TEAM INFORMATION

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) 

Dip Counselling (ACAP) 

Dip Mindfulness Integrated CBT

Jenny is a Mental Health Social Worker with vast experience as a Counsellor in private practice and Community Support Services.

Jenny’s work is inclusive of extensive knowledge in recovery and life coaching tying in creative arts practices that can support individuals to reach capacity building goals.

JENNIFER'S NDIS INFORMATION

NDIS Item name and notes:  Capacity Building Supports and Other Therapy.

Capacity Building: To facilitate functional improvement.

Other Therapy:  Therapy/Support is aimed at adjustment, adaptation, and building capacity for community participation. The aim is to achieve small incremental gains or to prevent functional decline.

• Creative arts therapies.
• Assessment supports.
• Training supports.
• Maintenance supports can be delivered to carers if required.

Age Range: Adult 18+

Travel to Participant: YES

Travel Location: Travel is capped to 1 hour to a participant’s home, and 1 hour from a participant’s home. Jenny aims to work with 4 participants in any one region to reduce travel costs where possible.

Support Type: Face to face, telephone, zoom.

If you are unable to make it to the practice last minute, we are happy to switch to a phone call or zoom session.

Reporting| NDIA requested: YES.

Parental and Carers support and training: YES

Supervision: Jenny is supervised by Melissa Andrews, principal practitioner, Rested Minds.

Psychotherapist

PACFA Reg. Clinical 24672

BAppSocSc Psychology | Counselling

ANZACATA (affiliate associate)

Melissa is the Principal Practitioner at Rested Minds. She is a Cairns based Clinical Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Somatic Art Therapist specialising in trauma therapy, critical incident and crisis (suicide) intervention and therapy.

Whilst at university Melissa was introduced to indigenous cultures and to this day is still learning by the contact she has with each individual from these cultures. In a therapeutic sense indigenous cultures heal body first, mind next and spirit healing follows, and this is the manner in which Melissa works. Sensory motor art therapy heals the body first where the trauma is stored, the mind makes sense of disturbance and rests, and the spirituality can be embraced.

Melissa completed a bachelor’s degree in Applied Social Sciences majoring in Psychology and Counselling. Melissa has worked in critical incident recovery services supporting individuals, families, schools and whole of communities in rural and remote regions across Northern Queensland when impacted by suicide. As a registered trainer Melissa also delivered suicide prevention training across many sectors of health care and farming industries.

Melissa has been in private practice since 2016, where she delivers psychotherapy supporting individuals to explore and understand themselves and their life experiences, supporting moods, feelings, thought and behaviours.

Psychotherapy is a growth model of therapeutic approaches.

Therapy approaches: 

• Art therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Narrative Therapy (NT)

Service Delivery:

• Employee Assistance program (EAP) TELUS health
• NDIS, psychosocial disability.
• Training mental health sector employees in trauma informed principles and practice and metal health awareness.

MELISSA'S NDIS INFORMATION

NDIS Item name and notes:  Capacity Building Supports and Other Therapy.

Capacity Building: To facilitate functional improvement.

Other Therapy:  Therapy/Support is aimed at adjustment, adaptation, and building capacity for community participation. The aim is to achieve small incremental gains or to prevent functional decline.

• Assessment supports.
• Intervention planning
• Training supports.
• Maintenance supports can be delivered to carers if required.

Age Range: Adolescents 12 + and Adults

Travel to Participant: YES

Travel Location: Travel is capped to 1 hour to a participant’s home, and 1 hour from a participant’s home. Melissa aims to work with 4 participants in any one region to reduce travel costs where possible.

Support Type: Face to face, telephone, zoom.

If you are unable to make it to the practice last minute, we are happy to switch to a phone call or zoom session.

Reporting | NDIA requested: YES.

Parental and Carers support and training: YES

Supervision: Melissa is clinically supervised externally.

Bachelor in Counselling (BACouns)

Certified Sand Play Therapist

EFT therapist

Kerry Savory has a Bachelor in Counselling (BACouns), certified Sand Play therapist and EFT therapist with applied crisis intervention skill with an overall scope of practice in mental health and trauma informed principles.

Kerry has a nursing background, and in addition has worked within wellbeing programs and  counseling role with adolescents in a variety of school settings.

Kerry has extensive transferable and current skills to place her in a supportive position to provide supports to adolescents and adults. Kerry's approach is caring and supportive working within frameworks and a variety of modalities to provide best practice to all she works with.

NDIS Item name and notes:  Capacity Building Supports and Other Therapy.

Capacity Building: To facilitate functional improvement.

Other Therapy:  Therapy/Support is aimed at adjustment, adaptation, and building capacity for community participation. The aim is to achieve small incremental gains or to prevent functional decline.

• Creative arts therapies.
• Assessment supports.
• Training supports.
• Maintenance supports can be delivered to carers if required.

Age Range: 16 and above years

Travel to Participant: YES

Travel Location: Travel is capped to 1 hour to a participant’s home, and 1 hour from a participant’s home. Kerry aims to work with 4 participants in any one region to reduce travel costs where possible.

Support Type: Face to face, telephone, zoom.

If you are unable to make it to the practice last minute, we are happy to switch to a phone call or zoom session.

Reporting| NDIA requested: YES.

Parental and Carers support and training: YES

Supervision: Kerry is supervised externally, and peer supported by Melissa Andrews, principal practitioner, Rested Minds.

PACFA Certified Practising Reg. No. 29829
Master of Counselling (MCouns)
Certified Sand Tray Therapist
Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP)
Child Consultant for Child Inclusive Mediation & Counselling (CIMC)
Trauma Informed Practice

It can be hard to find the right words when you are feeling distressed or overwhelmed.  You will find Abby to be skilled in traditional talk therapy, but she also provides therapeutic approaches that don't solely rely on verbal responses. Abby is warm, caring and supportive, and works from a collaborative, non-diagnostic approach according to your personal preferences and values, with the aim to foster a sense of empowerment and autonomy.

Originating from the UK, Abby has lived in Cairns for over 20 years. Whilst she has a background working with children and adolescents, she currently focusses on supporting adults and adolescents above 12 years of age. As a former mediator she is highly familiar working with families in high conflict situations and has also worked within the NDIS framework for over five years.

NDIS Item name and notes:  Capacity Building Supports and Other Therapy.

Capacity Building: To facilitate functional improvement.

Other Therapy:  Therapy/Support is aimed at adjustment, adaptation, and building capacity for community participation. The aim is to achieve small incremental gains or to prevent functional decline.

• Creative arts therapies.
• Assessment supports.
• Training supports.
• Maintenance supports can be delivered to carers if required.

Age Range: 13 years and above

Travel to Participant: YES

Travel Location: Travel is capped to 1 hour to a participant’s home, and 1 hour from a participant’s home. Abby aims to work with 4 participants in any one region to reduce travel costs where possible.

Support Type: Face to face, telephone, zoom.

If you are unable to make it to the practice last minute, we are happy to switch to a phone call or zoom session.

Reporting| NDIA requested: YES.

Parental and Carers support and training: YES

Supervision: Abby is supervised externally and peer supported by Melissa Andrews, principal practitioner, Rested Minds.

Bachelor in Occupational Therapy

Hollie Ward has a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy with an objective to move her career to be an accredited mental health professional, with an overall scope of practice under trauma informed practice and principles. Hollie has over 6 years’ experience in her field, with enthusiasm to continue to develop professionally by adding positive mental health modalities to her practice.

Hollie has worked with children, young adults, and the elderly in rural, remote, very remote, and regional communities. She has primarily been in private practice but also for a not-for-profit and residential aged care. Hollie was inspired to study occupational therapy as she has a sister with complex additional needs. Hollie is particularly interested in the growth model of occupational therapy around health and wellness coaching, mindfulness, maternal health, arts therapy, aqua therapy, nature therapy, sensory approaches, group-based therapy, and yoga.

Capacity Building Supports and Other Therapy.

Capacity Building: To facilitate functional improvement.

Other Therapy:  Therapy/Support is aimed at adjustment, adaptation, and building capacity for community participation. The aim is to achieve small incremental gains or to prevent functional decline.

• Creative arts therapies.
• Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA’s) with ongoing service delivery after the assessments have been completed in conjunction with our mental health practitioners.
• Mental Health Assessment & Screening supports.
• Training support workers where required and or necessary.
• support can be delivered to carers if required.

Age Range: 12 and above years

Travel to Participant: YES (2 hour return trip)

Travel Location: Travel is capped to 60 mins to a participant’s home, and 60 mins from a participant’s home.

Support Type: Face to face, telephone, zoom.

If you are unable to make it to the practice last minute, we are happy to switch to a phone call or zoom session.

Reporting| NDIS requested: YES.

Parental and Carers support and training: YES

Supervision: Hollie is supervised with professional development by Melissa Andrews, principal practitioner, Rested Minds, and peer supported within this environment.

Bachelor in Social Work Counselling (BASW)

Masters Degree in Narrative Therapy

Sand & Creative Arts Therapist

Aescha has a Bachelor in Social Work Counselling (BASW), accredited mental health social worker, with a masters in Narrative Therapy, sand and creative arts therapist with applied crisis intervention skill with an overall scope of practice under trauma informed practice and principles.

Aescha has experience working in Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities, in addition, Aescha has a strong understanding of support coordination within the NDIS, with additional case plan inclusive of counselling experience in private practices.

Aescha has over 10 years’ experience transferable and current  skills to place her in a supportive position to provide supports to adolescents and adults. Aescha’s approach is caring and supportive working within frameworks and a variety of modalities to provide best practice to all she works with.

NDIS Item name and notes:  Capacity Building Supports and Other Therapy.

Capacity Building: To facilitate functional improvement.

Other Therapy:  Therapy/Support is aimed at adjustment, adaptation, and building capacity for community participation. The aim is to achieve small incremental gains or to prevent functional decline.

• Creative arts therapies.
• Assessment supports.
• Training supports.
• Maintenance supports can be delivered to carers if required.

Age Range: 12 and above years

Travel to Participant: YES

Travel Location: Travel is capped to 1 hour to a participant’s home, and 1 hour from a participant’s home. Aescha aims to work with 4 participants in any one region to reduce travel costs where possible.

Support Type: Face to face, telephone, zoom.

If you are unable to make it to the practice last minute, we are happy to switch to a phone call or zoom session.

Reporting| NDIA requested: YES.

Parental and Carers support and training: YES

Supervision: Aescha is supervised externally, and peer supported by Melissa Andrews, principal practitioner, Rested Minds.

Bachelor of Social Work
Masters of Therapeutic Art Practice
ANZACATA Professional Membership
AASW Membership

Carey is a relational social work practitioner who has worked extensively across diverse communities.

Carey uses expressive art therapies, narrative practice and the principles of social justice and trauma informed care in her counselling practice with individuals and community.
Carey is experienced in working in both generalist and specialist counselling settings, as well as with survivors of sexual assault, child sexual abuse, complex trauma and AOD experiences. She is an experienced women’s group facilitator and social work supervisor.

Her counselling practice is heart centred and based on a belief that through human connection and expressive modalities we can heal and find our own pathway towards a meaningful life.

Capacity Building Supports and Other Therapy.

Capacity Building: To facilitate functional improvement.

Other Therapy:  Therapy/Support is aimed at adjustment, adaptation, and building capacity for community participation. The aim is to achieve small incremental gains or to prevent functional decline.

• Creative arts therapies.
• Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA’s) with ongoing service delivery after the assessments have been completed in conjunction with our mental health practitioners.
• Mental Health Assessment & Screening supports.
• Training support workers where required and or necessary.
• support can be delivered to carers if required.

Age Range: 12 and above years

Travel to Participant: YES (2 hour return trip)

Travel Location: Travel is capped to 60 mins to a participant’s home, and 60 mins from a participant’s home.

Support Type: Face to face, telephone, zoom.

If you are unable to make it to the practice last minute, we are happy to switch to a phone call or zoom session.

Reporting| NDIS requested: YES.

Parental and Carers support and training: YES

Supervision: Carey is supervised with professional development by Melissa Andrews, principal practitioner, Rested Minds, and peer supported within this environment.

Bachelor of Social Work

Kate has worked in a therapeutic and counselling capacity alongside children, teens, families and adults for a significant period of time. She thrives on providing this space in a manner that honours the individual or family’s strengths, while providing new perspectives and insights that allow for growth and development.

Kate's approach uses various modalities such as ACT, DBT, and CBT to name a few. She is also trained in sandtray therapy and symbol work, and expressive therapies which are effective approaches for those who are keen to explore creativity therapy.

While Kate can provide therapeutic strategies and perhaps support insights, it is in the collaborative nature of the relationship that the magic may happens. Hence Kate's manner is gentle, and affirming, whilst also allowing for curiosity and exploration together.

Capacity Building Supports and Other Therapy.

Capacity Building: To facilitate functional improvement.

Other Therapy:  Therapy/Support is aimed at adjustment, adaptation, and building capacity for community participation. The aim is to achieve small incremental gains or to prevent functional decline.

• Creative arts therapies.
• Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA’s) with ongoing service delivery after the assessments have been completed in conjunction with our mental health practitioners.
• Mental Health Assessment & Screening supports.
• Training support workers where required and or necessary.
• support can be delivered to carers if required.

Age Range: 12 and above years

Travel to Participant: YES (2 hour return trip)

Travel Location: Travel is capped to 60 mins to a participant’s home, and 60 mins from a participant’s home.

Support Type: Face to face, telephone, zoom.

If you are unable to make it to the practice last minute, we are happy to switch to a phone call or zoom session.

Reporting| NDIS requested: YES.

Parental and Carers support and training: YES

Supervision: Kate is supervised with professional development by Melissa Andrews, principal practitioner, Rested Minds, and peer supported within this environment.