.

Benita has a warm and welcoming therapeutic style. She encourages people to explore issues of concern and develop effective ways to address life problems. Her particular areas of interest include: generalised anxiety, social anxiety, mood difficulties, stress, adjustment disorders, chronic pain, OCD, and personality disorders.

Benita’s collaborative approach to therapy is personalised to each client. She draws on a range of evidence-based approaches including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing, schema therapy, and interpersonal therapy. Clients are supported to explore their experiences, identify their strengths, overcome difficulties, and create meaningful change in their lives.

Alongside her clinical work Benita is a lecturer in developmental and clinical psychology at the University of Melbourne.

Manuela – or Mani, as we call her – is a registered psychologist with a master’s degree in psychology. She is fluent in Italian. Mani has a vast range of experience having worked in community counselling, medical settings, and educational settings (Primary to Tertiary), having provided treatment plans, social skills and resilience programs for the school community. Manuela uses a safe, non-judgmental, empathetic client-centered approach to promote the therapeutic relationship. She works across the lifespan but has a particular interest in working with adults, adolescents, and families. She provides her clients with a confidential space where concerns can be openly discussed and meaningfully resolved. She helps untangle her clients’ inner turmoil, through teaching skills of empowerment, emotional regulation, and acceptance. Manuela is truly committed to assisting her clients reach their full potential and uses a targeted yet gentle approach.

Manuela works with a wide range of issues including (but not limited to); anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, OCD, grief and loss, anger issues, complex trauma, PTSD, work or school related issues. She works collaboratively using an eclectic approach according to the client’s specific needs and preferences which include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Brief Psycho-dynamic Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Therapy, mindfulness and relaxation strategies. Mani is also trained in EMDR for PTSD and trauma and is passionate about advancing her knowledge and practice in this area.

Bianca is a registered psychologist with over 12 years’ experience working with adolescents, young adults, adults, and their families. She has worked across a range of settings including Community Health, Not-For-Profit Sector, and independent schools. Bianca has also been actively involved in online support services and phone counselling.

Bianca can assist with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, OCD, anger issues, LGBTIQ+ related challenges, School/University and work-related issues, perfectionism, trauma, and relationship issues. She is passionate about education related issues, supporting young people to engage with learning and overcome challenges to reach their desired life goals.

Bianca is an outgoing, approachable person who always endeavours to provide a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental environment for her clients, and respects an individual’s desires regarding their preferred therapeutic approach. She has a particular passion for working with adolescents and young people (aged 10-26), which can often also involve working with a young person’s parents/carers and families in the counselling process. Parents are often invited to attend therapy as an adjunct to their child’s therapy, separately if the need arises, or as the primary client when providing parenting focused support. Bianca supports a collaborative approach to therapy believing this increases the likelihood of positive outcomes.

Bianca’s practice is informed by many different theoretical approaches. This integrative approach includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy, Family Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness and relaxation strategies.

Wendy is a registered psychologist with double master’s qualifications in Professional Psychology Practice, and Counselling and Psychotherapy. Wendy commenced with Ringwood Psychology in early 2022, having previously worked in the Not-For-Profit sector, educational settings, and with Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) as a counsellor and psychotherapist.

Wendy is passionate about supporting individuals to heal in the context of their interpersonal relationships and assisting them to re-build their sense of self. Wendy is well versed in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Wendy works across the lifespan and is trained to work with children as young as 4 years old, and with adults beyond retirement age.

Wendy draws on a wide range of intervention techniques such as Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Brief Psychodynamic Therapy, Play therapy, Art therapy, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). She believes in the power of having her clients lead in therapy and for her clients to choose the intervention methods that are best suited to their individual needs. Wendy focuses on building a collaborative and authentic therapeutic relationship with her clients as a foundation to their therapy journey. Her understanding of the development and maintenance of most mental health conditions is strongly influenced by Polyvagal and Attachment theories.

Jacque has the task of keeping the operational and administration side of the business ticking and keeping the psychologists on track and organized. She is a massive asset to Ringwood Psychology and is able to assist clients with an enormous amount of information regarding payments, billing, Medicare and private health rebates, appointment availability etc.

Jacque is a well-respected member of our team, and we are hugely appreciative of her efforts and dedication to implementing seamless processes. Her wealth of knowledge and ‘can do’ attitude allows our psychologists to focus on clients’ therapeutic needs, while she takes care of their administrative needs. Need anything? Ask Jac.

The best friend of Ringwood Psychology is ‘Nibbles’ – a 7 year old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. She is small and soft and fluffy and oh so cute with the cutest puppy dog eyes you ever did see.

Nibbles was essentially bred for work in a therapy environment with both her father and grandfather being therapy dogs.

Whilst the females in her family were busy with the making of more therapy dogs, we decided to break the chain with Nibbles and give her the life she was made for – to love people, to want nothing more than to be around them, and to bring them joy and comfort when they need it most.

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